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Original poster

Irish Baby Girls names- Ailish

28 replies

Herculesfan · 12/08/2017 19:44

I'm expecting a little girl and we want to use an Irish name. We live in the U.K. So far we both really like Ailish.

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squoosh · 12/08/2017 19:47

I prefer it spelt Eilis (or Éilis for fada fans) but it's a nice name.

Jooni · 12/08/2017 21:35

Really really like it. I love the Eilis spelling but if you're living in the UK I think Ailish will be easiest for everyone.

Missingmyrioja · 12/08/2017 22:02

It's lovely.

Bardo · 12/08/2017 22:08

I hate it. Old biddy name sorry. I can just see the rosary beeds. I like most Irish names. The more fashionable ones though.

Original poster
Herculesfan · 12/08/2017 22:28

Everyone I knew growing up wth Eilis pronounced it eyelish and Ailish A-lish. I think with being in the UK Ailish will be easier for people to get right.

I'm suprised you think it's an old biddy name, I don't know of an Ailish over the age of about 40. Plenty of Aileens but no Ailishs

OP posts:
MandyMarsupial · 12/08/2017 22:31

It was on our list, I really like it and think your spelling for the UK is good.

squoosh · 12/08/2017 22:33

I know a few older women called Eilis but they're decent enough souls. Philomenas on the other hand...

squoosh · 12/08/2017 22:34

I think with being in the UK Ailish will be easier for people to get right.#

You may be right but even an Ailish will get Alice, Alicia, ah-lish, and all sorts of pronunciations I can't think of right now.

wobblywonderwoman · 12/08/2017 22:36

I like it. I think stick to the Eilish spelling though.

Original poster
Herculesfan · 12/08/2017 22:37

To be clear the old biddy comment doesn't bother me (Mary was also on my list but DP vetoed it) I was just suprised as I haven't come across it that way.

I'm sure with an Irish name she'll have some issues wherever she goes as I have an Irish name and do but I don't mind that.

OP posts:
KanyesLunchbox · 12/08/2017 22:41

I agree about the pronunciation, OP, and I think it's lovely.

redphonebox · 12/08/2017 22:46

I think it's a lovely name but have only come across Eilis, have never seen Ailish ( I'm not Irish). Is that a recognised spelling or would you be adapting it for a UK audience?

Original poster
Herculesfan · 12/08/2017 22:59

Recognized spelling, not invented by me

OP posts:
BhajiAllTheWay · 12/08/2017 23:04

I like it, wouldn't have been sure how to say it though.

elephantconga · 12/08/2017 23:05

I like it, but is it not Scottish? I thought Eilis and variations thereof were Irish, and Ailis and variations (Ailish) Scottish. I could be wrong.

Original poster
Herculesfan · 12/08/2017 23:09

It could I'd have Scottish origins to be fair, it's relatively common in Ireland and I always thought it was Irish but maybe not?

OP posts:
Rachel885 · 12/08/2017 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DramaAlpaca · 12/08/2017 23:54

I'm with you on the pronunciation Herculesfan. It's a completely different name to Eilís and is pronounced differently.

I've always understood that Eilís is the Irish version of Elizabeth, whereas Ailis is the Irish version of Alice. Eilís is pronounced Eye-LEESH, and Ailis is AY-lish (the AY part is like hay without the H). These are the pronounciations in my part of Ireland, but as with many Irish names they can vary in different areas of the country.

I have an Irish friend in the UK who started off calling her daughter Ailis, but because nobody could get the pronunciation right she ended up changing it to Ailish. She kind of regrets it now & wishes she'd stuck with it as people would've got used to it.

Anyway, however you spell it it's a lovely name, go for it.

squoosh · 13/08/2017 00:15

That's interesting you say that Drama. I was thinking Éilis as in Dillon but when I googled her it seems she was an Eilís, so a completely different pronunciation to the one I've been saying all these years.

Gooseysgirl · 13/08/2017 09:26

Lovely name and have come across it many times in Ireland! think Eilish McColgan pronounces her name the same way (Scots)

Helspopje · 13/08/2017 09:29

I like Aisling which is similar

AppalachianWalzing · 13/08/2017 09:57

I know an eye-lish, an eye-Leesh and an ay-lish who all spell it the same so I think there are lots of variations. My main problem with the name is I struggle to remember who pronounces it which way (I also know an Andrea and an And-ray-a) but actually if it's less usual in the UK (in in Ireland) that might not be as much as a problem if she's the only one you know.

I know one in her thirties and one in her forties and one who is older, so a bit of an age range but haven't come across any little ones recently.

Coconutspongexo · 13/08/2017 10:00

One of my closest friends is called Ailish she hates it, she says people often call her Alicia or whatever variation of the name they want rather than her actual name it's mostly due to ignorance my names also Irish and people just cba learning how to pronounce it, we're in Liverpool.

Coconutspongexo · 13/08/2017 10:00

I do like the name btw

Glumglowworm · 13/08/2017 11:34

I know a teenage Ailish (not in Ireland), I really like the name