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Orla Obrien - too irish

52 replies

vickyob · 24/04/2010 18:44

DS has choosen Daisy as a middle name so it would be Orla Daisy O'brien. We arent Irish so no accents to deal with. This is the only name DH has suggested that I dont hate or is too popular (Olivia, Emily etc)

OP posts:
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moondog · 24/04/2010 18:45

Yes-sounds like an alcoholic flower seller in Angela's Ashes.
So it does.

tartyhighheels · 24/04/2010 18:48

Yes far far far too Irish - also the O and O is a bit much too

LynetteScavo · 24/04/2010 18:52

It's lovely!

My friend as a DD called Orla, and their surname is Irish, even though they are not really Irish.

Orla is a beatiful and underused name, IMO.

padraig · 24/04/2010 18:54

Didn't know there was such a thing as sounding too Irish

I'm more or less ambivilent on Orla. I like it but not massively.

sobloodystupid · 24/04/2010 18:54

"far far far too Irish", what does that mean?

debaronz · 24/04/2010 19:22

I think people will always be asking you "so what's the Irish connection?"

mathanxiety · 24/04/2010 19:26

Not a bit too Irish (whatever that means). And sorry, if your surname is O'Brien, then you're probably Irish somewhere.

Orla is nice. It's not a bit Angela's Ashes -- names like Orla, Niamh, etc. became popular in Ireland only in the 60s during a time of Irish pride/cultural revival. Back in the Angela's Ashes days it was all Biddy this and Ita that (and Angela).

5DollarShake · 24/04/2010 19:34

Love the name Orla.

Don't think that + O'Brien is 'too' Irish, whatever that means...

vickyob · 24/04/2010 19:46

Obrien is my married name and the irish conection is about 8 generations back so not irish really. Infact my GP are Irish so Iam more than him iykwim.
I didnt mean too irish in a negative way I didnt mean to offend {blush} its just when I said I liked Patrick for DS a few people said it was too irish and made them think of a lepraucuan (?)

OP posts:
chipmonkey · 24/04/2010 19:59

Very few leprechauns are actually called Patrick though.

Is being Irish a bad thing? Better get my coat, so.

vickyob · 24/04/2010 20:05

Not a bad thing at all just more than 1 person said this so I wondered if other people had preconceptions about a name. Ive seen OP where they said not to use the h=name Heidi unless she was going to be blonde and stunning

OP posts:
APassionateWoman · 24/04/2010 20:09

What on earth is 'too Irish'?

It is an Irish name, yes, O'Brien is an Irish surname. Orla (or Orlaith) is Irish.

caen · 24/04/2010 20:10

If you've got an Irish connection (which you have) go with it. It's a lovely name. Very Irish but not in comedy way you're fearing.

vicbar · 24/04/2010 20:12

Thank you caen its the comedy connection I fear. I was unsure when I posted this but Im liking it more and more.

chipmonkey · 24/04/2010 20:16

But Heidi, the book character wasn't blonde!She had dark curly hair.

Takver · 24/04/2010 20:19

I think its a great name. And I think its fantastic that it is just fine these days to have an Irish name in Britain in a way that sadly it wasn't when I was a baby (my parents rejected names that were distinctly Irish because they were worried about anti Irish racism).

vicbar · 24/04/2010 20:19

I know !! - I thought I'd just remembered it wrong. but the Blonde thing keeps coming up. weird.

DecorHate · 24/04/2010 20:31

I love Orla but am not keen on names ending with a vowel with an "O" surname. That does rule out a lot of Irish girls names though...

padraig · 24/04/2010 20:38

OMG THAT IS WHAT CONFUSES ME

Ok so my actual name is patrick. HOW is that super super Irish? I mean I know Saint Patrick etc but I mean come on, it's not like Padraig or Darragh or Finbarr or Tiernan or Teague or Eamonn!!

OP - sorry, am coming accross from another thread with this (was off topic but I mentioned that when people hear my name is Patrick they immediately assume I'm Irish, despite most Patricks I know having nothing to do with Ireland)!

scottishmummy · 24/04/2010 20:49

like orla but not combined with daisy

MaisietheMorningsideCat · 24/04/2010 20:55

There's another Daisy there for you too, Padraig

It sounds as if you have Irish heritage, but wth? Orla is a gorgeous name - would have loved it for DD, but DH vetoed it

scoutliam · 24/04/2010 20:56

Gorgeous name.

shivster1980 · 24/04/2010 20:56

I have an Irish first name and two Irish parents but my Dad had a very disappointing surname (in terms of it not being 'Irish enough' ) I always dreamt I would marry a man with an 'obvious' Irish name...and I didn't I married a Devonian. (but he is bloody lovely though so I will let him off!)

Orla is a lovely name IMO.

Rockbird · 24/04/2010 20:58

Lovely name, love Orla/Orlaith. It does sound Irish and people may ask but so what.

vicbar · 24/04/2010 20:59

Padraig - I love the name patrick, great nn's and a real classic name which Id used it. I dont know what the irish thing with it is othe than St Patrick (was he actually irish or adopted as the partron saint ??)

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