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Original poster

I need some advice on the name Sorcha

77 replies

Caitni · 03/12/2009 14:14

Afternoon ladies

I grew up saying "Sor-sha" (it was used as the Irish for Sarah for a girl in my primary school class although even then we knew it was a name in its own right) and I love that pronunciation. But I really don't like the "proper" pronounciation of "Surr-i-ka" (am rubbish at phonectic spelling but hope you get my drift). I grew up in Cork City btw.

We've decided we'd like an Irish name if we have a girl (we're pretty much decided on the boy's name) and I've really got "Sor-sha" in my head. I'm Irish, married to an American, and we live in the UK (London). We're unlikely to ever live in Ireland, but obviously there's lots of family in Ireland, so there will a strong connection to the auld sod, iykwim.

What's the verdict on the "wrong" pronunciation? Especially when (like me) you've got quite strong feelings about not anglicising names...

And any other Irish names you love?

I should add that the following names are out: Orla, Aoibhinn and Sadbh (all used in my family), Saoirse (way too "up the IRA" for me), Caoimhe (tmi alert but sounds like a word for fanny farts in America apparently so absolutely banned by my yankee husband), Siobhan, Sinead, Ciara (I know about 15 of each).

Thanks in advance

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reservejudgement · 07/12/2009 18:31

I am sure I found Maeliosa in the girls' section of the book I had, now that I think of it.

SydneyScarborough · 07/12/2009 22:40

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ludog · 07/12/2009 23:24

Éabha (Ava)
Cara
Roise (Ro-sha)
Aoibh (Eve)
Moya
Eithne/Enya

ConnieComplaint · 07/12/2009 23:31

I have a niece Sorcha (sor-sha)

A brother Seoirse. (Pronounced all my life by mammy as shosha) but by his wife as Sosha.

Not Siofra - reminds me of a crying child that went to school with dd!!

jkklpu · 07/12/2009 23:52

I love Emer (with proper Irish spelling)

reservejudgement · 08/12/2009 23:06

Eimear?

Heard another one today. Apparently dh's work colleague knows of someone who called their dd Siocha ( She-uh-ka) after..... The Gardai!

MrsMattie · 09/12/2009 12:10

I am a lone voice, it would seem, but I think 'Sor-a-ca' is a much prettier and more authentic pronunciation of Sorcha than 'Sor-sha'

Grainne (Grawn-ya or sometimes Grah-neeya)
Mairead (Murr-ade)
Orlaith (Orla)
Riona (Ree-uh-na or sometimes Reena)
Saorlaith (Sayr-la_
Tuathla (Too-la)
Bronagh (Brona)
Faithleann (Fal-yan) - the original Gaelic version of Fallon

I've always loved Liadan, after the legendary Irish poetess

SydneyScarborough · 09/12/2009 12:16

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MaggieNollaig · 09/12/2009 14:42

lol at naming a child siocha

still, taken in isolation, peace is nicer than freedom?! obviously it wouldn't fly here in ireland though!

Original poster
Caitni · 09/12/2009 15:16

reservedjudgement at the gardai being the inspiration! Agree with Maggie that peace is a much lovelier concept for a name but it's a shame the police got there first!

Skidoodle I remember your thread from the summer! Hope you find a name soon (when are you due? My due date is 2 March, so still a bit of time to decide...). That boy's name is lovely, but we've got a boy's name (after my late father).

MrsMattie thanks for your suggestions! I think the consensus is that the "correct" pronouciation is better for Sorcha (which for me is along the lines of "Surr-i-ka") so I'm now (reluctantly) going off it. I just so much prefer the "wrong" way of saying it that I don't think I could happily spend my future as a mother saying "surr-i-ka"! Some of your suggestions are great but some are out (Orla's been used and Tuathla couldn't wash in my extended family, where "you tool" is still an insult of choice ).

I'm particularly liking Saorlaith .

So another question for you lovely MNetters: do you think that Saorlaith is too close to Orla? I have a niece in London who's called Orla, so Saorlaith and Orla could be a bit too same-ey...

OP posts:
ludog · 09/12/2009 22:48

It's a bit like Caoimhe and Aoife which sound very similar, yet I know of two families who have two dds with those names. I think it is different enough to get away with and it is a lovely name.

tjtheminx · 10/12/2009 03:55

Caitni
I could be wrong but I always thought Sorcha pronounced Sore-Sha was Munster Irisha and Sorr-a-ka was Connuaght Irish? -- at least Irish from somewhere else- I'm from Kerry

I love Sore-sha but not the other one.

Also loving Siofra

And know exactly what you mean about Saoirse.

Always thought Grainne sounded too much like groin

We are lucky to be irish and have such fab names to choose from but the problem is there was always some nose picker at school who the name reminds me of IYKWIM

mathanxiety · 10/12/2009 17:05

Saorlaith is lovely, imo, and different enough from Orla.

MaggieNollaig · 10/12/2009 20:56

Yes, Grainne too like Groin for me!

It does occasionally work the other way for me too. I think Ella is the same as eile. Other. You can't call a child a word that means other!

Original poster
Caitni · 10/12/2009 22:59

Maggie at Ella/eile - I've never thought of that but now it's in my head it won't shift!

For me Grainne is a bit too like granna, although I do like it...

Glad that others think Saorlaith and Orla are different enough

TJ I was lmao at the nose-picker connotations . You've just summed up the hardest part of the naming process

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 11/12/2009 14:33

Eile is really funny, esp. since I know a good few younger sisters with this name.

dinosaurinmybelly · 20/12/2009 22:33

caitni I have exactly the same issue as you with the name sorsha. I grew up in Derry thinking it was pronounced "sorsha" and then when I had my first baby 3 years ago, I was so gutted to find that it wasn't the correct pronunciation. Again, like you I don't like the idea of using saoirse for the republican connotations. I'm now expecting my 3rd baby, and will go through all of this again I'm sure. I had reconciled myself with just using sorsha with my own pronunciation, but my husband was a stickler for getting things right. I'm hoping he shows flex this time if we have a girl.

I have a friend who has just called her little girl Beibhinn (pronunced bay-veen). I had never heard it and think it is lovely, but of course I can't use it now!

Please let us know what you decide!!

DrSkidaddle · 21/12/2009 13:05

Hi Caitni (if you remember me from the March 2010 thread that I once inhabited!) - I know 2 Sorchas (in Ireland) and both pronounce it SORE-KA which I suppose is between your two pronounciations. The only English Sorcha I know pronounces it SIR-KA - think it's a gorgeous name either way

I also think Aiofe is lovely - have you thought about that?

I am currently having a similar dilemma over Irish names but for boys - it's a bl**dy nightmare....

Rachal9 · 13/06/2017 19:15

You must me thinking of Saoirse not Sorcha

Sorcha = Sor-ka
Saoirse = Seer-sha

mathanxiety · 15/06/2017 06:12

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ZOMBIE
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ZOMBIE

user1471134011 · 15/06/2017 12:25

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bridgetreilly · 15/06/2017 23:14

I think the pronunciation issue is one you have to decide about. If you and your Irish family are okay with the 'wrong' pronunciation, no one else in England is going to correct you!

bridgetreilly · 15/06/2017 23:15

Oops. Missed the zombie post.

Ellypoo · 15/06/2017 23:27

Nrtwp but what about Nellie/Nell?

StaceyW2024 · 19/07/2025 13:52

Hi there,

just out of interested, what did you go with? I am thinking of calling my baby girls Sorcha but prefer the sha sound at the end but worried people will get confused.