Tierney?

[lena522]

I absolutely love this name for a girl, but I'm unsure on the spelling. I'm not keen on the 'er' part as I don't think it looks very nice on paper and could lead to people emphasising that part and saying tee-ERNIE which I really don't like.

I was considering spelling it Tianey, with Tia as a nn, and I've also seen it spelt Tianie, but I'm a bit unsure as I've heard it can be a boys' name? I spotted it on a baby name website as a girls' name though.

Any opinons, suggestions or advice appreciated!

Not very positive feedback overall then lol

tiredemma- is it spelt Tierney or an alternative? x

What about Catriona shortened to Triona (I think there was a thread on how to pronounce this as Irish pronunciation varies wildly across the island). Or Cliona which I think has alternative spellings to complicate matters?

I know a Ti'anna said Tee Anna not Tee Ah Na

Lena- They spell it exactly as you have spelt it.

Tierney is my (Irish) friend's name, and I've always loved it. She doesn't pronounce it Tear-ney, but TEA-uh-ni, slightly to rhyme with peony.

I think it's due for a swift rise in popularity - it's so pretty and unusual, without being girlie or trying too hard.

Please don't call anyone Peony. The temptation presented by the Pee sound would be way too much... Yes Tierney is an Irish surname. I have to say, using surnames as first names strikes me as very American. Tierney as a first name reminds me of Courtney and Whitney and Britney. I know a Kiernan, two Griffins (one b, one g), boatloads of Kellys (bs and gs). Even a Murphy. Not to mention one each McKenzie and McKenna, and several Kyles. Why no Moriartys? That being said, most Irish surnames were originally first names because they refer to a father or grandfather who had that first name, back inthe days before surnames became fixed -- hence O' and Mac or Mc. So what goes around comes around? I like Christina or Christiana, both lovely.

My surname is Tierney, there are a hell of a lot of Tierney families around even in the UK - it's pronounced Tear-knee (or, by English people unfamiliar with Irish words, Turn-ey, or Tierre-knee at first try). The only time I've heard of it as a first name is in America, for example the artist/photographer Tierney Gearon. I'm not a hater of unusual or renegade names but maybe if you're not 100% sure of the spelling or pronunciation - indeed if there's no cultural/familial connection to Ireland - it might seem a bit weird. Then again, if it helps people get their head round pronouncing/spelling my surname...x

I know a little girl called Thierry

ok thanks for the replies everyone

monniemae- I'm sure of the pronunciation just not the spelling. There is a family connection to Ireland and an Irish surname which is why I'm keen to use an Irish first name too

There is an Irish name Tiernan which is similar (and is an actual first name rather than surname used as first name). Think it is related to the surname Tierney and pronounced teer-nan. Afaik it is a boys name but as it's not used much outside Ireland that probably doesn't matter...

i know a lil girl with this name