Niamh and...

[Thetigerwhocameto]

Just been discussing names with DH and we couldn’t come to any agreement. DD is Niamh and we do not know what sex DC2 is. So Mumsnet... over to you! Sensible suggestions please!

Similar style to Niamh (imo)
Liam
Flynn
Oscar
Jacob
Cian

Nora
Orlaith
Erin
Cerys
Saorsie

I had pretty much most of the same nabes as Didyeeaye said. Also

Fergus /Fergal
Kieran
Dominic

Alice
Roisin
Tara
Rhiannon
Ailsa

I know a Niamh with a grace as a sister
And another with an Aiden as a brother

Niamh and Orlagh
Niamh and Sadhbh
Niamh and Ciarán
Niamh and Domhnall

Are you in the UK OP, or Ireland?

Niamh has got very popular over the water, but I wouldn’t be suggesting the likes of Sadhbh for example if you live in the Home Counties!

Emer
Ciara
Tara
Orla
Fiona
Cara
Fiadh/Fia

Liam
Darragh/Dara
Conor
Rory
Cian
Ronan
Cillian

depends on where you live

I love

Sorcha
Ademar
Liadan
Iseult (or isolde)

Emmett
Redmond
Liam
Sean
Garvan
Dualta (had such crush when I read the Walter Mackin book)

And if your surname is O'Neill go all the way and call him Eoin Roe.

😂 sorry! Should have said we live in middle England!

I LOVE Orla for a girl, DH is unsure. There are some lovely suggestions here, but knowing the Nemo/Nee-am-huh/nymph/Naomi fun we have had with the pronunciation of Niamh, I would be a little apprehensive to be going too Gaelic.

We do have a lot of Gaelic within our family though, but are happy to consider just about anything

Well as you are going to argue Niamh as a spelling to death outside Ireland then for a girl I would go Clodagh and Oisín for a boy.

I feel your pain OP- we have a Sadhbh and it can get weary explaining the spelling and pronounciation. We’re in Ireland as well, so I’m sure it’s worse in England!

For DC2 we had Orla picked for a girl too- I love that it’s a simple but strong name.

@PennyMordauntsLadyBrain it’s such a nightmare st times 😂 i just let it slide some times, especially when people commit to their way of pronouncing it (one nurse in the doctors is pretty adamant DD is Naomi)

Orla was high on the list for DD so I’m certainly working on it this time 😍

Cara
Sinead
Emer
Evelyn
Nora
Fia
Aileen
Eva
Aisling

Finn
Cillian
Cian
Rian
Conor
Sean
Brendan (Bren)
Derry
Joe
Jim
Ross

Orla is now the 88th most popular girls name in England and Wales, but it's actually a bit higher when you take into account the various spellings.

Erin

"I wouldn’t be suggesting the likes of Sadhbh for example if you live in the Home Counties!"

I have a Sadhbh in London. It's not that bad, there's names from all over the world here.

I have a Saoirse in Scotland. We have had very few issues.

I know a Niamh and Esme. (Esmay, not Esmee - I got that wrong at the beginning - I'm guessing its originally French and therefore there used to be an accent on the final e))

Niamh and Eleri
Niamh and Elsie
Niamh and Kitty

Niamh and Micah
Niamh and Frazer
Niamh and Arlo

Sticking to an Irish theme for this, as it's easier than just doing anything and you seem open to it.

Niamh and Cara
Niamh and Aisling
Niamh and Aoife
Niamh and Alannah
Niamh and Fiona
Niamh and Bronagh
Niamh and Brigid

Those would be some of the easier to manage Irish names that I can think of - either they're getting popular, or they travel fairly well. I think Fiona may actually be Scottish but not 100% on that.

For boys: Rian (ree-ahn), Conor, Liam, Ronan, Ciar (Keir), Fintan, Barra (bar-ah), Patrick would all be good options. Eoin is an Irish name, but you could use Owen if you thought the spelling was too much. I love Emmet but as it's in honour of a republican it mightnt interest you.

Thanks @Ravenwings, I actually quite like Emmet too, my family are Irish catholic’s so I could totally get away with it... although I do think DH would take some persuading 😂

Sure you could always go with Emmett - I think it's just the Emmet spelling that is a homage to Robert Emmet.

Angharad (go Welsh!)
Aoife
Una
Lara
Finola
Bebhinn

Ronan
Oscar
Cormac
Alasdair
Killian or Cillian
Daragh

I know 2 sister pairs who are Niamh and Aoife - they go well together. Aoife has been better known since Una Heeley called her daughter Aoife. (The sibling pairs are in their late teens now).