Tadhg or Flynn or Riley

[Solstice143]

Hello, 

Expecting a little boy in December

Which of these names do you prefer?

• Tadhg 

• Flynn 

• Riley 

For those less familiar with it, Tadhg is an ancient Irish name pronounced like Tiger with the r, meaning poet/storyteller.

I have Irish heritage but we live in England

Thank you 

[Marcipex]

Not Riley anyway.
Flynn and Finn are both really nice.

[KirstenBlest]

But the name Ragallach was a first name, the surname was O'Ragallach or something, then that would have been anglicised and the O' dropped to give the surname Riley, would be my guess.

[SeanChailleach]

On a point of pedantry, Riley was a first name before it was a surname. There was a king of Connacht named Ragallach mac Uatach who died in 648. The Modern Irish name would be Raghallach/ Raghallaigh, which is unspellable in English but Reilly or Riley are fair approximations.

I don't know about Flynn. May be from Flann/ Flainn a very popular name before the 12th century. I do love Flann. It means "bright red".

[Hdtiffujhgjnb]

Tadhg is great, not keen on the others.

[PinkertonRab]

A Tadhg mum here - I’m Irish in England. Yes, we get asked the pronunciation if people see it written. We tell them, they remember the one syllable and it rarely gets mispronounced.

Every child in his class spells and pronounces it correctly. Adults struggle more 🤷‍♀️

Those saying he’ll spend his WHOLE LIFE spelling/pronouncing/correcting - he spends less that 10 seconds a week on this. Usually a quick convo upon meeting someone for the first time. It really hasn’t bothered him and he’s started high school this week with no snide remarks.

Hard to get good feedback on this name on mumsnet due to anti-Irish undertones but this thread has been largely very positive!

[Solstice143]

@Luredbyapomegranate
I don't really like Fionn at all

Still love Tadhg and flynn though

[Luredbyapomegranate]

Flynn

I think Tadhg is ugly and Riley most deffo a naughty boys name.

Fionn is more unusual than Flynn though - and very nice.

[Solstice143]

@Ihearthat thank you that's so lovely to hear

[Solstice143]

Thanks @Enko makes perfect sense 😊

[Ihearthat]

I have a Tadhg, we do not live in Ireland although have Irish family on both sides. Some people have heard of the name and some haven't, more often they haven't. People always ask how to spell it but more out of curiosity, he is not of an age yet where he has to spell it out yet so not sure if this will annoy him or not. People have not got it wrong once they've been told it. Honestly I love it and would have regretted not using it as it was the only name I loved. So go for it if you love it, soon enough it will just become his name and no one will question it

[Enko]

Sorry (that will teach me to type on my phone :) ) I do not think it will be difficult. I actually know of one (never met him but know his brother) and I knew the spelling myself before this was introduced it's not that complex IMO. I live in the SE and English is not my first language to give a judge of where I come from.

[Solstice143]

@Enko do you mean you do or don't think it will be too difficult- sorry wasn't sure? Thank you

[Moon22]

Tadgh.. I'm not a fan of giving someone a name they will spend their whole lives having to spell out/explain to people in school, uni, work etc
Of the 3, I like Riley best.
Your baby your choice though, go with what you love!

[Enko]

Tadhg. Is my favourite I don't think. It will be too difficult to deal with

[Bubbleguppette]

I like Tadhg the best.

The family are Irish. His name is pronounced Finn, spelt Ffion. I don't know what more to tell you🤷🏼‍♀️

Ffion isn't an Irish spelling and isn't the same name as Finn as pp have said, but I guess people can choose to spell their child's name whatever way they want. Hard on the child though as so many people will get his name wrong .

[AppleBottomRats]

Tadhg.
I don’t like Riley.
Flynn is ok but reminds me of the character in Tangled. I prefer Finn.

[Fivebeanchilli]

Not Riley.
Tadhg and Flynn are both nice names.

[MumofSpud]

Spelt Tadhg wrong

[StrychnineInTheSandwiches]

Tadgh is my imaginary DS2's name - we have a Euan

Tadhg

[MumofSpud]

No no no to Riley
I am sorry but EVERY Riley I have ever known is v v naughty and not in a cheeky way like Charlies or Alfies
(Am a teacher!)
Tadgh is my imaginary DS2's name - we have a Euan

[CantStartaFireWithoutaSpark]

Flynn and Riley are surnames. So not them.

[QueenJaineApproximately]

Tadhg is a beautiful name and we have a lovely young Tadhg in our family.
Follow your heart and call your baby the name that you want.

[SequinsandStilettos]

Flynn

[chilliesandspices]

Realised I forgot to say I was referring to Tadhg

[chilliesandspices]

It's my nephew's name. I went on YouTube to find out how to pronounce it (DSis Lives in Ireland and told me he was born by text). I haven't mispronounced it since. It's not exactly hard to remember. Same with spelling. It's distinctive and short so not difficult to learn.