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Baby names

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Original poster

Eliza or Saoirse?

53 replies

IceColdCocaCola · 28/12/2019 22:49

Due baby number 2 in April, don't know gender. If DS was a girl then I would have definitely used Eliza, but I've noticed it creeping up in popularity which is beginning so put me off. But I have loved the name forever.
So wondering what other people opinions are..
Eliza or Saoirse?

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3littlerabbits · 29/12/2019 06:53

Saoirse is so beautiful. Eliza makes me think of lizards

PlantPotting · 29/12/2019 08:06

Love Eliza - one of my favourite names! I’d definitely pick that

I also just think “sore arse” for the other name

LoveSaoirse · 29/12/2019 08:36

I have a Saoirse. We're in London, my family are Irish (I'm born here and dh is as English as they come).

Aside from the first time anyone sees the name, us or her needing to say "it's seer-shuh", and obviously that no one will know where to start when asked to spell it, it's great. It hasn't been a bother at all. She loves that her name means freedom and actually being in London means most people have no idea of the potential political connotations back in Ireland.

The only problem i have is that there is another saoirse in our area, never met the family but we seem to have lots of mum friends acquaintances in common, and the other saoirse is pronounced "sur-sha". On occasion I've had to correct people and say no this is "seer-shuh". But probably only twice that i can remember.

I'm biased but I'd go for Saoirse Smile

Whatsyourflava · 29/12/2019 08:44

Eliza definitely

whiteroseredrose · 29/12/2019 09:08

Eliza - spare her years of being asked how to say it / spell it.

This. We really butcher Irish names here. It looks like Eliza or Saucy to me.

helpneedshoes · 29/12/2019 09:10

No a fair few Saoirse in London, It's a lovely name.

Omashu · 29/12/2019 09:19

Saoirse

AfterSchoolWorry · 29/12/2019 09:23

Eliza. I don't either of the 'S' sounds in Saoirse.Too.much of a mouthful. ( Irish btw )

nagynolonger · 29/12/2019 09:31

Eliza if you are in England. It will be fine while she is little you will be able to correct other parents/ school on the correct pronunciation and spelling.

Long term it will be a problem every time she goes somewhere new or meets new people. Some people will be ignorant and make a point of commenting frequently about her name. In English it does break down to sore arse sadly.

CatteStreet · 29/12/2019 09:38

Eliza is terribly popular atm - a bit like Evelyn was over the last couple of years - and, IMO, isn't particularly nice. Saoirse is lovely (and the people who instantly make 'sore arse' out of it are being a bit silly tbh) but I'd listen to TerribleCustomerCervix there. IIWY I'd go back to the drawing board, actually.

Ohyesiam · 29/12/2019 10:53

But it doesn’t even spell out sore arse if you use phonetic English?

What are people on about?

helpneedshoes · 29/12/2019 12:14

Long term it will be a problem every time she goes somewhere new or meets new people

Will it though? I have an Irish name, most people just ask first re the pronunciation. That's it, & I often do the same as London is pretty diverse. Plus more people recognise it now since traditional Irish names are more common. Plus I think the actress Saoirse is fairly well known.

eggandonion · 29/12/2019 12:37

I work and live in a part of Ireland where both Irish and English names are widely used,as are Polish, Estonian, Russian, Portuguese, and a variety of other names. If I'm not sure of pronunciation or spelling I ask. Is it Smyth or Smith, is it Alistair or Alisdair....

Primrosepenny · 29/12/2019 12:40

I like both of them but I think in the UK, Eliza would be better. Also not a huge amount of people will get the pronunciation right

FluffyEggsontoast · 29/12/2019 14:25

Eliza

Spied · 29/12/2019 14:28

Eliza is much better imo.

Anoisagusaris · 29/12/2019 14:31

Are British people not familiar with the name Saoirse now from the actress Saoirse Ronan?

MikeUniformMike · 29/12/2019 15:22

Familiar with the name because of the actress, but am confused as to the pronunciation.
I thought it was Sair-sha.
I would avoid as I have no Irish connection, it's a celebrity-inspired name, and I am not sure how to say it.
Eliza is less complicated.

Blackberrybunnet · 29/12/2019 16:10

I love Saoirse but has become VERY popular of late (Saoirse Ronan perhaps???). Also, there are quite a variety of pronunciations, depending on where you live. In Scotland it tends to be SAIRSHA, whereas S.Ronan seems to pronounce her name SERSHA. In England this comes out as SEU-SHA ("eu" as in French "bleu"). I would find it very annoying to be constantly having to correct people. Ditto with the spelling. My friend Mhairi hated her name all her life for these very reasons. I reckon Saoirse is this year's Niamh!

reginafelangee · 29/12/2019 16:12

Eliza

It's a nicer name
She won't spend her whole life spelling her name out, explaining how to pronounce it
She will have a chance at being able to get pencil cases etc with her name on

CruCru · 29/12/2019 19:33

I like Saoirse but how much will it irritate you if people don't pronounce it the way you want? I would pronounce it Ser-sha but it doesn't look as though everyone here would.

I remember someone telling me that she was thinking of calling her new baby Genevieve. How lovely! Genevieve! I said. No, Genevieve she said. We repeated this a few times and it got a bit uncomfortable - I really wasn't trying to be an arse, I just couldn't hear the difference between the way she said it and the way I said it.

user1493494961 · 29/12/2019 19:57

Eliza.

FluffyEggsontoast · 29/12/2019 19:58

Eliza

isadoradancing123 · 29/12/2019 20:00

How can you expect anyone to be able to pronounce saoirse unless they are irish

Anoisagusaris · 29/12/2019 20:55

I love the name Eliza. Not popular in Ireland, is it very common in the UK?