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!

I don't know - I get what @MikeUniformMike is saying. DH and I are Irish and we live in UK. We gave our 5 DCs Irish names - some more common and better known than others. I constantly have to spell/explain the names and there are times when it's a bit annoying, but then I love the names and am proud to reflect our heritage. Of course, the DCs are the ones who have to live with their names. The older ones tell me they love them which is reassuring, but I am aware that they might get fed up of "standing out" in some way.

My own name is Irish and is forever mispronounced, so I suppose I should have learned from that!

@User1990232, I would say it about any name.
I can't think of any Nigerian names off the top of my head, the Nigerians I know have names that are English.

The example names I gave in my last post are welsh. If you know how to say them, or if you heard them would know how to spell them, then fine.

Upthread there are examples of names not spelt correctly. Nulua was one of them and I think it was meant to be Nuala. I used to work with someone whose DD was a Nuala pronounced Noo-ahla. I know someone with a daughter called Naimh pronounced Neev.

These people have degrees and good jobs. They are not stupid, but they didn't research the names, did they.

Did you see the disagreement on this thread about how to say currently popular names?

People may or may not be stupid but if a name has a spelling that is not obvious, they may not know how to say/spell it.

It applies to English names too - something like St John Featherstonehaugh might be a pain, but so might Katherine Thompson.

If I point out that Ciara might get called See-ahra or Clara or have her name spelt Kira, Kiera or Keira, and that Cara might be easier, it isn't because I have something against Irish names, it's because I see the pitfalls.

But why pander to the ignorance?

Because you either have to put up with the mangling or use a different name.

I can think of people who use a different name (e.g. Eluned using Lyn), or their middle name (Geraint using his middle name John), or the english version of their name (spanish Geraldo or welsh Gerallt using Gerald), or accepting the different pronunciation (spanish Sergio using the Sur-gee-o pron.)

All options a bit crap IMO.

But how often does the “mangling” actually occur? How often do you come across new people?

People who know you/have met you more than once (or have ever met someone with that name) won’t mangle it unless they’re total idiots. You can correct them easily unless you’ve got some kind of social anxiety that means it makes you “cringe”. You are literally choosing your child’s name based on the risk that someone at the doctors or Starbucks might get it wrong. And if they do, do you really care?

As somebody who regularly gets my name mangled, I don't care. I prefer to have a name that reflects my heritage than to have another lovely name that is more recognisable outside Ireland.

Most people say it right after the first time I correct them. It's becoming more recognisable in the UK due to a fairly popular comedian. Most people continue to misspell it even though it is literally there in front of them in my email address and signature. I guess I just assume that they have some difficulty with spelling rather than think that my name is the problem.

Totally agree @Shayisgreat. I have an Irish name and live in the UK. People I don't know often get it wrong, couldn't care less what I get called at the doctor's to be honest! Most people get it after being told once. My DD's have beautiful Irish names that reflect our heritage. I think one of them has the same name as you Shay!

@User1990232, I come across new people all the time. Granted, a child won't but at work and socially an adult will.

Most people aren't total idiots.

You can correct people but people don't like being corrected. People don't like getting things wrong. It gets tedious if you are correcting people every day.

Cringing at having your name mangled or having to correct is not social anxiety. It's your brand.

Would he have said ""It's a proven fact that it's the sweetest sound to a person's ear is the sound of their own name.", if he got called Dally Carneejee every day?

If someone got my name wrong in Star*ucks, I'd probably not give a toss but if I needed several hospital appointments in one day, or if I missed out on a job interview because the receptionist couldn't match my name to the appointment I would.

Ok and how many times does the average person need several hospital appointments in one day, meet a person in a situation where they haven’t already said their own name (I don’t know about you but when meeting people I normally introduce myself rather than writing it down for them), or come across a spectacularly incompetent receptionist in the context of a job interview?

I don’t think most people are total idiots, that’s my point.

