Tadhg or Tighe?!

[Marrilou]

Hi all, would really value your opinions. I live in London and my husband's family is Irish. There's only one boy's name I really love: Tadhg which is Irish and pronounced Ty-g (like tiger without the 'r' sound at the end). However, I am not sure whether to spell it the traditional Irish way or use the anglecised version which is Tighe. My husband is called Eoin and is forever being called Ian/Ewan etc or being asked how to pronounce his name and I worry if we use the traditional spelling we'll be condemning the baby to a lifetime of the same... Does anyone have an opinion on this?!

I wouldn't have known how to pronounce either of them

I think even with Tighe you/he will often have to tell people how to pronounce it. Therefore, if you love it, I'd just use the original spelling.

I would completely butcher Tadhg but Tighe, I would guess and pronounce like Tiger without the -er

I also don't know how to pronounce Eoin- Owen?

Even if you call him Tighe, I guarantee that some people will pronounce it 'Tig-huh'. Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb and go for Tadhg (which I love, btw, and would have been my son's name in a different life).

We have reached the age where 50% of names given to children need to you ask how to spell or pronounce the name. Pick the name you like, don't get stressed if people ask questions. I had no idea how to pronounce either spelling so I'd go with the traditional one. It's a lovely name by the way.

I really like Tadhg. I would have pronounced it like Tag rather than Tyg, but wouldn’t have a problem remembering once told the correct way.

Tighe on first glance looks like a typo of Tiger, so would probably guess that for pronunciation.

If you love Tadhg then go with it. I'm in Ireland where it's such a common name no one even blinks at it! But as a pp said, so many names have to be spelt nowadays that I wouldnt let it stop you. Tbh I think the other spelling would look a bit daft if you ever came to Ireland, people would def look at you sideways for that! Good choice of name, love it!

Spell it the Irish way. People will remember once it's been pronounced to them 😊

Neither, both will make his life in London difficult

Owen is the Welsh spelling as far as I know (and the most phonetic, luckily he is not Eoghan!). Tadhg is a lovely name with that spelling. There are plenty of different heritages choosing names that don't slide easily on the english tongue. They all manage and the english get the hang of it eventually. Go for the proper spelling.

both will make his life in London difficult

😮 wow. Foreigners need not apply? What I loved about London was the many, many different cultures and acceptance of all. But this was pre 2000. Things have changed I take it. Backwards not forwards?

Tadhg! Lovely name. It's easy to remember once it has been explained (love the tiger-without-the-er idea!) I've never seen that other version and it isn't actually easier to decipher, making it a bit pointless!

Well I'm Irish and it's always been pronounced as Tag so I'm confused.

No idea at all how to try to pronounce that. And your. Hold will have that wherever they go

Argh child

Tighe can be a surname pronounced “Tie” so calling him Tighe won’t protect him from wrong pronounciation.

In some ways Tadhg may be easier as it is obviously Irish so people will know to ask for the correct pronounciation.

Gorgeous name, definitely spell it the Irish way.

I knew a Tadgh [sic, same as your pronunciation] in London and his name really seemed to stump people. Mostly they pronounced as Tadge.

Go for tradition!

I don't think that 'Tighe' is either obvious how to pronounce or spell, so don't see any point in not giving the (admittedly difficult for English people) traditional spelling for that reason.
I'm quite surprised though, if your dh has had difficulty all his life that he isn't going for Sean or Michael or Patrick or something with a traditional Irish background, but that won't have the issue he's put up with all his life. Often people with really easy names find them bland and go for the more 'interesting' and people who have had trouble every time they give their name anywhere new will choose a really simple to spell / pronounce name for their dc.

I love Tadgh. I live in London and have know a few (all great boys).

Yes people might have to ask, but it's not a difficult pronunciation once you've heard it.

both will make his life in London difficult

People have Irish names in London. I can think of lots of Aine, Aoife and Caoimhe's. It all depends what you consider 'difficult'.

He might have to pronounce his name to people sometimes. If that is the biggest struggle in his life, you'll have had a very lucky boy.

Sure there's people from all over in London, with all sorts of names and all sorts of pronunciations. Everyone gets by, he will be fine!
Inwood, are you from further up north? I can see how something pronounced Tig(er) would be pronounced Tag in that situation.

Go with Tadhg. Thats the correct way to spell it. Its the Irish for Tim. Great to see you keeping some of his heriatge in the family. London is a multi culture city, you will come across all sorts of names