Irish baby girl names

[Ek3009]

Hi I need some inspiration!

7 weeks to go and no further forward with names 🙈.

Baby girls surname will be Kilpatrick and we both have one Irish parent so want an Irish first name but really struggling to find something that we love.

Any suggestions welcome!

Yep I’m from NI and would say “Durra” for Derry. Doireann id say Dirren/Durren (which sound almost identical in my accent).

I think Aisling is beautiful, goes very well with your surname, and it's not overly common but I think widely-enough known not to present too many pronunciation issues. Also lovely meaning - vision/dream.

@MindyStClaire, @abiirthdaycake and @HarrietM87 are right — it’s not tomayto/tomato, it’s mispronouncing Guy as Goo-ey or Yvonne as Wy-Vonny. Wouldn’t you rather know before you do that?

Yes, Doire is ‘DIRR-uh’ — second syllable is a schwa. Doireann is DIRR-un.

I'm not sure though @Quire. Sometimes, a name is so commonly used that, though it originated as a mistake, the 'new' version could maybe be thought of as the anglicised version? That's the way I think of it anyway.

If people prefer to use these anglicised pronunciations that have developed, that should be their choice. But I think it better to make people aware that, as is the case with Aoibheann, sometimes these aren't the original Irish language pronunciations, and that the original pronunciations are an alternative choice. Then an informed choice can be made.

Personally, I usually prefer the original Irish language version (although I make an exception for Niall).

Also, I'm talking specifically about names for which there is now an established alternative pronunciation. Not about making it up as you go along!

Agree with everyone saying the correct pronunciation of Aoibheann is Eevan. Surely if you know Irish you know how to pronounce "Is aoibheann liom cáca milis." How do you then think Aoibheann changes totally when it has the same spelling as a first name?

But back on track I love the following names:
Aisling
Máire
Orla
Orna
Ciara
Niamh (absolute fav)
Aoife
Sorcha
Alannah
Laoise
Maeve

Seoda is 'jewels', not jewel.
Seoid is singular, seoda is plural.

I love Nuala, Clodagh and Sorcha. X

Iseult
Sadhbh
Eibhlin
Just love all of these and wish I'd used at least one of them for my daughter.

@LizzieAnt

I'm not sure though *@Quire*. Sometimes, a name is so commonly used that, though it originated as a mistake, the 'new' version could maybe be thought of as the anglicised version? That's the way I think of it anyway.

If people prefer to use these anglicised pronunciations that have developed, that should be their choice. But I think it better to make people aware that, as is the case with Aoibheann, sometimes these aren't the original Irish language pronunciations, and that the original pronunciations are an alternative choice. Then an informed choice can be made.

Personally, I usually prefer the original Irish language version (although I make an exception for Niall).

Also, I'm talking specifically about names for which there is now an established alternative pronunciation. Not about making it up as you go along!

I think you're right (unfortunately) about anglicisations like Cáitlín pronounced Kate-Lynne, where people are looking at it and pronouncing it the way it would be pronounced in English minus síne fadas etc, and it's pretty much taken off as a name in its own right, but Aoibheann as Ayveen just falls into the territory of the Guy-as-Gooey style mistake, rather than the 'alternative version', for me.

At the moment my top 3 are Cara, Ciara & Erin. Not sure about Erin as I think its an American Irish name so not overly irish!
Also we are not agreeing on how to spell Ciara! My husband has ruled out the trickier irish spelling names as we live in Uk!

So hard to decide. Please keep the suggestions coming.

My DD is a Saoirse I’m not from Ireland but I fell in love with the name after hearing my (Irish) mate mentioning it (a cousin of hers is a Saoirse). I do have to spell it out for people but DD’s very vocal on how it’s pronounced and will politely correct people, and spell her name for them.

Nula or Orla ...both easy to pronounce and spell

@ILoveStickers - Why is it "Aisling" but "Ailis"?

Áisling has a fada on the "a", which elongates it. However, you often see it anglicised without the fada.

@ilikechocolateandtea

At the moment my top 3 are Cara, Ciara & Erin.

How would you spell Ciara other than that way?

Cara isn't a traditional name. I think it's as American as Erin.

@bert3400 - Nula or Orla ...both easy to pronounce and spell

It's spelt Nuala, not Nula.

I also like the older spelling of Órlaith but obviously doesn't travel as well as the anglecised Orla.

@OchonAgusOchonO

It would be Kiera which is the anglicised version which I'm personally not fond of so I think it is out.

Yes I agree Cara isn't a traditional irish name also but for some reason I feel it is more than Erin. I like the Irish translation to friend. I think It's between Cara or Erin unless we can find another name to add to the mix.

@ilikechocolateandtea - It would be Kiera which is the anglicised version which I'm personally not fond of so I think it is out.

That just looks so wrong to me. Probably because Ciara is such a common name.

I think It's between Cara or Erin unless we can find another name to add to the mix.

I like both of them. What about Clionadh? I think that's a beautiful name. Or Aileen? I also like Alaoise or Alanna.

Meave
Siobhan
Nuala
Orla
Cait
Roisin
Colleen

Ffion and Finola too

[quote OchonAgusOchonO]**@ILoveStickers* - Why is it "Aisling" but "Ailis"?*

Áisling has a fada on the "a", which elongates it. However, you often see it anglicised without the fada.[/quote]
I don't think Aisling ever has a fada, does it? It's pronounced as if there were no fada anyway.
I don't know why Ailís is pronounced Ay-leesh. The first syllable doesn't seem right now that I think about it...

@ilikechocolateandtea
Cara, the Irish word for friend, is pronounced differently to the name (which I agree isn't a traditional one, though it's nice).

@caringcarer
Ffion isn't Irish , Welsh I think.

I've never seen Aisling with a fada either (it's DD's name), that would make it more like Oysh-ling or Awsh-ling wouldn't it? Like Áine?

Have to say, names like Ailis, Eilis etc, with and without fadas always confuse me.

Oops, sorry, @ILoveStickers
You said Ailis, not Ailís with a fada (I'm obviously also confused by them @MindyStClaire ). Your question was about the first syllable though, so hopefully it doesn't matter.

To every one above caoimhe is pronounced keeva not queeva or kweeva jeez 😂🙄

Has anyone mentioned Dervla?

More votes for Clodagh, Maeve, and Una (sorry I can’t do the accents on my keyboard).

Can I ask? I’ve seen the spelling Oonagh, is that never correct? Or is it a different sound than Una?