Hello all you name wizards. I am hoping someone out there can help me out! I'm currently pregnant with baby #2, who we just learned is another little girl. Our first daughter is named Kaelyn, a variation on the Irish name Caoilainn. My husband chose the spelling, as he agreed to use an Irish name but wanted to spell it more phonetically (and just happened to choose an also trendy-though-we-didn't-know-it-at-the-time spelling. Eeks!)
Now, I want to choose another Irish name for this baby, but we're having a rather difficult time of it. Again my husband has agreed to the use of an Irish name, but wants the spelling to look more anglo and phonetic, I suppose. The mn will be Elizabeth, after his grandmother.
A few names off the (rather short!) list so far are:
Bridget
Brenna (though I've come across some info saying it's not Irish at all but Welsh or otherwise. Anyone know?)
Cara (with the prn like car-uh)
Niamh (though he'd want to spell it like Neave or Niav)
Teagan (though I've seen MUCH debate over the origins and prn. of this name but really do like it)
Maebh (he would spell it Maeve)
Regan (does anyone have more info on the origins and prn of this name?)
Quinn
Rori (Rory)
Alana (more debate about origins, though many sites have said it truly is Irish)
Aoife (I love it but hubby doesn't since he can't seem to find an anglo spelling that suits him)
and lastly, Sorcha, which I believe hubby really dislikes but I love. Again the problem being spelling and pronunciation.
I guess the largest problems are names that I like but seem to have shaky Irish roots and names that I like but seem to be unable to find a "suitable" spelling (I know, the diehards will think we're killing the name, but...) to suit hubby.
Opinions? Other names that perhaps I have yet to run across and should maybe consider? Names that should come OFF that list because they aren't truly Irish? I've already searched most of the names on this site, as well as babynamesofireland.com and other similar sites. I'm just hoping for some personal feedback, I suppose.
Thanks for any input anyone can give. I'm beginning to feel rather flustered with the process of picking a name this time around!