Baby names too posh?? Craicnet's Opinion!

[CheeseWineBainne]

Hi all, we are having our second baby soon, and while we have a girl's name picked out, we are more stuck on boys names.

We have a DD, Anna, already.

Didn't want to post in the baby names forum as I specifically wanted the opinion of users in Ireland - we are rural Irish, born and raised, and live in Ireland; and I think our name list might be perceived differently here to in the UK...

Our current list:
Matthew
Isaac
Hugh
Hugo

(Like but ruled out: Leo, Theo, Joshua... and basically every Irish name ever, because we have two massive families and all the loveliest Irish names are taken!)

I love Matthew - my only reservation is that I'm afraid he might get called "Mattie" by my in laws, and I don't like that nickname.

In recent days I've really fallen for the name Isaac - it's probably my top choice, and I think it pairs so well with Anna; but my husband seems unsure.

He suggested Hugh, which I do like, but think it runs into our surname a bit, so I'm thinking no. Hughie is cute though...

Hugo we both quite like... but the problem is, I'm worried it sounds too 'posh'?? In rural Ireland, will it make people raise their eyebrows/ cringe/ think we have notions?? (Similar re Isaac?). I'd like your opinions on all the names, but this is where I most need your help, Craicnet....

I love Isaac! I know what you mean on Hugh and Hugo- my Scottish husband wasn’t keen. They’re both quite common here in England. I went for Henry and he just about tolerated that one but I go back and forth all the time still wondering if it’s right!

Isaac is classic, biblical, timeless, and beautiful, with almost no nicknames. Follow your heart but I looove this one! All of the Isaacs I know are gentle and intelligent

I absolutely love Hugo & think it sounds marvellous with Anna.
I'm not gone on Isacc..
You could go for the Irish version of Hugh with is Aodh?

They’re all good names. Hugo sounds v posh to me, the others more normal.

My friend who lives in a tiny village in the west has an Anna and Hugo; I don’t think it’s posh - it’s lovely.
Isaac also lovely.
I think once the baby is born and named people just accept it and don’t give it a second thought.
I’ve never heard a kids name and thought - ooh that’s posh!
Go with what ye both love.

H names are great!
Love Hugo
Love Hugh (Shuggie)
Also
Hector
Harris

I think Hugh isn't that posh but Hugo is!

Suburban Irish here and they all sound very English to me. Maybe they are due a revival as all the small kids I know all have very Irish names.
Would Matthew end up pronounced Matt - Hew where you are? It ruins that name for me.

Living in rural Ireland be careful of nicknames.. As you said Matthew could become Mattie.. Or Hugh could become Hughie.. Isaac = Zach
Hugo would always be Hugo, love it!
Henry is lovely too & wouldn't be shortened

I'm not rural, but I would've thought Hugo could be seen as quite posh whereas Isaac and Hugh (both of which are lovely) would be fine.

I really like Matthew and only know one (very adorable) little one.

I think Isaac is quite posh too tbh.

I like Hugh. Hughie is cute when you're small and I guess you can grow into Hugh if you want to. And it wouldn't be totally weird to use Hugo as a nickname if you wanted to.
Hugh definitely doesn't suggest you have notions. And it's nice.

I think Hugo is posher than Hugh. Hugh was used to translate Aodh in Irish so has been used in Ireland for generations. There are Hughs in my family going back generations anyway, called after earlier Aodhs. Hughie was used fairly widely and rurally too. Hugh is also an English name with a different vibe but there is definitely that Irish connection also.

There isn't that same Irish link with Hugo, but it's becoming popular now and I know a couple of babies called this. I prefer Hugh personally but that's just me.

Matthew and Isaac are both lovely, Matthew probably more traditional here but I don't think that really matters to be honest.

I do know a Hugh with an O' surname, say Hugh O'Sullivan, who's often called Hugo by his friends.

Historically Hugh is a quintessentially Irish name, (27460 in the 1911 census) maybe slightly regional but neither posh nor non-posh. And like all names associated with families has various short forms including Hugo or Hughie or Hudie.

Matthew (8583) Mathew (5123) were also common, Matt or Matty both get used as nicknames.

Isaac less common (1883) but still there - Isaac Butt was an important figure in the Home Rule movement.

No one will turn a hair at any of them.

Remember the Irish nickname thing arises partly because names were used repeatedly within families - the eldest named after the father's father, the next after the mother's father, the third after the father, similar for girls, so names were duplicated not just within the generations of the nuclear family but across the cousins. And some surnames. notably Ryan, get nicknamed too, so you know which Michael or Matty Ryan you mean.

Yes my older rural relatives pronounce it Matt-Chew

I personally love Mattie or Matt as a nickname and the Irish will always find one.

Also think that Hugo will be levelled to Hughie anyway. I love Hugo.

Isaac is nice unless your surname is Cox.

What about Ivo - a mix of them both and cant see a nickname from that.

Curious what your girls name is?

If you call him Ivo it will sound like a Dublinesque reference to Ivana Bacik.

Are you in the north or south? In the north Hugo wouldn't be seen as that posh. I know a few older farmers called Hugo. I'd say its more old fashioned than posh. Of course there's also the wee man from Strabane, Hugo Duncan.

Hugh would be seen as a bit old fashioned. Hugo is a bit posh…..there’s a little Hugo near us and it’s definitely seen as a bit ‘notions’. I don’t think Issac would have the same issue, can’t say why though! Matthew is a very normal name but I would never use it as i and many many Irish people say ‘Mat-chew’ 🤣🤣🤣🤣

I don’t know any kids called Matthew that have it shortened. And the families of the two Hugos I know (the one I referred to in my previous post are in rural
Ireland, other is very south county Dublin) would never ever dream of calling them Hughie 🤣

Hugo & Isaac are quite posh.
Matthew or Hugh are lovely.

Interesting point re the pronunciation of Matthew - I hadn't noticed it being pronounced "mattchew" before but I don't know any Matthews really personally (apart from a few Matties) so maybe that's why!

To answer some of the q's above, we live in the South (munster) and for our girl name we are 99% settled on Cora - others on the shortlist were Zara and Chloe.

"Are you in the north or south? In the north Hugo wouldn't be seen as that posh. I know a few older farmers called Hugo. I'd say its more old fashioned than posh. Of course there's also the wee man from Strabane, Hugo Duncan."

This. Hugh will probably be pronounced Q by a lot of people and Hugo gets turned into Q-go. Qewy for short.

Re Q/Q-go/Qewy - do you mean that it is pronounced this way in the North, or in the South? I haven't come across it, but these things can definitely be so regional.

So glad I posted as lots of v interesting perspectives here, which I really appreciate!

I know a lovely Qewy - thats in the North - not heard it said like that in the South

Also interested in where Hugh is pronounced Q, must be a Northern thing? I'm also in Munster OP and have never heard it said like that.

Cora is beautiful!