Irish names

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What's everyone's thoughts on Irish names if not Irish?! Having a little girl and really like some Irish names such as Aoife, Orla, Nola. DPs grandma was Irish so there is an Irish link in the family albeit possibly somewhat tenuous... I suppose its a bit like French names e.g. Margot becoming popular...

Teachers who think any Irish name is a bad boy name and verbalise that theory strike me as small town paedestrian Hyacinth Bouquets.
Teachers teach many pupils, and will notice if every Dylan and Lili-Mae is a PITA.
Some names scream out the child's socio-economic background.

@Wolfgirrl who are you speaking for? I think everybody in the UK should feel they have free rein to use an Irish name!

I do think it would be odd to use a Korean name or a Japanese name or a Ugandan name though. Just cos. But I'd still be interested.

Just ignore @Wolfgirrl. She sees the word Irish and has to wade in spouting crap.

I have no problem with Irish names being used by any nationality.

Fiadh Finnoula or Siabh (Sive) are lovely old irish names

I have absolutely no Irish connections and a 19yr old Niamh.

Teachers teach many pupils, and will notice if every Dylan and Lili-Mae is a PITA. Some names scream out the child's socio-economic background.

And, pray, does the choice of an Irish name tell a teacher about a child's socio-economic background?

@Muser314

Terriblecustomercervix if you go back a page.

Oh and just thought of another - Teaghan. I mentioned on here I had it in mind for another DD and got so many snobby replies though

@Inching

Teachers teach many pupils, and will notice if every Dylan and Lili-Mae is a PITA. Some names scream out the child's socio-economic background.

And, pray, does the choice of an Irish name tell a teacher about a child's socio-economic background?

And in fact, does socio-economic background tell a teacher about a child‘s intelligence/behaviour??

@Indecision2020

How long have you been on MN? The raison d'être of many posters is to moan about inequality, whilst propagating said inequality by casting snobbish aspersions on baby names & keeping a little 'pool' of acceptable names so they can weed out unsuitable playdates.

Wolfgirl - if you’re not being deliberately obtuse, there is a history of Irish names being seen as lower-class in England. This is not the same association as with French or Italian names, which are seen as from a highly-regarded culture.

I do not know of any Irish person who would object to a non-Irish person using an Irish name, but I know lots of English people who would consider it chavvy/naughty-boy’s name. The same individuals have no objections to English Sophias or Natashas, so not an objection against all foreign names but only those from cultures they consider inferior.

I speak as the fond owner of an Irish name, with a London daughter with a similarly Irish name.

Wolfgirl - if you’re not being deliberately obtuse,

Lol!

Even worse was the poster who said English people shouldn't use irish names - it's like they dont actually want to let the English admire or indulge in some of their culture, because that would mean they can't play the victim and make out the English look down on it.

Fucking hell.

Taken out of context @TerribleCustomerCervix because that is a very long & complicated thread.

I’d personally be delighted if English people use Irish names or listen to Irish music etc. No culture appropriation issues here, just pleasure (and frankly surprise) at any interest.

I can see that something about Ireland touches a nerve.

Also, how many times have English people (including threads on here) talked about 'ridiculous' spellings of Irish names - I certainly hear it a lot in real life.

'What? How on earth do those letters together spell Neev? Hmmm, what were the Irish thinking when they came up with those spellings, yeah let's spell John PGCAOIVBEIDH hahahahahaha how silly!'

'Admire and indulge in the culture' my arse.

@Eyewhisker

LOVE irish music. My dad (not irish, just some on mum's side) has played it to me since I was very little. Went to temple bar a few years back and stunned my friend how I knew all the songs 😂 she brings it up all the time now if anyone talks about hidden talents... 'Wolf knows EVERY irish song EVER'

@SoManyActivities

What, somebody actually said that on MN????

That's so rude! I can see why that would annoy you.

[quote Wolfgirrl]@SoManyActivities

What, somebody actually said that on MN????

That's so rude! I can see why that would annoy you.[/quote]
People have talked about 'strange' Irish spellings before on MN and the above I definitely hear in real life fairly frequently!

How can it be taken out of context when I’ve lifted a direct quote from your post?

I don’t think anyone needs to know the ins and outs of a “long and complicated thread” to understand that accusing another culture of acting the victim in this example is tone deaf. Do you have any understanding whatsoever of Irish history? At all?

@SoManyActivities

Well, I would never do that, and yes I can see why that would be very annoying.

@TerribleCustomerCervix

If you read the thread we have discussed Irish history in very thorough detail. From the plantations until modern times. It has been very interesting and a bit tense.

I love other people enjoying Irish culture, as long as the name is spelled and pronounced correctly there's no issue. And it surely minimises any divide when people share cultures!

And in fact, does socio-economic background tell a teacher about a child‘s intelligence/behaviour??

That wasn't what I said, but intelligence tends to be hereditary. Socio-economic background is likely to affect the achievement of a child.

If you like a name, fair enough, but the names tend to be trend-led, often inspired by a celebrity (Keira, Scarlett, Saoirse...)

If you use a name from another language, and misspell it or mispronounce it, that's up to you, but when that name becomes mainstream, it sort of ruins the name.

Names I think that this has happened to include Caoimhín, Michele, Rhys, Dylan, Siân, Esmée and Jadon.