Tadhg or Paxton

[MarjorieX]

I'm pregnant with a boy and I quite like these two names. Tadhg is a name we have previously considered for our other sons but we didn't go for it. Paxton would be after my grandad. I'm so indecisive and my baby is due in a month so I'm really not sure on what name to choose. What are your opinions on these names and do you have any middle name suggestions for them? Thank you

Definitely Paxton as a first name, Tadgh as a middle name.

Tadhg for sure.

If you're named Claire or Jane or Geoffrey or Stephen you will have to spell your name.

Go for the one you like.

I'd normally take the Celtic option every time but I remember having a poster of Paxton on my wall as a young teenager that I'd pulled out of mizz magazine, so I could forgive you either way.

Tadgh is nice although most of the Tadgh I know are in their 70s +. I am so sorry to say this but your other name makes me think of American reality tv. However I am in Ireland so it could be just uncommon here. Sorry

@2Kidsinatrenchcoat in my family Tadhg gets Timothy. No-one knows why.

@SeanCailleach It's not just in your family though. Timothy is often used to translate Tadhg and vice versa, but the names aren't actually related.

I actually think that takes even more explaining. Tadhg, known as Timothy, because we're Irish.

Legitimate pronunciation of Tadg, with dots over any or all the consonants:
Tady, Tidy, Taig, Tayg, Ted, Teddy, Tay, all those with a H at the start. Or Tim.

Just so you're aware name Tadgh/Taig is sometimes used as a derogatory term in Glasgow:

In the context of segregation in Northern Ireland and sectarianism in Glasgow, the term "Taig" is used as a derogatory term for a Roman Catholic, used by Northern Irish Protestants and Ulster loyalists.[3][4] In this sense it is used in a similar way to the word Fenian, but is more ethnic in terms of abuse against people of Gaelic descent than "Fenian", which more commonly signifies Irish loyalists.

The text above is copied from Wikipedia by the way. It's a really lovely name, but it put me off using it x

If your son is going to be growing up I the UK, I think it's a bit mean to subject him to a lifetime of explaining how to pronounce/ spell his name.

It's true that there are names with multiple possible spellings, like Isobel/Isabel/Isabelle etc - but at least people know how to say them. I assumed the name would be pronounced Tadge until I saw the explanation.

Tadhg is a fine name.

I like Tadhg. I'm English but know how to pronounce it because I had an appointment with one once and googled it first. It's not hard! I would spell it like that though.
I'm not keen on Paxton as a first name.

I’ve known two neighbours called Tadhg, one in his thirties and the other a teenager (I’m in Ireland but “tag” pronunciation very easy to explain to others). I love that it means poet/storyteller. Not a fan of Paxton, sorry. Just sounds like a surname to me.

I love Tadhg. Not a fan of Paxton. Tadhg Paxton works well though.

Tadhg is lovely.

I think Paxton works better as a middle name and I agree with PPs that Tadhg Paxton has a nice ring to it.

I dated a Paxton many years ago. Everyone used to call him Paxo, after the stuffing.

I work with a Tadhg - thoroughly lovely chap.

I'm so sorry .... they are both absolutely awful... the spelling of the first is just so ugly, and I hate names that are originally surnames.

I taught a "Taig" in the past. Also some very traditional Irish names (at a Catholic school) and after I'd been told how to say them it wasn't a problem.

Tadhg 100%

Being in possession of a surname that people find difficult to pronounce (it’s actually very easy but seems to cause panic when people see it written down), it was important to me to choose names for my dc that are easy to pronounce and travel well. But plenty of other people don’t find it annoying having to spell their names all the time, so it’s a personal thing.

Tadhg and Taig are two different words.

I love Tadhg, and it comes with the bonus of a very cool nn in the form of Tiger.

@coronabeer so because English people can't pronounce Irish names we should just not give children Irish names if they live in England. How ignorant.

I really love the name Paxton (nickname Pax). It's uncommon but still easy to pronounce.

I'm wondering what your other sons are called and whether Tadhg/Paxton would feel he'd drawn the short straw.