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Baby names

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

Original poster

Tadhg or Flynn or Riley

100 replies

Solstice143 · 01/08/2022 11:57

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

OP posts:
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BroganLee · 01/08/2022 15:53

The name Riley is not at all chavvy! You can dislike a name and say it is not a name you would choose but please keep your needless judgemental opinions to yourselves!

BellaCiao1 · 01/08/2022 16:06

FayCarew · 01/08/2022 15:37

You missed the bit where people actually say to my face that I am wrong about my own name or that it is awful.

If I wanted to name my DS Tadhg, I would, but I would be aware that it will be misspelt a lot, and will be met with Tadge, Tag and other things, or 'How do you say it?'

That's a them problem. Seriously, people who comment things like that are twats.

FAQs · 01/08/2022 16:15

It’s not ignorant, it’s stating facts, simply it’ll happen over and over again, would it put me off if I loved the name, no. Just be aware of it, it’s blighted me, and mine is easy to pronounce the Ops isn’t so obvious.

BellaCiao1 · 01/08/2022 16:22

FAQs · 01/08/2022 16:15

It’s not ignorant, it’s stating facts, simply it’ll happen over and over again, would it put me off if I loved the name, no. Just be aware of it, it’s blighted me, and mine is easy to pronounce the Ops isn’t so obvious.

I mean it is ignorant for someone who has been told how to spell or pronounce it and then repeatedly misspells or pronounces.

The following names are common and still people have difficult with them;

Anne/Ann
Sean/Shaun/Shawn
Marie (can also be pronounced 'marry')
Tracy/Tracey

Etc

The name Tadhg has 5 letters, after being told people shouldn't be getting it wrong.

FayCarew · 01/08/2022 16:34

@BellaCiao1, yes, and some are bullies. But it is a me problem because people get the name wrong, and you can get sick of correcting people. It's not a case of saying 'It's Aily not Eyelidh' and it's all sorted, (not my actual name)

@BroganLee , it's a forum. OP didn't ask for opinions, but if posters feel strongly enough to use such a term, then it might be worth bearing that in mind.

FayCarew · 01/08/2022 16:37

@BellaCiao1 , telling them it's 5 letters won't stop people transposing letters.
I know a Marie who says it as Marry but she gets people saying Mah-ry.

Friffle · 01/08/2022 16:39

The name Tadhg has 5 letters, after being told people shouldn't be getting it wrong.

'shouldn't' has little to do with day to day reality. I'm sure every Tadhg regularly gets emails that start 'Dear Tadgh...'

WaltzingWaters · 01/08/2022 16:39

FAQs · 01/08/2022 12:41

Tadhg will give him a lifetime of telling people how to pronounce and spell his name.

This. 100%.
I have a friend called Aoife and she said she’d never give a child a name people couldn’t pronounce after having to CONSTANTLY correct people or endure it being pronounced insanely wrongly whilst travelling.
Flynn is lovely.

Original poster
Solstice143 · 01/08/2022 16:46

I guess it's just about weighing it up isn't it re needing to confirm pronunciation/spelling vs having a lovely name

I think it probably affects people differently depending on the name which is understandable-

Thanks for responses so far...Hmm at least in general it seems Tadhg is a well liked name and ppl think it has a nice feel to it-

Still love flynn too so would use that mb for a second child. Or perhaps for this one.... my husband marginally prefers flynn and I marginally prefer Tadhg but we both like both if that makes sense

OP posts:
Dalekjastninerels · 01/08/2022 16:47

They are all good names; but yes with Tadhg it will be sometimes written Tige by anyone who hears it and Tad hig by anyone who sees it.

Either way it will be pronounce your name or spell your name.

Perhaps make it a middle name.

BruceWaynettaSlob · 01/08/2022 22:14

Tadhg/Taig is sometimes used as a racial slur. It's a shame because it's a lovely sounding name.
I prefer Flynn over Riley.

BellaCiao1 · 01/08/2022 22:50

BruceWaynettaSlob · 01/08/2022 22:14

Tadhg/Taig is sometimes used as a racial slur. It's a shame because it's a lovely sounding name.
I prefer Flynn over Riley.

Not the same sounding word at all.

Tadhg - Tiger without the r
Taig - rhymes with keg

BruceWaynettaSlob · 02/08/2022 00:50

BellaCiao1 · 01/08/2022 22:50

Not the same sounding word at all.

Tadhg - Tiger without the r
Taig - rhymes with keg

Show quote history

I know that.
Taig is a slur and it's derived from Tadhg.

GuybrushT · 02/08/2022 20:36

Not so keen on Riley, love the other two. Aren't basically all boys' names surnames? That wouldn't bother me!

ladygindiva · 02/08/2022 20:37

I LOVE Tadhg!!! I like Flynn, and Riley's okay. Tadhg is the best definitely

balalake · 02/08/2022 20:41

Riley is very 1990s, think 'Life of Riley' (the Riley it is about was actually a pleasant child when I worked with his dad).

Tadhg is good, though it will mean your DS having to spell it out a lot. Yes that is other people's problem but be prepared to counteract any anti-Irish ignorance if it happens.

Carrieonmywaywardsun · 02/08/2022 20:47

Tadgh. A lovely proper name

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 02/08/2022 20:52

I think Tadhg is...okay. It's kind of a grandad name, but not a hip one. But it's fine.

Many, many people will misspell it as Tadgh though.

N0tfinished · 02/08/2022 21:01

I have a Tadhg! He's 17, I'm in Ireland & it's a family name. I love it. His brothers name is Cathal, which is similar era in that they're traditional Irish mens names. Tadhg would be Anglicised to Timothy and Cathal is often Anglicised to Charles. They're not really translatable though.

I love Tadhg, when he was tiny, we called him Tadhgy but now he's just Tadhg. It's sometimes misspelled but never mispronounced here anyway. 'Tadgh' drives me batshit.

OnaBegonia · 02/08/2022 21:02

@SirChenjins
Riley is a bit ‘spirited youth in black North Face’
🤣🤣

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 02/08/2022 21:13

I love the name Flynn, think Tadhg is awful as just think of the movie The Field and is very old fashioned and Riley sounds like 'he/she is living the life of Riley'. My niece named her son Finley which I think is lovely. Have you looked up Irish names or get a little book as some really lovely Irish names.

One of my favourites is Niall. Good luck with your baby and I was living in London when my son was born and he has an Irish name.

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 02/08/2022 21:16

Surnames seem to be the new first names, I love the name Callahan or Austin and my son wishes I called him Callahan even though he has a lovely unique Irish name.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 02/08/2022 21:16

I haven't seen The Field in yonks and looked up IMDB to see which character Tadhg was, and even they have it spelt as Tadgh. Grin

BOOTS52PollyPrissyPants · 02/08/2022 21:17

Sorry did not mean to offend with me saying I dislike that name. I should have worded it differently just maybe because I have seen the field so many times I can just hear them calling him in that voice.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 02/08/2022 21:19

Is it wrong that I suddenly think Richard Harris looks quite sexy in The Field?