Macdara, MacAodh and other Mac names

[SeanChailleach]

I noticed that MacDara is getting used a little and wondered what people think of these sort of names.

[MerryChristmasToYou]

They look like irish surnames. I've only seen them spelt Macdaragh and MacAodha.

[whatausername]

On the one hand, plenty of surnames are used as first names so why not? On the other, my first thought is it is someone who wants everyone to know that their great grandma's sister's poodle emigrated from Scotland or Ireland and they have "a connection". Usually they've massively romanticised the two countries and believe everyone with the surname MacFarlane is a direct descendent from some clan chief. However, I'm Scottish and if people want to believe the sun shines out our butts and that we are a land of buff men and strong women and that romantic heroes are everywhere then let them 😛 Ditto Ireland

[LightHousePanda]

Are they for boys or girls? I'm not the biggest fan. I'm not against surnames as first names but I just think Mac/Mc style names rarely work. Mac means son in Gaelic so it's an odd name for a girl.

[fallinover]

Mac anything is a ridiculous name for a girl.
But it doesn't actually do anyone any harm and comes from a positive place.

[Ifyouknowyouknowyouknow]

I know a Macdara (male) who is my age (mid 30s) so don’t think it’s a new thing. I love it actually though I detest surnames in English or (especially) Irish surnames used by English people who don’t know better (like Sullivan etc) so perhaps I am just a hypocrite!

[YourLipsMyLips]

Never heard of MacDara before, but there's no difference between that and the likes of McKenzie, Harris, Innes, etc, so why not?

[CastleTower]

Macdara is a saint from about 500AD. So sure, why not?

[UpToMyElbowsInDiapers]

I Know a McGregor in his 40s, who goes by Mac.

[Dartmoorcheffy]

Macaroni... Ronnie for short... 😁

[SeanChailleach]

@LightHousePanda

Are they for boys or girls? I'm not the biggest fan. I'm not against surnames as first names but I just think Mac/Mc style names rarely work. Mac means son in Gaelic so it's an odd name for a girl.

For boys - these are very old names but I think most people would think they are surnames.
The feminine equivalent is Der, so DerFodla, DerForgaill, Derfhinn.
I tend to think that McKayla, used for girls, is Michaela, but can't think of a justification for MacKenzie.

[J0y]

As a first name?
No.
I live in Ireland so it just looks wrong.

[CassandraBarrett]

MacTíre - wolf? I thought that was pretty interesting

[chilliesandspices]

DerFodla brings up no results on Google. Where are these names supposed to be from?

[SeanChailleach]

@chilliesandspices

DerFodla brings up no results on Google. Where are these names supposed to be from?

They are Old Irish names. I can't remember where I saw DerFodla. Fodla by itself is getting some use lately.
More familiar names with Der include Derbhile, Derbhfáil, Derdriu (Deirdre)

[chilliesandspices]

I only know Macdara because of the soap Ros na Run. Might be worth having a look through cast names for ideas.

[GlassDeli]

There's always Macbeth and Macduff, I suppose...

[IShouldBeWriting]

@GlassDeli

There's always Macbeth and Macduff, I suppose...

Well MacBeth is from MacBeatha, "son of life". I'm not sure about MacDuff. I don't think either are usable but you never know...

[ChagSameachDoreen]

These are all dreadful names. Just groups of letters.

[DramaAlpaca]

I'm in Ireland. Irish DH has a first cousin called Macdara, I think it's fab. Different without being too out there.

I met a toddler called Macartan the other day, not sure of the spelling.

I love that these very old Irish names are being revived.

[IShouldBeWriting]

@ChagSameachDoreen

These are all dreadful names. Just groups of letters.

Non-English language user name sneering at names in a language not English. Charming. Nót.

[LizzieAnt]

I also know a Macdara, I like it. It is fairly rare as a name though.
There's a St MacDara's school in Dublin.

I read somewhere that St MacDara had a different first name...so maybe it was a surname or nickname in his case, I'm not sure. I've only ever come across it as a first name.

[EdieLedwell]

Mac means son in Irish so it's a boys name to me.

I also know a MacDara. I like it a lot.

[LizzieAnt]

I've only seen MacAodh as a surname though.

[EdieLedwell]

I also know an Aodh, so I guess MacAodh works a bit like using Óg at the end of a name

Sean Óg
Donal Óg
Etc

[mathanxiety]

Great names.
I knew a Macdara way back in the 80s. It's not something new.

I think Irish people are looking for more unusual Irish names these days - beyond Aoife and Niamh and popular Irish boy names, and I can see very old spellings (Derdriu, etc) making a comeback.

(Sorry, can't do fada).