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!

Sorcha 💛

Columba? Sounds bizarre to me as an Irish person to call a baby this. It sounds quite severe and old fashioned.

To me, Iona is the epitome of Scottishness.

Some of those have an American-perception-of-Irish vibe. To be avoided.

Was that at my list @Charismam ?

Not sure what charismam was referring to but some of yours aren't even Irish @AlwaysLookOnBrightsideOfLife (Iona, Catriona, Neala), never heard of Kyna and suspect that is Scottish, and Brianna/Branagh, Aurnia and Bethna arent really used in Ireland either.

Also Eithne is the correct spelling.

So yeah, I'd take issue with most of your list.

I'm referring to the trend in America where people from all diversities who haven't been to Poland/Ireland/Italy/Germany/Sweden self-identify as being those nationalities but aren't basing their ideas on anything up to date or factual. ie, using ''Finlee cos we're irish'' (and for a girl) or using Kennedy (or any other sur name) for a girl ''because they identify as irish''. It is no criticism of Americans, generations pass, times change, family folklore is more and more outdated. You get the picture I'm sure.

Catriona certainly is Irish - it’s an acceptable spelling in both Irish and Scots Gaelic

Well it's a Gaelic name but predominately used in and associated with Scotland. Caitlin is the more common Irish variant of Catherine.

How about Brona?
Orlaith?
Seanna?

Columba would have a lot of geographical significance but it also reminds me of (male) maths teachers, so that's a no.

What are people's feeling on spelling Sadhbh as Sive? I keep coming back to Sadhbh but I do worry that it'll be an issue for her.

Definitely don't spell it Sive. Lovely name and people will get used to the spelling.

Siofra
Or
Sinead

Rosaleen & Alannah are both lovely. Is Bronwyn Irish? Or maybe it’s Welsh?

Caoilfhionn, Caoimhe, Fiadh, Reiltín, Bláthnaid, Blaithin, Dearbhla, Eabhaoin, Doireann, Ríonagh, Riadh, Ornaith, Liadan, Máire, Luisne, Reidin, Liadh, Cliodhna, Sinéad, Siofra, Eimear

Siofra

@tigercub50 bronwyn is welsh

Caoilfhionn, Caoimhe, Fiadh, Reiltín, Bláthnaid, Blaithin, Dearbhla, Eabhaoin, Doireann, Ríonagh, Riadh, Ornaith, Liadan, Máire, Luisne, Reidin, Liadh, Cliodhna, Sinéad, Siofra, Eimear

Although a lot of those are lovely I live in England and the baby is going to be born and raised here so I want to avoid letter pairings that are more difficult for non-irish people. And fadas, I have a difficult enough time with them myself.

I like Siofra but not enough to take a risky spelling/pronunciation on it. I can see a lot of "see-oh-fra" in the future.

Erin, Sinead, Siobhan

I love the name Aoife!
We have a Niamh and a Bridie in our family but I know you said not Niamh. Go with your original name, it's lovely.

Oh and love the name Caoimhe too

Saoirse
Finola (don't know if that's the right spelling?)

@HolyShmoly Siofra is a lot easier than Sadhbh though! At least See-o-fra bears some resemblance to the actual name, whereas don't know how Sadhbh would be mangled.

I wouldn't use Sive either as you'd be just as likely to get "siv", "seeve", "see-ve" as the correct pronunciation anyway.

Orla/Orlaith always fell in to the sane category as Nuala for me growing up, but it’s become quite popular so maybe you’d be trend setting with a little Nuala? (Or Fionnuala?) . See also Mairead (which I love!).

Liadan is my absolute favourite, old Gaelic girls name.

My own name is an anglicised spelling of a (Scottish) Gaelic name and I would say go all out with the traditional spellings, because no one south of the border can spell or pronounce mine anyway, despite it being only two syllables and written phonetically. I might be more patient if it had a silent gh or an unexpected vowel combo...

Cara
Breffni
Aine
Moya
Sinead