Irish nouns as names - like Rua?

[pandarific]

Bear with me on this one... I know of a little Rua (roo-a) - it means 'red' in Irish and I think it's a lovely boy's name but it doesn't feel like 'the one' for us.

Now I know it's a bit hippy to use a noun as a name, but I do kind of love the idea as long as it's a good word and not, for example, 'spoon' or something. Also something which dyslexic DH can spell, and that won't get us too many any looks when/if we move back to Ireland.

Frontrunner names which sound good with our consonant-y two syllable surname are:
Jonah
Noah
Cuan

...any thoughts from any fluent Irish speakers?

You'll Rua the day

Well, Jonah and Noah are both definitely names, not just nouns. Pick one of those.

Not an Irish speaker, but afaik there are quite a few Irish names that are recognisable words (especially if we're allowing adjectives, e.g. colours). Hope it's ok if I throw a few in - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can correct me.

Ciar (black)
Ciarán (little black one)
Cian (ancient)
Abbán (little abbot)
Ailill (elf)

Wildcard: Dónal (ruler of the world). I'm trying to bring it back grin

are you definitely having a boy? I think Liath would be lovely for a girl. It means “grey” and is pronounced the same as Leah.

Rónán means little seal.

Bradan (salmon - - but apparently a real name!)
Bran (raven)
Cairbre (charioteer)
Conan (little wolf/hound)
Faolán (little wolf)

Éanna

Cuan is lovely

Flann (red)
Lonán (little blackbird)
Mainchín (little monk)
Oisín (little deer)

Ok I'll stop

Sorry, these aren't hugely nouny but are my fave Irish names.. Lorcan - little fierce one.. Or Tiernan- Lord,Conall-wolf and Ferdia, man if God. Just realised that they are all two syllable.
Dara could also work. I think it means oak. I really like that name as it's easy to spell and it's quite international.
Worked with an Irish Ruadhan once with amazing red hair he went by Rua :)

We have a Cuan in our extended family, I think it’s lovely

Well Cuan is a noun, that means harbour so that should tick that box. I think some of the names suggested above are good options as they mean something. A noun in use in modern Irish, like Uisce (water) or something isn't a good choice.

What was the name on another thread that someone was saying sounded like the word for "chair" or something? :-)

I know a female Rua who is in her 90s here in Australia. She was my favourite resident at the retirement village I worked at. She was funny, artistic, eccentric, kind hearted and had the warmest, most genuine smile.

So, if I heard Rua, I would assume the person was female.

But I'm not Irish and know nothing more about the name.

That was me attica - the name OP was on about was Cathair (city), which I was saying sounds also like cathaoir (chair).

Tbqh I still think Cathair is a bit of a stupid name, definitely so if you're not from the north where it's commonly used. Cathal is along the same lines though - means a great warrior apparently OP. Wouldn't be used as a noun these days though.

Ooh I like Lonán and Éanna very much - thank you all! I think Rua might also have to stay on the list.

I was thinking about Lir last night too actually, but it's such a sad story... also it sounds a bit abrupt with our last name.

Liath is a lovely idea for a girl's name - we are definitely (unless sonographer has messed up) having a boy though.

So potential shortlist is:
Cuan
Lonán
Éanna
Rua
Lir
Noah
Jonah

All lovely names.

I love Lir though it's a sad story.

Question on the pronunciation of 'Cuan', for those of you who've heard it in person... would you expect 'Cuan' with no fada to be pronounced 'coo-un' as per the Munster pronunciation here or 'coo-awn'?

I have found it spelled online with no fada, a fada on the u, on the a, and on both the u and the a. It also seems to have two meanings, both 'harbour' and 'little hound/wolf' but I think this might vary due to fada placement?

Would it be correct to have a pronunciation of 'coo-un' spelled 'Cuan', or should this have the fada on the u, (assume none on the a as that's where the 'awn' sound comes from. And would this change the meaning?

It doesn't matter to the nth degree, just in case I'm mangling it as I've never actually met a Cuan despite being Irish!

There's no fada on cuan meaning harbour, so coo-un.

With the fada on the U it would mean 'little hound' (cu is hound, hence Cu Chulainn)

The UA vowel combo is always pronounced (as is the combo IA) so the fada would only be needed if you intended the little hound meaning.

Would you consider Luan too? Pronounced loo-un. I know someone with this name.

Thank you @mathanxiety! Just checking my understanding, so you would expect Cúan so 'little hound' to be pronounced 'coo-awn'?

We have a Ruairidh who often goes by Rua. I like it - (and do the extended family who still struggle with the full spelling!).

Rua is an adjective, OP.

OP, no, 'Cuan' and 'Cúan' would be pronounced identically to make the second syllable 'awn' it would have to be 'án' with a fada though admittedly I've never in my life come across a Cúan.

The names we seriously considered but didn't use for DS were Ferdia, Iarla and Lir.

I have actually taught an Uisce. On the first day I was going round the seminar checking names, she rolled her eyes as soon as I said her name, and said 'I know. My parents are hippies.' I had the impression she said it a lot.

What about Rían? It means little king.

Would you believe I once worked as an editor? Yes I thought the 'awn' = from the a fada but wanted to double check.

Rían is a lovely name, but it sounds a bit odd with our second name, alas.

What about Art? It comes from the old word for bear apparently.

Aodh is nice as well I think? If you like Éanna - similar sound?

I love Naoise but people seem to be using it for girls these days.

I think Lir is awful - makes me think of King Lear as well as the children of Lir.

See 'Lir' and 'Lear' sound totally different to me!

at little Uisce! Bless her.

I always liked the story the singer Wallis Bird has about her name - apparently her dad won on a horse called Wallis, so that was her name.