I’m a lawyer in the city. I work with clients and colleagues from all over the world. If I see a name where I’m not sure of the pronunciation, I ask. If I hear a name and I’m not sure of how it’s spelled, I ask. I meet new people maybe once or twice a month maybe? I know how to say and spell all of my friends’ and colleagues’ names correctly.

We’re obviously not going to agree on this but I think your attitude is really lame. The world is an increasingly connected place and we can’t assume that our children are only going to meet and socialise with people born in England, so any name could potentially cause them difficulty.

@User1990232, well aren't you lucky. You come across as someone who will not accept somebody else having an opinion.
I'm sure that your DC will be as thick skinned as you. Yes, I am lame because I have hurt my foot metaphorically kicking you to the far side of the long grass.

When I was younger I knew a little girl called Cobhladh (cove-la) meaning little shell in Irish. I’ve never been able to find the correct spelling of this or heard it since, has anyone else?

@littlechicken11 I've never heard the name before. Is it this one? Cobhlaith en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobhlaith

There is Cobhlaith. Pronounced like “kowley” not sure of meaning.

Avril

@Shayisgreat @Smallsteps88 that might be it, perhaps I’m just remembering it wrong.

@MikeUniformMike I totally accept you have a different opinion, I guess I’m just shocked that someone could be so narrow minded in this day and age. I don’t think you need to be thick skinned to go through life with an Irish name, but I will certainly bring my children up not to feel like they have to pander to the lowest common denominator in every situation.

@User1990232, not irish but if you were christened Lleucu Prydderch you would not be able to teach people to say it. It works perfectly if you are amongst welsh speakers. It doesn't even look unusual to me - I know people with either the first name or the surname. (google translate doesn't get it 100% right)

At the drs she would probably be called Mrs Prid-urk, even as a child.
As an adult she would introduce herself and people would ask her to repeat it, then say 'what?' or 'oh that's nice what does it mean?' then 'can i call you Lucy instead?'

I would need to check how to say a name like Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. If I knew how to say it, I would need to check before I'd be able to spell it and I'd probably get it wrong. My guess without checking would be Kevin O'Riley or Kweevin O'Rawley. Checked google translate and it says Kevin O'Riley but doesn't give the pronunciation.

Look at you calling me narrow minded. I'm not. Some names are beautiful but they are not beautiful when people get them wrong.
Especially if it is nearly every single day, sometimes several times a day.
The fiddlers name looks lovely.

Another vote for Caoimhe! Its such a pretty name and either pronunciation is lovely!

@User1990232, I checked the fiddler's web site and it says
"about Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. If you're wondering how to pronounce my name, try "Kwee-veen Oh Rye Alla" on for size. It's not quite right, but as a first attempt it's not too shabby. ..."

Can't do a fada so spellings may be incorrect
Dearbhaile
Eadaoin
Roisin
Muire
Muireann
Ailbhe
Eimear
Grainne
Fiadh (very popular at present)
Mairead
Aoife
Ciara
Niamh
Sadbh
Caoimhe
Siofra
Siobhan
Sinead
Aine

@MikeUniformMike you’re just repeating yourself now.

Even if you’re not personally narrow minded you are assuming that a person with an Irish name will (a) only or mostly encounter narrow minded people who can’t cope with difference and then (b) not be able to stick up for themselves when they do. That’s a pretty limited view.

Nessa
Aine
Roisin
Grainne
Eithne
Etain
Emer
Aideen

Blaithnead
Blaithin
Seana

Do check meanings of any names you are considering though OP. Nessa, for example, means “not gentle”. Which may be what you’re going for in your daughter but always good to know.

What, @User1990232, because I don't know how to say Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh?

I looked it up, I looked up his web site and I still don't know. I even watched a bit of a video. I still wouldn't get the name right.

Caoimhe seems to have two pronunciations - in Ireland. That's before you have someone who's never seen it before have a try.

You have accused me of things, you have twisted things I've said to suit yourself, when you could just think 'Mike might have a point but I'll call my child what I like'.

Why should anyone need to "stick up for themselves" about their name?