Ruairidh spelling variations

[Scottishgirl85]

Just discovered our 3rd child is a boy after 2 girls!

Always loved Ruairidh (pronounced roo-ray). I'm Scottish, hubby English, we live in SE England.

Will Ruairidh just cause endless issues or should we be brave and go for it?

There are alternative slightly simpler spellings, such as:

• Ruaridh (Scottish, but not technically correct spelling without the extra i)
• Ruairi (Irish, but we're not Irish).

Please help!

(Note, Rory is a completely different name, not as keen)

[Whataretheodds]

Ruairidh will be fine i reckon

[Zone2NorthLondon]

with Both Ruairidh and Ruaridh you’ll encounter difficulties in pronunciation and spelling
it’s a great name, so yes expect some issues but don’t let that stop you using it
in fairness I’ve heard people mispronounce so called ordinary names eg Emma as Emmar, Ewan as YouHann
congratulations btw

[Grumpyoldpersonwithcats]

Nobody in SE England will be able to pronounce this correctly on seeing it, or to be able to spell it. If you are happy for your child to live with those challenges then go for it.

[Whataretheodds]

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

Nobody in SE England will be able to pronounce this correctly on seeing it, or to be able to spell it. If you are happy for your child to live with those challenges then go for it.

That's rubbish. Not everyone will be able to, but plenty will, and more will be fine once they've heard it.

Are we all to be called Bob, Sam and Kate so no-one struggles?

[coodawoodashooda]

It's a great name!

[NanooCov]

I know it's a completely different name, but would you consider Ruan?

Far easier in terms of spelling and pronunciation I think.

[Chewbecca]

I know one at work. Everyone calls him Rory and some even write it that way. I have learned the spelling but I am a pedant who thinks knowing people’s names is important, I don’t think any of my colleagues can spell it without looking it up.

I do like it but best to go in knowing what you are letting yourself, and your DS in for.

[Fleur405]

I’m Scottish but worked in London for a while. A Scottish colleague was called Mhairi. Everyone called her Mary. I asked her why she put up with this and she just said she couldn’t be bothered to explain how to pronounce it anymore. It’s doable (and I do love the name and prefer it to Rory) but it’s obviously more difficult than Mhairi so yes I think he will always need to explain how to pronounce/spell it. If you do decide to go with the name just go with the proper spelling though!

[KirstenBlest]

It will get misspelt all the time.
Rory, Ruari, and lots of other misspellings featuring transposed or omitted letters are likely.

[LesLavandes]

I have a Ruairí- we're Irish living in SE England. Most people try very hard to spell his name correctly

[strawberry2017]

Honestly if you hadn't have said how to pronounce it I wouldn't have had a clue where to start with it!

[OnaBegonia]

Ruairidh is common enough now that people will likely know how to pronounce it.
I'm in Scotland with Gaelic named DC and once you've said it once most folk remember.
Lovely name if I had another DS that was my name.

[Aerielview]

If you're Scottish, then use the Scottish spelling op. I don’t buy this argument that "no-one will be able to pronounce it." You might have to clarify the pronunciation a few times, and correct the spelling, but people will quickly get used to it. I'm speaking from experience. My children have Irish names which are initially met with "how do you pronounce that?". Followed then by "that's a beautiful name."
Give your child the name and spelling that you love!

[Scottishgirl85]

Thanks everyone, bit of a mix as I suspected. I have until January to decide! Our girls have unusual names so tempted to just go for it... We'll let people call him Ru if they can't spell it in birthday cards 😁

[dancemom]

Ruairidh is not pronounced RooRay 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you choose to say it that way that's fair enough

[Scottishgirl85]

@dancemom I would pronounce roo-ry, just realised there's an a in there in my OP.
How would you pronounce? I know people say it's 3 syllables, but in reality the middle one doesn't exist to me in my accent, and I'm scottish 😁

[dancemom]

I'm Scottish with Gaelic, I'd pronounce it with 3 syllables, Ru-ah-Thee

[Scottishgirl85]

Thanks, doesn't sound right in my accent. In reality I've only ever heard it like brewery without the b (those who say brewery with 2 syllables).

[TheCrowening]

I’ve only known the spelling Ruaridh which they pronounced Ru-ah-ree.

I love the name though and I know it will create some issues with spelling and pronunciation but people can make the effort surely.

[orangeisthenewpuce]

His whole life will be spent explaining how to pronounce it and how to spell it because the majority of people don't know how to do either. I'd wouldn't do that to my child.

[User2145738790]

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats

Nobody in SE England will be able to pronounce this correctly on seeing it, or to be able to spell it. If you are happy for your child to live with those challenges then go for it.

What an apt username.

I'm sure some people in SE England have been exposed to non-English names and managed to pronounce them correctly first time. Why wouldn't they be able to learn how to spell Ruairidh? Do you think they are all illiterate in that part of the country?

[HinchcliffeandMurgatroyd]

I always thought those were the original spellings of Rory, so it would trip me up that way. I’m not sure if that’s a widespread misconception.

[Ameanstreakamilewide]

You're just asking for a lifetime of people getting his name wrong.
Saying it incorrectly.
Spelling it incorrectly.

People do it to me all the time and believe me, it's fucking tedious.

[emmxO]

My third is Ruairidh ❤️

We do live in Scotland though but I love his name, definitely do it!! Spelt the way it should be.

[SeanChailleach]

If Rory is a different name, what's it's origin?
I live in SE England and I know how to read Ruairidh. If he told me his name i would ask how he spells it.
People say and spell my name all sorts of ways and I mostly don't mind.
@dancemum roo-a-thee? Do you mean roo-a-three?