What do you think? Girls name

[halloween41]

Having a DD soon. DH and I have hugely, and I mean hugely, struggled to find a name that we both like. I like floral/very feminine names whereas DH likes almost androgynous or very old fashioned names. Anyway, one day I suggested a name in passing that I thought was okay and he’s jumped on it and is adamant that’s what we’re calling DD. To be honest, I don’t love it but I can live with it. It’s a Mairead, pronounced Ma-raid. Be honest, t
what do you think?

“I don’t love it but I can live with it”

Drop this name, regardless of what anyone here thinks.

This is your daughter’s name, she’s going to have her name forever and you are going to be saying out loud multiple times every day.

You might not be able to find a name that you both love, but you need to both at least like it. Being able to “live with it” is not good enough.

Keep going with your search. Make lists, 20, 30, 40 names each that you like. Compare lists, keep going until you find where you overlap.

What about Mhairi? I have come across a few spelling and pronunciation variations though! My friend is pronounced ‘Marry’ but another friend’s sister is ‘Varry’ with the same spelling. I used to know a Mairi (Marry) too.

My friend’s is pronounced
M’rade. I don’t like it.

Morag
Imogen
?

Well, never live in Ireland, then. Irish is strongly regional, and pronunciations of standard names can differ quite sharply. Caoimhe can be Keevuh or Queevuh (roughly). Mairéad/Maighréad can be My-rayud or Morrayud. All correct, but correctly Munster Irish, Connemara Irish, Donegal Irish etc.

its a nice enough name but if you don’t love it I wouldn’t agree. I settled on my first child’s name but after a gruelling labour and the pregnancy and two years of breastfeeding I decided that actually my voice deserved more sway when it came to naming our second. Probably an unpopular opinion but women go through so much more to have a child than their husbands and I felt that actually I shouldn’t be the one to compromise. I wouldn’t have chosen a name my husband didn’t like but chose one together that I loved and he was more ambivalent to. He loves it now as do I so I’d say choose something you love and your husband is ok with

She's saying the Irish way.

It’s lovely! Scottish for Margaret which is a lovely classic name too. Nice nod to your DH ancestry too

It’s an Irish name that’s reasonably common same as Aoife or Orla that also seem to be popular in Uk. My fear is that it will go the way of Deirdre & Kevin both beautiful ancient names that for whatever reason weee considered ‘chavy’ in UK.

Not a fan to be honest - but if it’s only a name ‘you can live with’ I’d say it’s not the name for you.

Love this name. Pronounced mo (like in mock or moss) raid.

That isn't true though. You end up correcting someone and often they will still get it wrong.

What about Fionnuala?

I don’t think it’s that mysterious. Irish people in general are still viewed as WC in England, whether they are or not. I can’t speak for the rest of the UK.

What about Marsali?

Scottish, but easier pronunciation

Never thought of that! I worked in London when young & I was asked had I been to school!

What about Gobnait

my favourite Scottish name is Catriona

Other suggestions:

Morven
Mirren
Mhairi
Morag
Isla
Ailsa
Heather
Ishbel
Elspeth
Aileen
Sorcha
Maisie
Sheena
Una
Eilidh

I think we should revive Gobnait. As saints go, she’s pretty cool. Rescuing Ballyvourney from the plague and sending a swarm of bees after absconding cattle rustlers.

Mairead is sweet.

Mary
Maud
Morag
Aster
Bridget
Mietta
Lorna
Kathleen
Davina
Edwina
Saoirse
Harriet

I think you really need to like it, not just live with it. When we had our 3rd baby, we'd agreed on a name that was very much a compromise and when I was giving birth to that 10lb baby, I decided no way was I going to compromise, haha. I think you can still find one you both love! (We have 4 times even when I thought no way we would!) I don't actually understand how to pronounce the name you suggested and I don't think it looks very nice written down either.

I immediately thought of child killer Mairead Philpott who was convicted of killing six children along with husband Michael Philpott.

I like it.

In Wales we have Mared which is quite an old celtic name. I quite like and know a couple of friends who have named their dd this.

I think you need to find a name you both like. You might not find one you both love, however.

Can you list some if your and his favourites and we may be able to help?

Mared is a Welsh form of Margaret, MARed (Mar like in Marry, ed like in Eddy).
There's also Mererid (Merr-ERR-id).

There is Meredith, which is a surname from the boy's name Meredydd (Merr-ED-ith), which shortens to Merêd (Merr-aid).