Girls' names

[OhToBeASeahorse]

Due in a week and a half. Don't know the sex but we are decided on our boy's name.

Shortlist:
Matilda (growing on me, DH thinks it's a bit boring)
Hadley (I loved until about 2 weeks ago. This is DH's favourite).
Orla (too popular now?)
Iris (feel like this is a better middle name!)
Saoirse (my fave but I feel like we will be saddling her with a lifetime of spelling issues)

All 4 go with our surname, no issues there.

I like Iris.

[quote OhCaptain]@FolkSongSweet I'm Irish too and there are two Orlaighs in DS's class. And yes, that is how they spell it.

They're not the only ones I've heard of spelt that way either.[/quote]
They’re still wrong - makes no sense according to Irish spelling rules.

All lovely names really, you can’t go too far wrong with any of them. If it was me I think I’d go for Matilda Hadley, just because I think it’s the nicest!

Hadley is awful sorry
I adore Saoirse. It's beautiful and interesting

I love your list! What about Persephone?

Ah thanks!
Got rejected by DH

Where are you @OhCaptain? I agree with @FolkSongSweet in that I've never met an Orlaigh either. I'm in Munster where that spelling would give you a different pronunciation too - the "ig" bit would be pronounced (so Oar-lig?) That said, it isn't in Connacht afaik so I guess both spellings would give the same pronunciation there.
I don't think it's a standard spelling of the name though.

I'm not a fan of Hadley either OP, I'm afraid. Any of the others are lovely.

To me, Hadley is a surname.
I personally don't like surnames as first names.

I wouldn't didn't saddle my dc with names that are difficult to spell.

Not really keen on any of your list but I'd choose Matilda first and Orla second from those you've offered.

I adore Saoirse

Matilda is also gorgeous

Iris and Orla are fine, and I’m not keen on Hadley

Hadley. It's a great name

I actually think Iris Hadley is a brilliant combination!!

My vote is for Orla, it is gaining in popularity but its not overly popular and it sounds lovely.

I think Gregory and Hadley are a little too rhymie (is that a word?). So I would save Hadley for a middle name and choose another first name.

Personally I love Matilda and Iris from your list.

Matilda Hadley
Iris Hadley

Both work very well.

Matilda - I agree is a little bit boring but I don't hate it either.

Hadley - If I'm being completely honest, I find this name ugly, sorry.

Orla - I like Orla, only negative thing that comes to mind is that it looks a bit like Oral.

Iris - Beautiful, definitely my favourite from your list.

Saoirse - Sorry but I'm not sure how this is pronounced and I could definitely see that being a problem.

Good luck.

The only one I'm not keen on is Hadley. But it would make a good middle name. I agree that Iris Hadley sounds good. I like all your other names, but particularly Matilda, Florence and Dorothea as they feel feisty and substantial compared with the softer sounds of Orla. I do really like Saoirse too - and again, Saoirse Hadley sounds good.

Matilda - nice but somewhat overused.
Hadley - no, I don't think so, it's a surname.
Orla - too popular and boring
Iris - fine
Saoirse - celebrity inspired and with spelling and pronunciation issues.

Matilda is clunky. i like Iris

Saoirse is beautiful, as is Orla. Hadley and Matilda are terrible, Iris is part of the eye and boring. What about Aithne if you like Irish names?

@LizzieAnt I’m from Leinster, now in Connaught.

There are plenty of Orlaighs around. Have a look on Twitter for example.

I don’t think it’s for one poster on MN to decide it’s wrong but there you go! (Not you).

@OhCaptain
Ah okay, just hadn't come across it, maybe because of the pronunciation differences where I am. Or possibly it's a newer spelling that's becoming popular? I think I'd choose the traditional Órlaith or Órla personally though.

I've now moved on to fretting over the spelling of Aithne as mentioned by a pp . I think Eithne would be more usual?

I also really like Florence from your list OP, I love Flora too.

[quote OhCaptain]@LizzieAnt I’m from Leinster, now in Connaught.

There are plenty of Orlaighs around. Have a look on Twitter for example.

I don’t think it’s for one poster on MN to decide it’s wrong but there you go! (Not you).[/quote]
Well it’s not any of: the traditional spelling in old Irish (orflhaith), either of the shortened versions of that (orlaith, Orla) or the anglicised version (Orlagh), and in the part of Ireland I’m from it would be pronounced Orlig, not Orla.

Just because more than one person uses it doesn’t mean it’s right. Of course “unique” and incorrect spellings do end up becoming popular, but if I saw an Orlaigh I’d have the same reaction as if I saw an Emmalee (Emily) or Jaike (Jake) - id think the parents were trying to make a point or were uneducated (or both).

I thought I'd do a scientific experiment and see which my 2 year old could or could not say.

He can say them all which doesn't help!!

Does he have a favourite though OP?

If I had asked my DS to name his baby sister at that age she probably would have been lumbered with Train or Fire Engine...