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I've been reading up on my family tree a bit, and going through old names... And I've always known that a lot of my heritage was Irish but finding the names is exciting! I know Irish names are a bit of a fad, and I wasn't born in Ireland. However, a lot of my ancestors are from there, and I really want to visit someday. I don't know if it would be silly to use Irish names in the future, seeing as I'm not Irish, but the names are family names, so I'm going back and forth!
So, now for the main point of the post... I decided to come here and find out what people thought of Irish names in general! So:
1.) Do you like Irish names? Or do you think they are a bit of a fad? And is it different if it actually comes from your heritage?
2.) If you do like Irish names... What are some of your favorites? If not... Why not?
Thanks everyone!
So, now for the main point of the post... I decided to come here and find out what people thought of Irish names in general! So:
1.) Do you like Irish names? Or do you think they are a bit of a fad? And is it different if it actually comes from your heritage?
2.) If you do like Irish names... What are some of your favorites? If not... Why not?
Thanks everyone!
Archived Thread - replies disabled
1
Replies
Thanks to everone who replied!
I'll just clarify a bit... I wasn't born in Ireland, nor were my parents or their parents... But My great grandmother came from Ireland. I know, that's a bit back, but when they were here, they kept up Irish traditions and culture. I'm from Massachusetts, and in and around Boston (where my mom grew up) there is a strong Irish influence, and a lot of people are of direct Irish heritage, or are Irish. My mom grew up with that.
However, in my life, I haven't really grown up with anything other than "American" culture. My grandparents were all dead by the time I was 4, and my great grandmother (the one from Ireland, who I was named after) died when I was 8. I grew up watching American TV and eating hamburgers. This past year, in English class, we did a unit on how America is a melting pot of tons of cultures, and how it's hard to hold on to one. For my parents, they certainly got away from it. But, all the names (on my mom's side, anyways) are Irish, and I like the tradition. I think, I like finding a place to fit myself in, and I think that in the future I'd like to honor that in my children's names.
Whew. But, as for why I like the names... Most of the ones I like, I just like the sound/spelling/look/feel of the name. I don't think I like them because they're Irish, and I don't like the kr8tyve spellings that are sometimes justified as Irish.
Oh, and thanks for the names everyone posted here... There are some great ones! On my own list, there aren't that many other than Maura and Maeve, and ones similar to that. In my family tree, it's mainly Patricia's and Francis', but I love some of the names people suggested!
So, yeah, after kind of justifying why I think I like the names, or would use them, here's a thanks to all who gave their opinion and suggested some of their favorite names!
I'll just clarify a bit... I wasn't born in Ireland, nor were my parents or their parents... But My great grandmother came from Ireland. I know, that's a bit back, but when they were here, they kept up Irish traditions and culture. I'm from Massachusetts, and in and around Boston (where my mom grew up) there is a strong Irish influence, and a lot of people are of direct Irish heritage, or are Irish. My mom grew up with that.
However, in my life, I haven't really grown up with anything other than "American" culture. My grandparents were all dead by the time I was 4, and my great grandmother (the one from Ireland, who I was named after) died when I was 8. I grew up watching American TV and eating hamburgers. This past year, in English class, we did a unit on how America is a melting pot of tons of cultures, and how it's hard to hold on to one. For my parents, they certainly got away from it. But, all the names (on my mom's side, anyways) are Irish, and I like the tradition. I think, I like finding a place to fit myself in, and I think that in the future I'd like to honor that in my children's names.
Whew. But, as for why I like the names... Most of the ones I like, I just like the sound/spelling/look/feel of the name. I don't think I like them because they're Irish, and I don't like the kr8tyve spellings that are sometimes justified as Irish.
Oh, and thanks for the names everyone posted here... There are some great ones! On my own list, there aren't that many other than Maura and Maeve, and ones similar to that. In my family tree, it's mainly Patricia's and Francis', but I love some of the names people suggested!
So, yeah, after kind of justifying why I think I like the names, or would use them, here's a thanks to all who gave their opinion and suggested some of their favorite names!
