Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Dómhnall or Donnacha

13 replies

Ballygowenwater · 21/05/2022 23:24

Trying to decide between these two boys names.

Dómhnall [Doe-Nall]

or

Donnacha [Dun-a-kah]

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
resm · 21/05/2022 23:50

Really love Dómhnall, especially this spelling.

DramaAlpaca · 22/05/2022 00:01

If in Ireland, both are fine and not too unusual. I prefer Dómhnall myself, I'm not too keen on Donnacha.

If in the UK, many people will struggle with spelling and pronunciation, but I'm guessing you'd know that.

I went for anglicised Irish names for my boys as they were born in the UK and are half English, so I'd probably go for the spelling Donal. But then it'd get pronounced Donnal, so you can't win!

MurderAtTheBeautyPageant · 22/05/2022 00:13

I'd go for Domhnall, but prefer the Donal spelling. I've never known a Donnacha who wasn't a bit dull and earnest.

mathanxiety · 22/05/2022 01:45

Both are lovely.

I think I'd go for Domhnall - I share the 'dull and earnest' feeling about fellas named Donnacha.

LizzieAnt · 22/05/2022 10:54

I like them both, but prefer Domhnall or its more modern spelling Dónal.

It does depend on where you live of course, but of the two, Domhnall is easier to pronounce - at least, once you've been told how (if outside Ireland). The 'ch' in Donnacha is tricky to get right even within Ireland, and you'll often hear an approximation of the true sound.

With regard to the spelling, I don't think a fada is needed in Domhnall as 'omh' can give the same pronunciation as ó. The name seems to have been spelt without a fada originally, and the surname is spelt Ó Domhnaill too. I have seen an accent on the Scottish form of the name, Dòmhnall, but usually it's just Domhnall in Ireland (though the spelling Dónal is mostly used now).

Donnacha is often now spelt as you've given it, but the first 'a' was added to reflect the pronunciation, and the spelling Donncha is probably truer to the original, if it matters. (They're pronounced the same.) That said, the name has been rising in the charts over the last 20 years or so, and Donnacha has been by far the more popular spelling over this time.
I am older, so I know more people called Donál than Donnacha, but trends have changed.

LizzieAnt · 22/05/2022 11:00

Oops, that last fada went astray on me!🤦‍♀️
I meant Dónal - note to self (again) to proof-read before I post!!

HandScreen · 22/05/2022 11:11

Both gorgeous, but Donnacha.

Firebird83 · 22/05/2022 15:46

I prefer Donnacha

TheDaydreamBelievers · 22/05/2022 16:00

Love Dómhnall and I would say more people know the pronunciation of Dómhnall

BraveryBot9to5 · 22/05/2022 16:07

Donnacha
I feel that Domhnall has a more ernest feel! Donnacha sounds edgier to me.

ChagSameachDoreen · 23/05/2022 07:17

Dómhnall.

Donnacha sounds like a girl's name.

Fizzyfish · 23/05/2022 07:21

Donnchadh?

JenniferBarkley · 23/05/2022 07:30

Everything @LizzieAnt said, spellings and all.

I think Donnacha would be hard to travel with, and outside Ireland and Scotland the ch will become a k which I don't like.

Given Donal is a valid spelling in Irish I'd use that version for ease.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread