A sibling for Orla

[stroan]

We live in Scotland, DH is Irish and we would ideally like another Irish name (or at least Scottish/Gaelic/Celtic) for DC #2. Preferably something fairly recognisable in Scotland that we won’t have to correct too often!

Our surname is a bit sing songy - ends in ey with an L in the middle. Something like Eilidh would sound very silly.

Top of the boys list last time was Ruairi and we both still love it. I do worry that we gave DD an easy to spell and pronounce name and that it would be unfair to use a less simple name for a DS.

The only other boys name we both like is Torin.

Definitely don’t like anything very Scottish like Hamish, Angus, Fergus, Mungo!

Names that are out because of other connections:
Oran
Cillian
Patrick
Sean
Seamus
Ronan

Other girls names we liked:
Aisling (but DD says Ash-a-ling which puts me off!)
Maeve
Niamh

Names out because of other connections:
Cara
Aoife
Mirren
Mairead

Any ideas? Or opinions on these names?

Yes, me too, at work, on the phone especially, you're constantly spelling your name and asking for people to spell theirs.

I have a friend called Síle pronounced Sheila, and although it is definitely a name that gets said wrong (sile or si-le) I think it's very pretty!

Also have a friend Beibhinn and I think that name is also really lovey and she pronounced it as "Bevin"

I'd love to know your name Josepheen!

Mary

Eimear
Ciara
Niamh
Aisling
Roisin
Sinead

Cormac
Conor
Ronan
Sean
Patrick
Lorcan

'if you're a Leinster Irish speaker, you'll pronounce it Oarla. If you're Connacht, Munster or Ulster Irish, you'll pronounce it Orla.'

What's the difference?

Only orla we know has a younger sister called Alicia. There is also Caitlin which is also an easy Irish name for people.

We have a Niamh and if current bump is a girl she will be a Orla

Not helpful but will Be Thomas if a boy, as it’s the only name we could agree on. I love Rory but also doesn’t really fit with what you’re looking for!

Arlo

Eamon for a boy or Fiona for a girl.Not Irish but anyway.

Girls:
Ishbel
Lorna
Shona
Morven
Catriona
Rowan

Boys:
Brian
Aidan
Colm
Ewan
Struan
Cy

My friend has a Murray which I think is lovely and is easy to spell

Arran is great too - they will get the odd misspelling from the Biblical Aeron but Arran is the Scots place so might be easier up there - I love it

Irish (I think!) names that might appeal:

Rory (love)
Colm
Dara
Auley

Ailia
Cara
Ida (love this, beautifully simple & works really well with Orla)

Alana

Tara is my favourite to go with Orla.
Others are:
Emer
Áine
Cara
Íde (Eeda- short, but might be tricky spelling)
Aida /Ada /Adah
Fiona
Lía /Leah
Iseult

For a boy, how about:
Oscar
Owen
Finn
Cian
Kieran
Liam
Tiernan
Conor
Conn
Eamonn
Marcas

Rory? We were so nearly going to go for Ruairi and decided on Rory right at the last minute. I'm so glad we did now.
It goes lovely with Orla, 2 syllables, same number of letters, and both are simplified spellings of traditional Irish names.
Funnily enough, Orla would be top of our girls list but it goes badly with our surname.
If we lived in Ireland we would definitely have gone for Ruairi as I like that pronunciation but it would have been pronlematic here in England.
I think in Scotland the name Ruairi will be pronounced correctly but spelling may be an issue. (I think Ruaridh is the more common spelling there?) I much prefer the Ruairi.spelling.

@choosinganame at the moment, Rory and Ruairi are the two we are still most keen on. We both like either option, both sound almost the same despite different accents and DD can say them.

Ruaridh is definitely more popular in Scotland, but we’d rather have the Irish version really. The good thing is that it would be recognised here and pronounced correctly, but spelling might be an issue at first.

I agree that Rory goes well with Orla, I think I’d be happy with either. However, I was completely convinced DD was a boy called Ruairi so I wonder if I’d regret choosing Rory just for the sake of spelling after years of loving the name.

People have struggled with spelling my name correctly my entire life and it never bothered me at all - if anything it made me feel unique. I have a nickname I use all the time that’s easy to spell so it’s so rarely ever a thing anymore anyway.

I know of an Orla and Keeva.

Nessa / Neasa
Finola
Una
Síofra
Alvy / Ailbhe
Bronagh
Honora
Róisín
Caitríona

Declan
Luan
Euan
Eoin or Owen
Conn
Colman
Ferdia
Fergus
Fintan

@NottonightJosepheen I'm guessing Laoiseach! Love that name

Ciara, Alannah, Catriona, Clodagh,