Rua for a boy?

[CSMF]

Pronounced ROO-ah.

Baby boy will grow up in England if that affects your judgement at all.

I would assume it's a girl because of the name ending in A and being short, like Ava, Ida, Mia, Thea etc.

It literally means red (haired).
If your son is likely to be very blonde or dark it would seem a little strange to me.
It probably won’t matter so much in England though.

What about Ruel? I don't know where it comes from. But I know an adult with this name.

Thanks for all the thoughts. Baby will be half Irish but the Ruadh spelling will be tricky in England. I like the simplicity of Rua too. Glad most seem neutral or favourable towards it.

It means street in Portuguese

If English people can, and they do, get their heads around Tadhg, Niamh, Siobhán, Saoirse, Cillian, Fionn etc, Ruadh isn’t going to blow any minds.

I think it sounds feminine. I can't think of any male names ending in a only female

Amanda
Julia
Mia
Laura
And tons more but I can't think of a single male name ending in a

Luca, Ezra, Joshua, Dara, Fiachra, Enda, Iarla, Setanta, Donncha, Macdara.

Luca and Joshua ok.
Ezra I've only heard of as surname George Ezra.

Never heard of the rest

@BrokenLine Male names ending in the letter a are common in other languages, but not that usual in English. How many English people are familiar with Setanta or Iarla?

It may not bother OP to give her DC a name that is unfamiliar to most where she lives…but I do think it is worth mentioning that many people in England may assume the name to be a girls’ one.
It’s up to OP after that.

I would think girl name - but Ruadhán is perfect.

It's okay. Other options to consider:

Flai
Crua
Slou

The other names mentioned by pp are Irish (as is Rua).

Dara Ó Briain is fairly well known in the UK though I’d have thought?

I've never come across either name, I wouldn't know how to pronounce Ruadh initially but it looks much nicer and more like an actual name to me.

Rua and Ruadh are pronounced the same.

Yes and no, Googled him recognised his face but couldn't have told you his name.

I can’t help that.

I wouldnt, So many people can say their Rs properly and would sound like woo-a. I don't like Rory or Warren for the same reason!

Can't say even!

@BrokenLine
other boy names ending in an a or “a sound”
elijah
jonah
Sascha
Noah
koa
mika
Cuba
judah

Ruadh is fine , Rua feels a little insubstantial imo.

I'm in Ireland and have only heard it being used for a girl.

I’m in Ireland and I know 2 boys with the name Rua. One spells it Ruadh.

Awful. Doesn't even sound like a name.

None of these names look like they're finished!