Irish names for a girl

[HarrietM87]

I’m Irish, DH is English, baby will have DH’s English surname and live in London. Our DS has a standard (though uncommon) Irish boy’s name (similar to Sean - ie Irish spelling but generally recognised in England so not many issues with pronunciation or spelling so far).

I’m pregnant and if it’s a boy we’ll probably go for Patrick (just saw another thread on this - love the name!).

If it’s a girl we’d like to give her an Irish name but ideally nothing that will cause her too many problems, and also don’t want to use an anglicised spelling. Can’t use Aoife, Niamh, Meabh, Eimear, Orla or Derbhla due to close friends/family.

Any suggestions of names that fit these criteria (ie recognisably Irish but straightforward-ish spellings)? My absolute favourite is Ailbhe but I think that might be difficult for English speakers and if it’s spelled Alva it loses the Irish connection completely. Also love Nora but DH hates because of “bloody Nora”. Also considering names which aren’t Irish as such but commonly used in Ireland like Mary and Anne. All suggestions welcome!

Nollaig is a version of Noel/Noelle (ultimately meaning Christmas).

Love Philomena.

I’ve never heard of Nollaig as a name. It’s kind of cute.

I remember hearing about someone who had a little girl called Ireland.

Something to consider

I love the name Ordharna

Not an Irish name. Not sure it’s even a name tbh.

OP there’s a load of made up rubbish being posted here. Do your research on anything you’re considering.

Caitlin

Soubriquet there’s a celebrity who called their child Ireland. Might have been Kim Basinger.

OP, don’t do this!

Mara?

Agreed, @JoxerGoesToStuttgart. There are people who appear to have done their research on Irish name on those US baby name websites which bear no resemblance to reality/the rules of Irish orthography.

I wouldn’t sweat the pronunciation. I have an unusual Irish name and surname and live in England, and gave English-born DS an Irish name that isn’t phonetic in English, plus my Irish surname and DH’s ditto. We’ve never had any difficulty.

No, people won’t know how to pronounce it the first time they see it written down, but the people who have got their heads around the fundamentally ridiculous Nevaeh will manage Ailbhe.

mathanxiety Keeva has rared it’s ugly head too

If you wouldn’t call your daughter Noelle, then don’t call her Nollaig. And male Nollaigs are always plaintive misfits in terrible jumpers, in m experience.

Eavan

I have a few Irish family members called Sadie I think that's lovely

True dat about male Nollaigs (and also Noels in general, and throw in teeth that could do with an introduction to a toothbrush).

Sadie is not an irish name!
Nollaig i find quite twee but i only met one lady with the name and no Noels here under the age of 45!

I know a couple of Noelles and a couple of Noeleens. Not sure if Noeleen is a variation of Noel? It looks like it but not sure.

evilharpy
Yes you're correct- Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin called their daughter Ireland.

I worked with a Nola. Thought it was made up till i checked just now. Possible female Noel!

Dareca

Oops Darerca

Saoirse and Oona are my favourites

Blaithin
Bebhinn

Some really lovely names on this thread! Congrats op!

I love aoife

HoneyBee1973 Blaithin and Bebhinn are two names I really can't stand Especially Blaithin, I always thought the sound of it was like someone throwing up.

Also thought of one of my cousin's girls - Fionnuala. She's about 21 and very tall, dark and pretty, her name suits her.

My friend's mum is an Eithne (p. Ethna). It's a bit old lady though.

No votes for Deirdre? I went to school with a few but have never met a baby Deirdre - I guess it went out of fashion around the time Mrs Barlow appeared in Corrie.

What about Rhóinn?

I’m with you, @evilharpy. The Bláithín I know is a whinyarse, and nicknamed Blotsy, which kills it for me.