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I think if one wanted to use the 'Maire' spelling I would go with Moira instead in the States, just because I have the sneaking suspicion that Maire would be butchered while attempting to be pronounced most of the time. It's beautiful but as some of the other posters have stated, it would probably get confused with Marie unfortunately. On the upside though, I don't think Moira would be as much trouble.

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Side note-- The Maire spelling would be great in the middle name slot! I feel that middle names are for being more adventurous anyways, seeing as it won't be used everyday. =)

This message was edited 7/3/2011, 7:29 AM

I love Moira! I love Moya, too.

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However, if you want to name a kid Maura, I'd just name her Maura. In the USA, if you named a kid Maire (unless you lived in Boston possibly), people would probably most often think her name's a misspelling of Marie, or else they would call her Mare. Like a horse.

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I have a cat named Moya.

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Which is actually another pronunication of Maire, or so I've been told. Everyone really likes her name (even if I'd still prefer to call her Mia.)

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I like Moira pretty well. I also like Maura but I prefer Mara. (mar-a) I love the simplicity.

I'd like to see a baby named Maire or Moira. I also like Maura, but for some reason Maire and Moira are easier to picture on a baby.
I think Maire would be pronounced correctly, but it might get misread (often) as Marie.

I like Moira, but I really like Myra. I know it's not popular in England, but I'm American.

My mom's name is Mara.

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Not the same as Maura, Maire, or Moira, of course, but it's certainly similar. I was always under the impression that she liked it, despite people messing it up daily. Everyone insists on calling her Mary and Maura. It makes no sense, really, since Mara's really a very simple name. Because my mom's name is Mara, though, I probably wouldn't have much of a reaction to a baby with a similar name. Though last year I encountered a 19-year-old also named Mara, and I was really quite excited. I'd never met another Mara before.