Aodhla or Éala

[namingnumbertwo]

Hello, we’re trying to decide on a name for baby number two, who is a girl (but not born yet). I increasingly like the sound of Aodhla or Éala (pronounced Ay-la). I know it’s becoming more popular in Ireland, but I can’t find much details about it besides being used more frequently in the last few years. I also wondered if either option is a more accurate spelling?

Other options include Niamh, which feels much like a name people will be familiar with. I really like Niamh but not sure it goes as well with the surname.

@AosSi

Would the English pronounce Éala correctly though, if they're not handling Orla right? I don't love it to tell you the truth OP. Feels a bit nothing-y. And it also feels like just a spin on the blandness of Ella/Ellie.

Btw, JI in Dublin classrooms is wall to wall Fiadhs already

The problem with Orla for English people with non-rhotic accents is that they tend to say 'OH-la', which sounds horrible. It meant I never considered it as a potential name when having a baby in England (who turned out to be a boy called Naoise, anyway, though we considered Aodh -- and I love Aodhamair, though I've never known one...)

I'd go with Éile, though a pp is probably right that people might say 'Elle' or 'Ellie' in England. I'd also associate Éala distractingly with éalú and eala.

I would pronounce that first one as odd-la as I have no idea how it should be said.

I know an Áilís (Ayleesh) which has has similar first syllable sound.

Just noticed a typo here! Should have said Ailís

Was Éile really Medb's sister in mythology?

I can only find Eithne, she was Medb's sister.

Apparently she had more but when I google "Éile Medb", Éile Maeve" with mythology nothing comes up except for baby name boards where people claim this.

Just curious. Wouldn't there have to be something on the internet about this?

I only found Éile as an old place name. And with Éala I sort of wonder if people saw "swan" (eala) and thought "nice meaning but I want a nicer pronunciation" and put a fada on it for that.

Ahh, found it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eochu_Feidlech

But here it says the sister was Eile, no fada. Would be different right?

Only found Éile with the fada as a place: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ile

I've seen the sister's name written both ways.
Also see Brí Éile.

Éala is too much like Éalú (Exit) imo.

Éila flouts Irish spelling convention - broad/broad and slender/slender vowels. It has a slender vowel before the consonant and a broad one after, which is a no-no.

And you will have to battle people insisting on calling your DD Ellie, Ella, Eela, etc.

Aodh is a boy's name (Aodh - Hugh). I personally don't like feminising it with a random -la tacked on at the end. It's not something authentically Irish. The normal feminisation has been mentioned by LizzieAnt.

Aela is nice, doesn't pretend to be anything other than a nice-sounding modern name.

Would you consider Eily? Like Eileen without the N..

Both unpronounceable

Love it. Would go first spelling. Colleague named her wee girl Isla,which is pronounced similar

Hey OP!

Apologies old thread! What name did you end up going for?

Aodhla and Éala are on my top of my list for baby names.. wondering has their been any confusion with these?

Some posters comments on this thread are horrid! I am Irish and have heard all these names. Particularly Éala as it seems to be getting popular.

@Aismixx hi! We didn’t go for it in the end. Went for another Irish name that felt more her! But still think it’s a great name. Also people are weird about names!