New Post
Search
Help[Opinions] A Typical Irish Family, Moving to America
This is for a story. I'm using the sort of names you find a lot in Ireland.
The family name is O'Brien. The mother is Mary O'Brien and the father is Cian O'Brien (Kee-an) (Mary aged early 40's and Cian late 30's). They have two daughters, Siofra O'Brien (Shee-fra) (aged 9) and Caoimhe O'Brien (Kee-va) (aged 11). They have one son, Rory O'Brien (aged 3).
They meet an American family, the Wright family. The mother in this family is Amanda Wright and the father is Christopher Wright (both aged late 30's). They have three daughters, Chloe Wright (aged 8), Courtney Wright (aged 12) and Carlie Wright (aged 13). What do you think?
The family name is O'Brien. The mother is Mary O'Brien and the father is Cian O'Brien (Kee-an) (Mary aged early 40's and Cian late 30's). They have two daughters, Siofra O'Brien (Shee-fra) (aged 9) and Caoimhe O'Brien (Kee-va) (aged 11). They have one son, Rory O'Brien (aged 3).
They meet an American family, the Wright family. The mother in this family is Amanda Wright and the father is Christopher Wright (both aged late 30's). They have three daughters, Chloe Wright (aged 8), Courtney Wright (aged 12) and Carlie Wright (aged 13). What do you think?
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
I'm assuming this family is from present day. Is that correct? If so then the names seem to go just fine. But like Array said I would also consider to use more variety with letters.
O'Brien seems kind of common and if it were me I would pick something less common I guess.
I don't particularly care for the names of the American family but that just my personal issue lol.
O'Brien seems kind of common and if it were me I would pick something less common I guess.
I don't particularly care for the names of the American family but that just my personal issue lol.
1
Personally, I like all the names you've used!
However, as someone who's been to Ireland and is married to an actual Irish person, you are overwhelmingly likely to have a typical Irish family with the kids named Chloe and Jack!
Here are the first 20 names from one of my cousin's facebook friend list (lives in Dublin, aged 19, all these people appear similar age)
Girls: Catherine, Ella, Lois, Christine, Jess, Vanessa, Fiona, Fiodhna, Cathy, Rachel, Sarah,
Boys: Ivan, Alan, Conor, Nicholas, Jason, David, Daniel, Seb, Mark
So, as you can see, there's a few "traditional" names, but many many more anglo names. The ones who give ALL their kids the full on Irish names tend to be quite patriotic. A few families seem to give one kid an Irish name... The whole Irish name trend is actually more found in the Irish diaspora worldwide (US, Australia, UK)...
Up to you, but IMHO the names sound a wee bit cliched. I would tone it down a bit. :)
However, as someone who's been to Ireland and is married to an actual Irish person, you are overwhelmingly likely to have a typical Irish family with the kids named Chloe and Jack!
Here are the first 20 names from one of my cousin's facebook friend list (lives in Dublin, aged 19, all these people appear similar age)
Girls: Catherine, Ella, Lois, Christine, Jess, Vanessa, Fiona, Fiodhna, Cathy, Rachel, Sarah,
Boys: Ivan, Alan, Conor, Nicholas, Jason, David, Daniel, Seb, Mark
So, as you can see, there's a few "traditional" names, but many many more anglo names. The ones who give ALL their kids the full on Irish names tend to be quite patriotic. A few families seem to give one kid an Irish name... The whole Irish name trend is actually more found in the Irish diaspora worldwide (US, Australia, UK)...
Up to you, but IMHO the names sound a wee bit cliched. I would tone it down a bit. :)
1
There are way too many C names in the American family, and two more in the Irish family. It would be good if some of those were changed. Also, Rory O'Brien is a little hard to say because of all the Rs (but I have trouble with Rs, I have a little bit of a Boston accent).
Overall, I really like them, they seem like the right style and like real people.
Overall, I really like them, they seem like the right style and like real people.
1
nt.
1
Do you mean . . .
. . . that Christopher is the only one that works, and she should change all of the others?
Or do you just mean that Christopher is the only one you'd use personally, and you don't care about her story in the slightest?
The first option is marginally helpful, although pretty pointless if you don't offer alternatives.
The second is a useless and mindless response.
. . . that Christopher is the only one that works, and she should change all of the others?
