Deciding girls name, help!

[PeacockingAbout]

Struggling to settle on a name for our newly arrived daughter! Any thoughts on our shortlist and rationales much much appreciated!

Juniper
Saoirse (Seer-sha)
Esther

Juniper is our front runner. Something isn't right though (but it might just be that we're not 100% certain). We'd likely call her Juno most of the time.

We love Saoirse, but is it a bit of a statement? We live in England and my husband is completely english, I was born here but am of Irish heritage, with an Irish name, our son has a very Irish name, but this one is potentially a bit of a statement name for a girl born in England post Brexit to a mum with an English accent? (Opinions from Irish mumsnetters very appreciated here in particular!) Pronunciation and spelling issues don't bother me.

Esther I really like but my husband hated until she was born so is a surprise re-entry! I'm just not certain again.

Middle names are sorted.

Thank you!!

Saoirse by a mile and I am also of Irish heritage, currently living in England. Even more so as you're not bothered about pronunciation/spelling issues. It's a beautiful name.

Esther is OK in a plain, sort of old fashioned way.

Not keen on Juniper and really don't like Juno. This sounds like more of a statement name to me and not in a good way.

My favourite is Esther. I think it's lovely and you don't hear it often.

Saoirse is a beautiful name - be proud of your Irish heritage OP!

I’m of Irish decent and plan on using Irish names for this (current pregnancy) and any other babies

I like Esther.

Really dislike Juniper/Juno.

Saoirse is nice but I know 2. One goes by her middle name as she got so tired of being asked how to spell/pronounce it and the other is a school child who answers to Soar-sha as she's too shy to correct the teacher so her classmates call her this too!

I know you're not bothered by it but your daughter might be.

I like Saoirse too OP. Esther is quite nice, but I don't really like Juniper. I'm in the south of Ireland (south coast) and Saoirse isn't seen as political here at all, although it can be in NI. I'm not sure how it's perceived in the UK tbh.

I don't think Saoirse is niche/unusual enough to be a huge statement. It's definitely Irish, and not yet really commonly used by non-Irish, but most people are somewhat familiar with it, and once you know pronunciation it isn't difficult to say. In my opinion it's going the same way Niamh and Siobhán have already.

Compared to the others, is prefer it to Juniper and Ester. Ester doesn't do it for me at all, but does tend to be popular on Mumsnet.

Esther by a mile. Juno next but not Juniper. Juniper berries are poisonous to pregnant women! I remember reading that!

I'm Irish and not overwhelmed by Saoirse. It's ok. Much prefer Siofra or Siobhradh if you're looking for an Irish name.

Esther
Saoirse is too closely linked to an actor and Juniper would be better on a pet rabbit.

Saoirse risks the 'what?' in England plus there are different pronunciations although it's the best out of your selection.

Esther is old lady to me.

Juno is nicer than Juniper.

Saoirse is lovely and more well known now thanks to Saoirse Ronan. Although there are slight variations in pronunciation even in different parts of Ireland. To be honest I always think Irish names sound so much nicer in an Irish accent - I say that as an Irish person with a London accent, not to put you off. I love Juniper with the nickname Juni, it’s on my list of names I think are great but probably wouldn’t be brave enough to use. Saying that if you’re going to call her Juno anyway I’d just go for that as it’s a great name. Sorry Esther I don’t like, just seems a bit boring compared to your other 2 choices. Good luck.

What about just Juno. It's a name in its own right:

Juno nn Juniper would be better than the other way round

Saoirse is beautiful, I quite like Esther. Juno is okay but really dislike Juniper.

Esther

I really don't like Juniper. It just reminds me of Gin.

Jupiter? Do people name their kids after the planets?

Lydia?

They are all beautiful, juniper is probably my least favourite but I'm sure whatever you pick will be perfect for you.

Saoirse is lovely. I am Irish and I think it is lovely to acknowledge your heritage.
I really dislike Juniper but I like Juno.
Esther I really don't like.

Esther is beautiful. I may be biased. My Esther is an Amazonian 12 year old who is clever, kind and sarcastic and super strong. So when I meet Esthers who aren't I'm always a bit thrown. Having said that I've only known about 3 other children called Esther in 12 years and I'm a teacher so higher chance! So it is still unusual but not as much as your other names. Also it means star ⭐️ so perfect for my girl! (Ok yes I totally am biased!)

Anyway I wasn't 100% when we chose it but now she totally owns it and I do like it better than juniper which is pretty but somehow feels really long and formal.

Saoirse I love but I'm not Irish so would feel weird about it.

I like Juniper, but I prefer Juno as a standalone name, especially that's what you're planning to use everyday anyway. Juno would be my favourite.

I don't think Saoirse is a statement name. Along with Fiadh, it's the Irish girls name I see on here the most, but I really dislike how it sounds.

Esther is nice enough. I'm not excited by it, but it's fine. Maybe you could choose each of the names for a day and one might feel more natural.

Saoirse would be my first choice, though you'd have to be ready for misspellings and mispronunciations! Saoirse Ronan pronounces her name "sir-sha" so I'm guessing it has different pronunciation in different areas of Ireland? Which makes it a bit different to the Siobhan and Niamh mentioned up thread I think.

I know a young Esther and it's a lovely name. A bit boring perhaps, but nothing wrong with that.

Juniper makes me think you're trying too hard to be hip parents from trendy areas of London, likely aiming to be either stage parents or otherwise pushy. Juno just reminds me of the film about the teenage parent. Sorry, this is the one that sounds like the statement to me!

I love Esther. I went to college with one and her sister was Nancy. In a sea of Paulas, Sarahs and Louises, I thought those names so cool and just lovely.
I like Juno. Juniper reminds me of a gin.
I like your other choice, too. It's lovely.

Just realised that was no use whatsoever!
Congratulations!

Love Saoirse. Really dislike the others.

Juniper is a horse’s name.

Thank you all, this was really helpful!

We've decided to go for Saoirse - we've always loved it and if no one here thinks its an odd choice hopefully no one else will!

Juno and Esther might stay on the list for number 3... Juniper itself might slip down, when it came to applying it to a person we just struggled and it seems its not very well liked!