Non-ugly Irish girls' names

[skidoodle]

I'm looking for suggestions of Irish names (broadest interpretation of same OK) for a girl that are not hideous.

Irish boys' names are easy, but girls are way trickier as so many of them are just not very attractive IMHO. Others are lovely when pronounced properly but very lumpen in the mouths of non-Irish speakers, and DH (and family) are English.

So, what am I not considering? The more unusual the better here.

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Hi there - this thread is a little old. [[https://www.mumsnet.com/baby-names/most-popular-irish-baby-names
If you’re looking for an Irish baby name, find inspiration here]]. MNHQ

Or Kimberley and McDaid's Football Special in the glass bottle not the plastic one. A Derry/Donegal delicacy!

Deemented red lemonade - yum! Although perhaps what I'm really craving is Tanora? Wish I could send you some kimberleys

So do i !

Bunny whatever that drink is it sounds, er, intriguing! I'm all for regional food after all

What about Eilis with a fada on the first E so pronounced AY-Lish. We have one and love the name - very easy for English people to say properly(and we call her Ellie for short!). !

I considered that while we were still living in England until someone pointed out that with English pronunciation she would probably be forever known as Eyelash!! It is a lovely name though.

Nuala (pronounced NOO-la)
Maeve (May-v)
Niamh (Nee-v)
Roisin (Ro-sheen) - but reminds me of raisins

All lovely soft sounds.

Carmel
Teresa
Rose-Marie

that's O'Bridge-chic style serinBrightside.

tara

How about Múireann, or Caoimhe, or Bébhinn, or Laobhaise or Saoirse?

Laoise will be mangled into Louise by people who can't believe what they are seeing.
Have you considered Caoilfhionn (Keeelan), Aoibhin (Eeveen), Siofra (Sheefra), Caoimhe (Keeva), Ciara (Keera), Dara, Nuala, Mairin (Maureen), Aine (Awnya = Anne), Aifric (Africk), Una, Deirdre, Cliona (Klee-ana), Clodagh (Klo-da), Seoighe (Shoya), Bronach (Brona, means mournful), Ailbhe (Alva, Alvy, actually a boy's name but I know two Irish girls named Alvy).
My personal favourite is Niamh

Saoirse means Freedom, and it has nothing to do with Sorcha.

Rhiannon is Welsh.

Naoise is definitely a boy's name. Laoise is derived from County Laois, I think.

Whatever you do, steer clear of Colleen (means 'girl').

Forgot to mention Dearbhla (Dervla).

I love Roisin [Rosheen]

Bernadette
Dymphna
Carmel
Fidelma
Jacinta
Noeleen
Noreen
Annunciata

Frogs, that is an hilarious list, it sounds like the nuns in a closed order!!!

But...... I do have a weird soft spot for Annuciata with Nancy for short, tis cute, in a whoah do a cat's cradle with your rosary beads kind of way.

Back in the 70s we knew a family from church that had a Bernadette, Noeleen, Jacinta and a Carmel. The boys got off lightly, they were called Declan, Ciaran and Anthony.

Some of these names must surely be due a revival soon -- do you know anybody under the age of 40 called Bernadette? Or Carmel for that matter?

There was a Concepta at my school!

I don't. I think it has to be 20 yrs before Bernadette comes back! I knew some very nice Bernies, but, omg, what a rotten name.

Concepta can be conchi and Anunciata Nancy. Bernadette can only be Bernie.

On the elderly nun theme, I know a 9yo Philomena who is very sweet. And a 10yo Ursula. Or how about Perpetua?

Actually, back in the day most of the nuns I encountered had boys names. It really threw me when I started school and had Sr Mary John as my classteacher.

You've just reminded me that there's a Philomena in my dd's year at school!

I have two aunt Marys, an aunt Dymphna, an aunt Bernadette and an uncle Ignatius. My mum is Onagh.

Bernadette is always auntie Benny to us

Dd1's middle name is Bernadette, she was born on the 7th anniversary of my friend Bernie's death. There's a few Bernies in my family, but none under 40!

Raegan my DD1 name