Ira

[Hippopotas]

I really like this name for a boy. What are people’s thoughts?
Pronounced Eye-ra

It's a nice name. But you can't use it in the uk. Unfortunately it has to go in the pile of usable names like Isis, Ira, Myra etc

It is a perfectly reasonable name anywhere other than the UK, where it isn't a sensible choice.

Weirdly my first thought wasn’t IRA but I did want to add an n on the end to make it Iran
It’s objectively nice but it really depends where you live.

It's a girl's name. Not for me because of the IRA.

it's a male hebrew name.

I thought it was girls' name when I read it and guessed it was pronounced 'ear-a'. So I'm not too keen!

I'd say Ee-ra.

Like Iridescent or irrelevant

I know it as a Jewish man's name, but I'm Irish so just no. IRA here too.

I'm Irish but my first thought wasn't IRA. I picture an old Jewish man, hanging out with his pals Eli and Morty. Maybe playing chess together

I like it a lot, Ira Glass is the only Ira I've heard of and he's fab.

We considered it for DS until I pointed out that my family is northern Irish.

I love this name! Astonished at the number of people unfamiliar with it. It's very Jewish though, to the point that I'd hesitate to use it as I have no Jewish heritage. Feels a bit weird - like naming a white British boy Jose or something.

I also cut the Welsh girl's name Eira off our list as it sounded too much like Ira! Guess it depends on your frame of reference.

I know one Ira he's 65 and lives in the states.
I can't not think I.R.A when I see it written down.

Sounds like a either a bald Jewish accountant or a terrorist organisation....

Not sure it works if you're in the UK to be honest.

How about Ida instead?

A boy called Ida?

Ha ha, didn’t RTFT properly. Thought Ira was a girls name..

I didn't think IRA at all - I thought of Ira Gerschwin and Ira Levin, and then I thought "I bet someone on here will think it's a girl's name because it ends in a" (see also Nikita). It does look like the majority of people do think IRA, though - which is only an issue if you're in the UK.

If you're Jewish, I would go for it, but otherwise probably not. I feel it would be a bit like a white British couple calling their son Muhammed.

Ivo?

I think that was the name of one of Cybil Shepherds ex husbands on her sitcom "Cybil"? Haven't seen/thought about that in years, but it was quite a nice name and yes, I think it did have a Jewish vibe.

Having watched it on tv though, I didn't see the spelling. Unfortunately, having seen it written down my first thought was IRA as well. Are there any (legitimate) alternative spellings?

You don't want to be stuck singing Surrey With the Fringe On Top in front of Ira.

Irrah - maybe spell it like that ??

I know it’s a traditional Jewish name but if you are in the UK must people will think IRA. And it’s not much better in the US as it’s a retirement savings account.

Ira as in Gershwin. I like it.

Exactly this.

I’d be surprised if someone with no Jewish background used it tho