Lovely, Gorgeous, Irish Girls Names Please!

[HolyShmoly]

DH and I are really struggling with names. We are Irish, living in England with a very English surname (think Smith.) Baby will be born and raised in England and I'd like to give her an Irish name as a link to our home and also so she doesn't have the dullest name ever (I have a really plain name which I disliked and then ended up having a very dull surname to go with it so it's a pain I feel.)

I'd like to avoid names with fadas or that are too difficult for a non-gaeilgeoir to get a handle on, I think two syllables would be preferable. Scan says baby is a girl. Lots of family so Maeve, Niamh, Roisin are out and DH doesn't like Aoibheann or Mairead.

So far we love Aoife. That's it. Just one name shortlisted. Ideally I'd like to have at least two names to choose from, or else we might end up with a not-at-all-Irish Eleanor.

Thanks in advance!

Grainne
Erin
Caitlin
Aine

Sorry Cianna should be (key-an-a)

Is Ellen too plain ? Love it
Mary ?
Tara

I have an aisling I love it. If you like Fiona what about Fianna?

Loads of lovely Irish girls names. I don’t think people would struggle with Aoife, it’s a lovely name. My only other suggestion would be Nuala

You only need one name so go with what you like

Una is another easy to pronounce and spell.

If you don’t mind about that then go for Saoirse

Owl - everyone non Irish loves nuala but everyone Irish laughs at it - such a shame - it’s a beautiful name and has all positive elements to it to be really popular .

Dérvla
Càilean
Riònach
Sorcha
Cliona

There's loads of beautiful Irish names- have you a book?

Cara is a lovely name, it's a very simple name to spell and pronounce, it means friend and isn't over used.

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the gorgeous Emer (or Eimear).

I also love Aifric and Ailbhe.

Other two syllables and easy to spell include Ciara, Daire or Dara, maybe Eadaoin, Realtin (fada needed)...

But if you love Aoife, use Aoife! She only needs one first name.

Ciara
Cara
Cora
Máire
Sinéad
Mairéad
Tara
Caitlín
Caitríona
Aislinn
Laoise
Nuala
Fionnuala
Bríd
Nóilín
Róise
Róisín
Clár
Áine
Enya
Seáinín
Oonagh

Less common - but names I love
Fiadh
Fiadhna
Luisne
Líadan
Connla
Ríonach
Muireann
Saorlaith
Aoileann
Áille

I actually just sent DH a list of names, Nuala was on there. There's a girl who recently started working in my company called Nuala and I was thinking how lovely it is. Managers keep calling her new-alla though, but it's not enough to put me off.

I got a book at Christmas when we were home and it was useless. We also went through the list of babies registered in Ireland over the last couple of years and didn't get anywhere...

If Saoirse is a bit too political, there is also Saorlaith - not super easy to spell though. But the same silent -ith as Orlaith

I've not seen one of the suggestions of a name before : Saorla, but am already in love with it ! If dc4 comes along (not happening) that's the name!

I have 2 dds with Irish names / spellings, in the UK, so if there's anything about people not being able to spell or pronounce putting you off, I wouldn't worry, i've had no problems at all. After the initial "no its actually pronounced X", people catch on.

Let's bring the proper Irish names back. Your daughter should be names one of the following:

Gobnait
Dymphna
Attracta

Erin. That was my girls name, but I ended up having boys!

I do love it still.

Caitriona, Brid.. of the ones already mentioned, I like Eilish, Iseult, Ciara, Aine and Eibhlin. I know it's usually a boy's name but I do know of a couple of girls called Dara. Also not necessarily Irish, but popular in the past, I like Nora and Honor.

Another one for Aisling. Also love Ciara

Mhairi?

Shea
Bryanna
Kayleigh

Coleen

Laoise

Caitlín

Nuala is like Peig. Forget the middle aged names, that one goes above and beyond.

Anyway, I suggest Saorla, Aifric, Roise, Liadain, Muireann, Doireann, Alannah, Macushla, Laoise, Sibeal, Bronagh, Neasa.

Muireann is a non-starter in the UK. Have you seen that episode of Catastrophe?