Irish baby names

[spacegirl123]

Hello, does anyone know of any good resources / books on Irish baby names? Lots of sites I've come across are the Americanised versions of Irish names and very little on actual Irish names. We think we're sorted for a boy's name but are struggling on a girl's name and I have a (totally unfounded) feeling that this little one is a girl!

Also - any suggestions?

So far we've got:

Éabha (Ay-va) or Aoibhe (Eva)
Fiadh (Fia)
Nuala
Niamh (Neev)
Riona

Thanks!

Saoirse (seer-sha) means freedom

www.irishcentral.com/roots/100-irish-language-first-names-meanings

www.amazon.co.uk/Irish-Baby-Names-Collins-Gem/dp/0007176171?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Might help, good luck x

Please no to Nuala. It’s such an old woman name.

Caoimhe
Sadhbh
Meábh
Aoibhean
Siobhan
Fódla

I LOVE Fiadh!! It's on my list!
We have an Órlaith. I found a good site by looking up irish mythology and stealing name ideas from there instead of googling baby names!

I love Áine (aah-nya or awn-ya)

As a common English person, would people mind putting the pronunciation after the names they suggest?! We are also looking for another girls name.
OP we also like Áine at the moment (aunya).

Roisin
Roise
Realtin
Sairla
Laoise
Orlaith

Fadas missing from some or them.

Aithne/Eithne (pr Ethna although have know 2 who pronounced it Ethnee.) Everyone always says it's an old woman name, but I do like it and surely due for revival?)
Aisling (Ashling) very sweet.
Cara

Thanks gals for the tips and resources, @mamamalt that's a good idea lol I don't know about you but I've not many Ryanns, Kennedys or Kaylyns in actual Ireland the American sites are so funny. Oh Órlaith is also on our list I forgot that one.

@Drbrowns I was initially unsure about Nuala too but I know someone from back home who called her daughter Nuala and I actually think it's really cute, I don't think it's an old lady name at all! A friend of mine just called her baby Nora and it's adorable.

@Onehotmess I knew an Áine in school that I hated so while it's a pretty name it's out for me lol! Such a shame 😂

@Anoisagusaris Laoise (Lo-eesha or Leesha) is very pretty 😍

Surely Nuala’s due for a revival! X

@spacegirl123 ahhh I hate it when someone ruins a name for you! I have the same with Megan and Laura. I love those names but have (as an adult) met one of each and cannot remove them from the name!

@spacegirl123 I also love Órlaith but was thinking is we went with it we would spell it Orla as we are of Irish origin but born and living in England. Would that be a total affront to the name?! 😬

Nuala and Eithne are very much old lady names.

I like Síofra (sheefra). It was quite common when I was at school (1980s baby) but I haven't heard of a baby Síofra for a long time.

@Onehotmess I think Orla's acceptable! I knew a few Orlas back in the day xx

@hohohobitches I just saw you suggested saoirse, I actually love that name but I'm from the North of Ireland and living in Scotland so with all the current chat about unification and independence I don't want to seem like I'm making a political statement with my baby's name 😂 fully aware that I'm probably overthinking that one lol.

I've always loved Caoimhe.

@Onehotmess not at all!! We are in England too (although hoping to move to ireland this summer) so sometimes for ease I spell it Orla but her birth cert is more definitely the old fashioned way! I'm English but DH is Irish and I just love the Irish names! Kind of wishing I'd gone with something more unusual for my DS.
We've a very Irish second name too so there will be no mistaking them!

Also @spacegirl I have a very lovely Scottish friend called Nuala and think it's lovely

Thanks @mamamalt I only know young Nualas so it's not an old lady name to me at all, the more we chat about it the more I like it 😂

@shivawn Caoimhe's lovely too.

Just suggested Órlaith to husband and he loves it so could be a strong contender!

How about Oilbhè or Ailbhè it's my name :) pronounced ale-va

@Milligan85 I've never heard those names, they're lovely!

@Milligan85 the accent is facing the wrong way for an Irish fada. Is it meant to be like that?

É right facing fada. It's late and pregnancy gives me brain fog.

Ailbhe is pronounced Alva in much of Ireland rather than ale-va. I’ve never met any ale-vas (plenty of al-vas) though had a heated discussion with my dad about the pronunciation when we named our Ailbhe..