1
My mother is from Ireland. My father is from England, but both of his parent came from Ireland. I consider myself Irish-American. Welcome to the club. :-D
If I had a dd tomorrow, I'd name her Niamh ("neev"). My dh's favorite is Aoife ("EE-fa"). Others:
Emer ("EE-mer")
Sinead ("shi-NADE")
Mairead ("ma-RADE," = Margaret)
Clare
Siobhan ("sha-VAWN," = John / Joan / Jane / Jean)
Maureen
Isibeal ("ISH-bale," = Isabelle)
Eileen / Eilidh ("EYE-lee," = Helen / Ellen)
Cathleen
Aisling ("ASH-ling," = dream)
Finola
Isolde ("ih-ZOLE-da")
Oona / Oonagh
Orla
Liadan ("LEE-uh-din")
Talulla
Bridget / Brigid
Sheila
Maeve (rhymes with wave)
Aine ("AHN-ya," = Ann / Anne)
Brendan
Brian
Aidan
Patrick / Padraig ("PAH-drig")
Cormac
Malachy ("MAL-uh-kee")
Desmond
If I had a dd tomorrow, I'd name her Niamh ("neev"). My dh's favorite is Aoife ("EE-fa"). Others:
Emer ("EE-mer")
Sinead ("shi-NADE")
Mairead ("ma-RADE," = Margaret)
Clare
Siobhan ("sha-VAWN," = John / Joan / Jane / Jean)
Maureen
Isibeal ("ISH-bale," = Isabelle)
Eileen / Eilidh ("EYE-lee," = Helen / Ellen)
Cathleen
Aisling ("ASH-ling," = dream)
Finola
Isolde ("ih-ZOLE-da")
Oona / Oonagh
Orla
Liadan ("LEE-uh-din")
Talulla
Bridget / Brigid
Sheila
Maeve (rhymes with wave)
Aine ("AHN-ya," = Ann / Anne)
Brendan
Brian
Aidan
Patrick / Padraig ("PAH-drig")
Cormac
Malachy ("MAL-uh-kee")
Desmond
This message was edited 7/20/2007, 2:10 PM
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I have Irish names on my list, though the only reason is not because they are Irish. There are other reasons, like there are with other names on my list (I don't like Svetlana simply because it is Russian or Henri because it is French), I also like the sound and the way it looks, for example.
I do dislike some aspects of the Irish naming trend. I don't mind parents choosing names like Patrick and Bridget or Aoife and Ciaran, whether it's to honour their heritage or just because they like it. It's when it's the whole "It's Irish!!! It's sooo kewt!!" naming strategy. It's when all the surnames (particulary on girls), faux-Irish and bastardisations come into force that it bothers me (as it would be with any other origin).
Instances like this (fictional ones but you get the gist):
'I love the name Makenzy for a girl! It's soo Irish and my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandma was from Ireland!"
"Finley is soo cute on a girl and it's Irish like me, my great-great-great-great grandad was from Ireland."
"I'm going to call my daughters Maeghan and Mckayla because I like Irish names."
"Ryleigh is the Irish spelling."
"Aisling is Irish, it's said AYZ-ling."
"We're calling our son Brayden, it's very popular in Ireland."
"We like Kaidlyn, it means 'dainty princess' in Irish (or, even worse Celtic)."
And so on.
On to the names, I like:
Girls:
Aine
Aoife
Bedelia
Bridget
Brighid
Brigid
Caoimhe
I do dislike some aspects of the Irish naming trend. I don't mind parents choosing names like Patrick and Bridget or Aoife and Ciaran, whether it's to honour their heritage or just because they like it. It's when it's the whole "It's Irish!!! It's sooo kewt!!" naming strategy. It's when all the surnames (particulary on girls), faux-Irish and bastardisations come into force that it bothers me (as it would be with any other origin).
Instances like this (fictional ones but you get the gist):
'I love the name Makenzy for a girl! It's soo Irish and my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandma was from Ireland!"
"Finley is soo cute on a girl and it's Irish like me, my great-great-great-great grandad was from Ireland."
"I'm going to call my daughters Maeghan and Mckayla because I like Irish names."
"Ryleigh is the Irish spelling."
"Aisling is Irish, it's said AYZ-ling."
"We're calling our son Brayden, it's very popular in Ireland."
"We like Kaidlyn, it means 'dainty princess' in Irish (or, even worse Celtic)."
And so on.
On to the names, I like:
Girls:
Aine
Aoife
Bedelia
Bridget
Brighid
Brigid
Caoimhe
1
Irish names seem really normal to me, because such a huge chunk of the US population is "scotch-Irish" or whatever that is.
