Help me pick Irish name for a boy, Cathal or Conn?

[Cailinred]

Hi, need a bit of advice on picking a name for our baby boy due very soon. We seem to like Irish names but wouldn’t rule out a non Irish name either. Problem is that lots of the nicest names have been used in our large families or among friends. I like Conn but DH thinks it sounds unfinished. He likes Cathal but I’m not so sure. Lorcan and Oran possibilities too? Would really love honest opinions especially on Conn as a boys name. Thanks in advance.

Maybe this is obvious (and I’m no expert on Irish names!) but could you go for Connor and use Conn for short?

I think Conn sounds short for Connor. I have Irish family and that's what I would assume! I like Cathal although as with most Irish names be prepared for English people to have trouble with the spelling!

Conn does sound a bit unfinished. Conor would be better, and that spelling is more authentic for a first name than Connor.

Cathal is nice but outside Ireland the pronunciation is going to get mangled.

Lorcan & Oran are both nice names & easy enough to spell & pronounce.

I love Cathal but have seen many non-Irish struggle with the pronounciation of it so as long as you are aware of that its a lovely name.

Other suggestions that spring to mind - Cíarán, Colm, Cillian, Cabhan (pronounced Cavan), Canice, Cian, Rian, Caoileann (pronounced kay-linn).

Conn can also be short for Connall if you dont want Conor. Conn does sound a bit cut off to be honest.

Conn does sound unfinished. I'd assume it was a nn for Connor .

And Cathal.... I've no idea how thats supposed to be pronounced but in my head I'm saying it as it's written, and my first thought is that it sounds like someone saying Castle but can't pronounce their S . Like Sylvester the cat 😂🙈

Small children often pronounce Cathal as Cock-el. Worth thinking about.

Oran and Conn are much nicer I think.
Rian?
Senan?
Tomás?
Cónán?

Cock-el? 🤨. Never heard anyone pronounce it that way.

Anyway, op; Cathal 😀

I agree with others that Conn does sound short and if you like it I would choose Connor and shorten it for a nn. Love lorcan

If you want the Irish name Conor it's traditionally spelt with one n. Connor is an Irish Surname. Having said that - thats just tradition and you can spell your child's name any which way you would prefer to!

I really like Lorcan

How to pronounce Cathal - Kaa - hal. Just for anyone who is wondering

I think Oran and lorcan are lovely.
I’d think Conn is short for Conall.
Davin.

I love the name Fionn

I prefer Conn (and I like Conal too)

I really like Lorcan

I like Cathal, not a huge fan of Conn, but I love Oran.

Con is a common swear word in French (means something between cunt and idiot I believe). Only matters if he goes on the French exchange (or lots of French holidays, or moves to France, or works in a very international business) obviously... A con is obviously a scam or deception in English too, I really think that if you're bothered about what people not familiar with the name think of Conn it's the wrong choice, because it has negative connotations in languages other than Irish. Connor is better but obviously widely used outside Ireland by people without Irish heritage and not unusual.

I like Oran best written down, but don't know whether it's pronounced as an English speaker would assume or differently? I've never heard it before.

Conn looks unfinished, I’m half Irish and I much prefer Cathal.

I also love Cillian and Ciaran.

Feargal
Finbar
Eoin

I love the name Cathal. I happened to mention it to my kids - apparently it is the equivalent of naming your child Assumpta, Dymphna, Concepta - very old fashioned and not in a good way. I know a Conn, I like it, much prefer it to Conor.

Lorcan was on my prospective boys list (I have daughters) I've always loved it. I like Oran but not that spelling, it's fairly common in my kids primary school.

Thanks for all the replies so far, lots to think about. Looks like DH was right in his opinion that Conn seems unfinished! ( won’t tell him that though!! 😜 ). It is a name in its own right though. Have a Conor in family already which is why it’s not being considered and to be honest we know lots of Conors so wanted something a bit less common. Will add a few suggestions to the list now too. Any further opinions very welcome.

I thought Con was short for Conal, a super Irish name!

I've a Lorcan and all these years later I still love it! I do know a Con, but agree it feels unfinished.
Other names we considered were;
Odhrán (my preferred spelling)
Eoin
Cillian
Cian

I would pronounce Cathal 'Co- hil', said quickly. (Co as in start of Conor)

Conn is really lovely I think.

We have a Conn in the family- I love it and would use it for a boy if the OG Conn wasn’t such a close relation. It’s a very masculine name and suits him down to the ground.

Conn of the Hundred Battles is a character in the Ulster Cycle of myths and legends.

I wouldn’t use Cathal - me and DH would pronounce it Caw-hul (Dublin) and I’ve just never warmed to it!