Or do you just mean that Christopher is the only one you'd use personally, and you don't care about her story in the slightest?
The first option is marginally helpful, although pretty pointless if you don't offer alternatives.
The second is a useless and mindless response.
1
I meant that Christopher is the only name I'd use. I am part Irish, but I wouldn't personally use any of the other names listed. The story was nice, but I don't have sufficient time to always explain my thoughts.
1
However
She's not asking if you liked the names. She's asking if you think they are realistic. As a writer you don't always use names you like, you use names that are believable to the story. I recently wrote a story and use Madison, because it was believable.
The problem is that your reply was completely off-topic. That's the reason we called you on it. If it was asking about name opinions, no one would have said anything. But we do ask that you stay on topic and give responses that are helpful and on-topic to the original post.
She's not asking if you liked the names. She's asking if you think they are realistic. As a writer you don't always use names you like, you use names that are believable to the story. I recently wrote a story and use Madison, because it was believable.
The problem is that your reply was completely off-topic. That's the reason we called you on it. If it was asking about name opinions, no one would have said anything. But we do ask that you stay on topic and give responses that are helpful and on-topic to the original post.
1
It's worthless even trying to explain basic etiquette to her.
Tippins corrected her spelling at least three times, yet she completely ignored it. And I don't know how many times she's been called on for giving completely worthless replies.
Some people just cannot get it.
Tippins corrected her spelling at least three times, yet she completely ignored it. And I don't know how many times she's been called on for giving completely worthless replies.
Some people just cannot get it.
1
So--just so I can see the families more clearly, they're
LN: O'Brien
DH: Cian
DW: Mary
DD: Caoimhe
DD: Siofra
DS: Rory
and
LN: Wright
DH: Christopher
DW: Amanda
DD: Carlie
DD: Courtney
DD: Chloe
right? :)
I think the names all sound realistic enough. The one thing I hesitate at is the number of names you have beginning with the letter C. Cian-Caoimhe-Christopher-Carlie-Courtney-Chloe is a lot, and I hear that some people get characters with names that have the same first letter mixed up on occasion. I don't generally have that happen to me, but you might want to consider mixing a few more letters.
I also would like to suggest that a less WASPy surname might be nice for the American family, but depending on where and how the characters live, it might be the most appropriate. I just grow tired of everyone having English sounding last names. ;)
Array
LN: O'Brien
DH: Cian
DW: Mary
DD: Caoimhe
DD: Siofra
DS: Rory
and
LN: Wright
DH: Christopher
DW: Amanda
DD: Carlie
DD: Courtney
DD: Chloe
right? :)
I think the names all sound realistic enough. The one thing I hesitate at is the number of names you have beginning with the letter C. Cian-Caoimhe-Christopher-Carlie-Courtney-Chloe is a lot, and I hear that some people get characters with names that have the same first letter mixed up on occasion. I don't generally have that happen to me, but you might want to consider mixing a few more letters.
I also would like to suggest that a less WASPy surname might be nice for the American family, but depending on where and how the characters live, it might be the most appropriate. I just grow tired of everyone having English sounding last names. ;)
Array
This message was edited 6/12/2008, 6:26 AM
1
Everything depends on what you want to do with the story. If you're writing it solely for your own pleasure, write as many C names as you want. If you've got designs on publishing it or something, you really may want to have a few less.
And Wright is a perfectly common last name in the US, so it certainly works. I'm just biased towards last names that hint at something other than "of at least partly English descent," especially since the US is known for its immigrants. :) Having the O'Briens and the Hummels or the O'Briens and the Wolanskis or the O'Briens and the Minettes might provide an additional little sparkle of contrast to the families.
I'm sure whatever you choose will be just fine, though.
Array
And Wright is a perfectly common last name in the US, so it certainly works. I'm just biased towards last names that hint at something other than "of at least partly English descent," especially since the US is known for its immigrants. :) Having the O'Briens and the Hummels or the O'Briens and the Wolanskis or the O'Briens and the Minettes might provide an additional little sparkle of contrast to the families.
I'm sure whatever you choose will be just fine, though.
Array
1
I love Caoimhe & Rory & I like Chloe & Cian (prefer Kian).
Families are nice & sounds good together.
Families are nice & sounds good together.
1