Traditional or Irish Boy's Name

[LivLemler]

We're having trouble deciding on a boy's name. We have a long list of names we like but no clear front runner.

We would probably go with James but close friends got there first and we want something not already used in our immediate circle. Names we like include Matthew, Joseph, Peter.

We would also consider something Irish, but as DH doesn't really speak Irish and we live in a mainly Protestant part of NI, nothing too difficult to pronounce for non-Irish speakers. Irish names we like include Cian (which again, we can't use), Aidan, Conor.

Girl's name will likely be one of Elizabeth, Aisling, Meredith.

Boy's middle name likely John after family but not a deal breaker if the first name doesn't go with it.

Our boy's shortlist was Senan, Declan, Matthew. DH likes Padraig but I'm not a fan (partly cause I don't like it, partly because I'm a bit paranoid of the Paddy stereotype as we live in England.) I love Aidan, Oisin, Cillian and Conal. Liam is lovely but veto'd because of family members. I was going to suggest James, but just realised you have been put off that. How about Harry or Luke?

Scan says girl though, so we're thinking Aoife. Eleanor is the other name on the list, I love Sadhbh but it would be tough in England. Maeve, Niamh, Mairead and Cara are lovely Irish names that are ruled out because of family.

How is Sadhbh pronounced? I love Irish names but in my circles they tend to be along the Roisin, Aoife lines.

If you are concerned about a name being too 'Gaelic' in your community (and it is a consideration for some in NI), would you consider something like Rory, Gareth, Manus or Liam?

(I've a friend, a grandmother now, Catholic couple, who called their daughter Victoria in order to 'fit in better' where they lived.)

NC4Now Sadhbh is like Five but with an S. There's actually a play by John B Keane called Sive so it is an accepted spelling, but not a particularly nice one, imo. And I remember doing the play at school and thinking it was pronounced 'sieve' so I don't think it really simplifies things!

Lorcan
Donagh/Donncha
Killian
Fintan
Ferdia
Fergus
Lochlan
Enda
Eoghan
Finbar
Eamon
Ronan
Niall
Malachy
Conan
Ciaran/Kieran
Finnian
Moling
Fiacra
Brendan
Ailbe
Coleman/Colman
Jarlath/Iarla
Donal
Murtagh
Ruadhan
Oran/Odhran

Trad names you don't hear much:
Noel
Paul
Hugh
Matthew, Joseph and Peter are lovely imo.

(Eoin John is like John John).

Lots to consider here, thanks so much

Interestingly, DH's name and a male version of my name have both been listed!

Just for clarity, we're both Catholic raised aetheists (I'm from ROI, DH from NI), but as we live in a majority Protestant area and DH never really learned any Irish, we want to keep any Irish names reasonably simple. We have no worries about an Irish name attracting unpleasantness around here.

Just to say OP- we’ve never had any unpleasantness from people because of DD’s name despite the village being something like 93% Protestant. I think people think they’re too well bred for that nonsense!

In love all three of your options, Matthew, Joseph and Peter. Probably in order

Peter
Joseph
Matthew

Gregor
Miles
Ben
Andrew
Paul
Austin
Kenneth
Callum
Evan
Oliver
Niall

My grandfather (Roi) was thady (short for Thaddeus I think). I would have loved to have called one of my boys that but dh wasn't at all keen!

I love the names on your original list. All of my daughters were going to be called Joseph and my husband always loved Peter!

I have a desperate love for Cathal, I know, I know - my kids laughed when I told them (apparently it's like the male equivalent of Geraldine, Assumpta, Bernadette and Concepta all rolled into one and one who wears sensible shoes at that).

Your girls names are lovely too.