I don't think it's silly at all to use Irish names. Having Irish heritage far back is a plus, because it gives you an excuse. I'm kind of bored, though, when people tell me they're "celebrating their Irish heritage" by naming their kid, say, Sean or something, I don't know. I guess it would be a little more interesting to me if they were celebrating their Russian or Korean heritage or something with a Russian or Korean name, because Irish names are so completely normal to me. It's almost like celebrating your heritage as a white American (which is fine and everything, but not particularly exciting). Even I have some Irish in me.
Having said that, I think (in general) they're kind of boring and their trendiness gets on my nerves. (There are probably tons of exceptions to this.)
And I think I'm just about the only person on this board who prefers Neve or Kiva to their ridiculously spelled Irish counterparts. Alejandro I can understand, it makes some sense. But Ceibhfhionn as Caven? Feidhlimidh as Feelim? Um, okay.
And please, if you're going to celebrate your Irish heritage, have some sense! I heard from a Cory once of a woman who named her son Coreigh because it was the "Irish spelling." Bleaaghgh!
I don't think it's silly at all to use Irish names. Having Irish heritage far back is a plus, because it gives you an excuse. I'm kind of bored, though, when people tell me they're "celebrating their Irish heritage" by naming their kid, say, Sean or something, I don't know. I guess it would be a little more interesting to me if they were celebrating their Russian or Korean heritage or something with a Russian or Korean name, because Irish names are so completely normal to me. It's almost like celebrating your heritage as a white American (which is fine and everything, but not particularly exciting). Even I have some Irish in me.
Having said that, I think (in general) they're kind of boring and their trendiness gets on my nerves. (There are probably tons of exceptions to this.)
And I think I'm just about the only person on this board who prefers Neve or Kiva to their ridiculously spelled Irish counterparts. Alejandro I can understand, it makes some sense. But Ceibhfhionn as Caven? Feidhlimidh as Feelim? Um, okay.
And please, if you're going to celebrate your Irish heritage, have some sense! I heard from a Cory once of a woman who named her son Coreigh because it was the "Irish spelling." Bleaaghgh!
1
I disagree with you; Irish names should be spelt the Irish way. It really annoys me when Americans claim to be Irish because they had a great great great great great grandparent born here, and think that gives them a right to bastardise our names. It's spelt Niamh, not Neve. If you don't like the Irish way, don't use Irish names! Over here, we understand the spelling. It works for us. If you don't get it, stay off our heritage.
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Lighten up, will ya?
Sorry us silly Americans always "bastardise" your names. :(
Plus, blaaarg even explained that she found Irish names boring anyway, so don't worry, I think she'll "stay off" your heritage. *sigh*
-Tuesday (who is Irish-American and is pretty sure she "get[s] it")
Sorry us silly Americans always "bastardise" your names. :(
Plus, blaaarg even explained that she found Irish names boring anyway, so don't worry, I think she'll "stay off" your heritage. *sigh*
-Tuesday (who is Irish-American and is pretty sure she "get[s] it")
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i love irish names. most of my favourites are irish. i love aisling,ailis, brenna, fiona, maeve, aine for girls ronan, connor, brennan, brendan, patrick, kian, kieran for boys
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1. Well, sure. That's a rather general question but I have nothing against them. They are very trendy, but mostly wannabe-Irysh ones are trendy (MacKenzie, Ashlyn, Azling, ad nauseam).
Siobhan
Ciara
Aine
Niamh
Maeve
Liadan
Aislinn
Aisling
Eabha
Fiona
Grainne
Lile
Aidan
Connor / Conor
Eamon / Eamonn
Finn
Liam
Malachy
Siobhan
Ciara
Aine
Niamh
Maeve
Liadan
Aislinn
Aisling
Eabha
Fiona
Grainne
Lile
Aidan
Connor / Conor
Eamon / Eamonn
Finn
Liam
Malachy
1
1.) Do you like Irish names? Or do you think they are a bit of a fad? And is it different if it actually comes from your heritage?
I do like some of them, just as I like some English names.
They do seem to be a bit of a fad in America, yes, and it depends what you mean by "heritage". If you mean your great great grandfather then it seems a bit of a stretch, but a parent is fine.
I don't mean you can't use them, because I think you can use any name you like regardless of origin, just say you like them rather than say you're Irish.
