Ira

[RosaBaby2]

I'm really struggling with names for this little one (boy); still a way to go but absolutely love the name Ira "Eye-rah" until someone asks you to spell it and it's I-R-A

Would this put you off?

A few people have said just to add an H on the end or spell it differently but I really hate 'made up' spellings of names!

Any suggestions on similar names to go with Leo are more than welcome.

I personally think of the IRA when I hear it or see it, yes. Especially when written.

Do you want something short? Jake, Ezra, Joel, Rory, Kit, Adam, Felix, Otto, Rhys, Jonah, Sol, Elias...

I'm afraid I think IRA too. Sorry.

Reminds me of the crocodile loving baddie from Romancing The Stone.

absolutely do not use with that spelling

Oh that’s not good, don’t give him IRA as a name, it’s awful.

Ira is nice and I kind of see the appeal. But yes, it does make me think of the IRA...

Leo is fab!
Arlo, Ludo, Micah, Jonas, Jeremia, Eli, Finn, Jude, Miles, Milo, Noah, Asher, Felix, Wolfe, Owen, Theo, Frederick, Ben, Hugo, Oscar.

It's a shame but yeah I don't think I could use it with that spelling. I know an Ivor who is lovely! There's Ivan, Erza, Elijah, Ari, Arlo, Iri, Isaac? depends what you like best about the name - is it the 'Eye' sound, the shortness, the meaning? I know sometimes its hard to pinpoint what you love about the name but if you can it may help with suggestions! Good luck!

I'm in NI so it'd be a big no for me. I know it's a popular name in some cultures - I guess it depends where you are. If you're in the UK or Ireland, IRA would probably be most people's first thought.

I thought IRA on reading the title

Btw, I’m not from the U.K. or Ireland and it still made me think of the IRA.
I asked DH (he’s from the UK). He was very relieved to find out actually want to use the name Ira... (but he would have vetoed it anyway.)

I have a friend called Ira, and I've always thought why would you name your son that?

Shame, it's a nice sounding name

It's a lovely name when said aloud but the connotation to the IRA is to strong for me personally, it's a shame much like the name Isis.

It also means wrath in Latin, doesn’t it?

Thanks all, I do love the sound of it but yeah I can't get over the IRA I just needed others to tell me I wasn't being daft.

I wanted a name that can't be shortened I do like some of the suggestions so thanks for those. It's so difficult isn't it?!

I can never get past the fact that it’s Latin for anger. I think of that first, then I think of the IRA...

My number 1 choice for a girl was always Isis, I'd never use it now. It's a shame but no I think it will be a long long time before anyone could use that name

Straight away thought of IRA, too.

Names like Ari, Eli, Max, Zach, Cole, Abe, Rhett, Miles, Rex, Ron, Frank, Scott, Mio, Glenn, Saul, Ralph, Raoul, Thor, Pierce, Neil, Theo, Ed etc usually don’t get shortened, do they?

(But they might get lengthened... Maxie, Sammy etc)

Names that can't be shortnend.
Beth. Sara. Faye. May. Belle. Kate.
Clare. Erin.
However be mindful that your dd may not thank you for giving her name that she can't shorten and that there is no other alternative. I'm a Clare and I've never forgiven my parents for calling me it.
To me it's taken my rights to prefered name away, and I hate that theres no friendly alternative to it.
Also remember just because a name is short doesn't mean it can't be shorented.
Eg Mia could become Mi or even lengthened and become Mimi. Ava (Av) Avi
Or Aves.

So sorry thought Ira was for a girl.

Boys names that can't be shortnend.
Ben
Aaron
Tom
Paul
John
Joe
Harry
Jeff

It's awful, really not useable.

Lots of great suggestions above though.

I think it's a fabulous name, I'd name my son it . The spelling wouldn't put me off its an old Hebrew name isn't it?

If you were Jewish American it would be fine. But many in the US wouldn’t know what the IRA was. In the UK it’s hard to escape.

Gosh, I've never once thought about the IRA when seeing the name Ira. I have known a handful of Ira's and it has never come up at all that I can recall. One lone voice probably won't make a difference to you after most other people do seem to make the connection, but if it does, I for knew think it is just fine. All the Ira's I've know have been kind, and really interesting people.

*one, not 'knew'. Stupid autocorrect.