Eibhlin or Saoirse

[Cloeycat]

Looking at names for baby no.2 and can’t decide between Eibhlin (no fáda so not Eibhlín) or Saoirse? Which do you prefer?

I prefer Saoirse. Eibhlin is my mother's hippie-ish friend. Genuinely.

Saoirse. But only just - they are both beautiful!

Saoirse. Definitely. I wish I could use it but no Irish connections

I know how to pronounce Saoirse, bit not the other name so I would go with Saoirse!

I love Eibhlín but looks a bit odd without the fada.

How do you pronounce Eibhlin?

I've heard it as Eileen and as AYV-leen.

If it is AYV-leen then I prefer it by far but would spell it Eibhlín.

Saoirse is okay but kind of overdone right now.

I agree it doesn’t look right without the fada but I prefer the Lyn rather than leen sound at the end and the pronunciation chances with the fada.

Both sweet.

Are you Irish? Living in Ireland? If not then I wouldn't use these names. She will spend her whole life telling people how to spell them or pronounce them.

What difference does it make where anyone lives? If someone has difficulty with pronunciation that says more about them. Seems to be primarily a problem only when it comes to Irish names. If anyone uses an Irish name then the spelling (including fadas) and pronunciation should be respected otherwise the meaning is often changed.

If other cultures or nationalities names can be respected and pronounced properly why not Irish?

@ColadhSamh I speak from experience. I have an Irish name and have lived most of my life in England. Yes, arguably people should know how to pronounce it, but most don't. So personally I would avoid it unless the OP is Irish and wants to give her daughter an Irish name. Even then I probably wouldn't.

I love both, especially Eibhlin, and that pronunciation. Beautiful.

Saoirse is lovely

I prefer Saoirse :)

Irish, living in a Gaeltacht but I’ve spent 10 year being Irish living in England with an Irish name. I never found it that big a deal that people couldn’t say it at first glance.

Funny the majority are saying Saoirse, I was leaning that way too and now I’m back in camp Eibhlin 🤦‍♀️ Naming my first child was much easier!

I much prefer Eibhlin. Saoirse is thoroughly unappealing to me, and I’m a bit thrown by it’s recent popularity.

Saoirse.

How do you pronounce Eibhlin?

Is it Ev- lin, or Ayv-lin?

I know how to pronounce Saoirse

I have an Eibhlín... pronounced "Eve-lin" she loves it, we love it. Fada is a slight pain in the arse not living in Ireland (how very dare we name our child a non English name living in England @paloma 🤨) but it's never been a huge problem.

You could've just called her Evelyn then 🤨

Im not much use as I couldn’t choose between them — both lovely. What did surprise me reading your post is that MN has educated me re Irish names because I knew how to pronounce Eibhlin though I’ve never come across the name before and have no ability with other languages.

As you have used a fada, you're pronouncing it wrong. I with a fada is a double e sound.

So the way you have spelt it, it should be pronounced Ev- leen