Phoebe or Órla

[schafernaker]

As the title says. We are team yellow and have a boys name picked out (Thomas) but can’t decide between Phoebe and Órla. Older sister is Niamh 😊

Phoebe

I agree that the English can’t roll their Rs properly so Orla becomes “aw-lah” which isn’t good. Scottish or Irish, go for it.

How is it pronounced with the fada as opposed to without?

Much prefer Orla

Orla

Even as awla sound in English it’s pretty.

I have never seen the fada on Orla. It would stretch the "o" sound.
If you don't like Orla you could use the Orlaith
spelling.

The fada on Órla means the name is pronounced Oar-la (that is, the usual pronunciation). Without the fada it would, strictly speaking, be pronounced Uhr-la. However, it's commonly used without the fada and still pronounced as if the fada was there. The same is true for names like Dónal/Donal(Dough-nal) or Séan/Sean which are always pronounced as if they have a fada, even when the fada is not included in the spelling. Personally, I'd use the fada in Ireland, but life might be simpler without it in the UK.

You're right about the different meanings of Órla (golden princess) and orla too, but I really don't think you need worry about it, as you'll be using the former pronunciation. Lots of people in Ireland don't use the fada in Orla. Sean used without a fada also has a different pronunciation and meaning (old) in the Irish language, but I don't think it's an issue for all the people called Sean out there. Personally, I love fadas and would use them, but I don't think you should feel under any pressure to.

Thanks @LizzieAnt to be honest I would probably use the fada on official things and then let (potential) DD choose if she wants to use it day to day when she is old enough, I wouldn’t be overly precious about it day to day though 😊

Exactly what LizzieAnt said. I much prefer Órla to Phoebe. And it goes perfectly with Niamh.

Orla always sounds like Oral to me. Same problem with Aurelia.

So I vote for Phoebe.

Sounds good OP . I prefer Órla than Phoebe btw. Also, just noticed that I managed to put the fada in Sean (in my example above) on the wrong letter! It should read Seán!!

Orla, I have a huge dislike for Phoebe

Phoebe but I’m not overly fond of either

Orla - my niece is Orla and she is just lovely - and that's as good a reason as any Seriously though, love the sound of the name. I have a niece called Niamh too - more useless information. They are my two favourite Irish girls' names. Beautiful.

I have an Orlaith!
....and a Ruairi 😉

Órla is beautiful.

I don't like Phoebe, it reminds me of feeble.

Orla without the fada

I’m somewhat sceptical of Orla meaning ‘vomit’ in Scots Gaelic. Urlacan does mean vomit in Irish, though ‘cur amach’ is more common, but as pps have said, the etymology of Orla is from ‘gold’ and “prince’.

I do think the non-rhotic English pronunciation as Aw-la wrecks it, though.

Love Phoebe
Prefer that name by a mile

Orla is pretty.

Really dislike Phoebe. Looks and sounds ugly to me.

Orla, definitely. Phoebe makes me think of feeble and sounds too similar to Niamh.

Orla goes better. I have an Orla. No fada, as that would change the pronunciation. If you didn't want Orla I'd go Orlaith. We decided against that as brits read it as Or-laith and I don't want her spelling it for her whole life

The fada is what makes the pronunciation, legalseagull. Órla is pronounced OAR-la. Like your daughter, probably.
Orla is supposed to be pronounced URR-la but the unfortunate convention has been to drop the fada because it seems people don't understand it.

Orla is on my list of girls names (if I ever have a girl) - love it!