2.) If you do like Irish names... What are some of your favorites? If not... Why not?
Ailís
Aisling
Alannah
Aoife
Caoimhe
Catriona
Ciara
Fionnghuala / Fionnuala
Líle
Maeve
Mairead
Séarlait
Sibeal
Boys:
Alastar
Ciaran
Cillian
Conor
Eoin
Finn
Malachy
Oisín
Tadhg
I do like some of them, just as I like some English names.
They do seem to be a bit of a fad in America, yes, and it depends what you mean by "heritage". If you mean your great great grandfather then it seems a bit of a stretch, but a parent is fine.
I don't mean you can't use them, because I think you can use any name you like regardless of origin, just say you like them rather than say you're Irish.
2.) If you do like Irish names... What are some of your favorites? If not... Why not?
Ailís
Aisling
Alannah
Aoife
Caoimhe
Catriona
Ciara
Fionnghuala / Fionnuala
Líle
Maeve
Mairead
Séarlait
Sibeal
Boys:
Alastar
Ciaran
Cillian
Conor
Eoin
Finn
Malachy
Oisín
Tadhg
1
I like Irish names and one of my favorites is Aidan.
1
1. I like Irish names but hen I grew up in a family where myself and my brothers have Irish names. Same with my husband and his nieces all have Irish names or Celtic names. I live in Ireland incidentally.
There certainly is an Irish name fashion in the States and other English speaking countries at the moment. To be honest some of the more creative "irish" names make me wince. However there are plenty of nice, meaningful Irish names you could use that aren't trendy or made-up and won't date.
There has certainly been a surge in popularity in the use of Irish names in Ireland in the last few years. Sadly the same names are reused over and over again here - if I hear of another baby called Seán I'll cry.
2. Some I like:
Liadán(Lee-a-daun)
Niamh
Róise
Róisín
Macha
Caitríona
Sorcha
Orla
Etáin
Fionnuala
Gormliath
Muireann
Rián
Aoileann
Gráinne
Sibeál
Ferdia
Fionn
Oisín
Oscar
Ruairí
Rossa
Aodh
Luán
Donagh
Donnchadh
Briaín
Lughaidh
Dáire
Ruán
ETA a few names
There certainly is an Irish name fashion in the States and other English speaking countries at the moment. To be honest some of the more creative "irish" names make me wince. However there are plenty of nice, meaningful Irish names you could use that aren't trendy or made-up and won't date.
There has certainly been a surge in popularity in the use of Irish names in Ireland in the last few years. Sadly the same names are reused over and over again here - if I hear of another baby called Seán I'll cry.
2. Some I like:
Liadán(Lee-a-daun)
Niamh
Róise
Róisín
Macha
Caitríona
Sorcha
Orla
Etáin
Fionnuala
Gormliath
Muireann
Rián
Aoileann
Gráinne
Sibeál
Ferdia
Fionn
Oisín
Oscar
Ruairí
Rossa
Aodh
Luán
Donagh
Donnchadh
Briaín
Lughaidh
Dáire
Ruán
ETA a few names
This message was edited 7/21/2007, 12:45 PM
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1) I love Irish names. I think mainly 'faux' Irish names are a fad...as in anglicised names and surnames. I am Irish and I consider an Irish element compulsory as part of a name combo. It is the country and culture I love and adore, the blood in my veins and the land of my ancestors.
2) Some of my favourites are:
Caoimhe
Siobhan
Brigid
Aoibheann
Niamh
Aoife
Cliona
Orla
Talulla
Aisling
Connor
Padraig
Aedan
Lorccan
Declan
Malachy
Cormac
2) Some of my favourites are:
Caoimhe
Siobhan
Brigid
Aoibheann
Niamh
Aoife
Cliona
Orla
Talulla
Aisling
Connor
Padraig
Aedan
Lorccan
Declan
Malachy
Cormac
1
I have good friends that were born in Ireland and moved to Canada & then the States when they were younger. They all have very Irish names (including their children) I love them even if some of them are a bit 'strange' here. () are approx prnc
children:
Fionnlagh Cian (finley keane) nn Cian
Cillian Eavan (KEEL-in ayvan)
Catriona Isobel nn Cat (prncd as it looks, Isobel is a Scottish spelling but she liked it better than Isibeal)
Liam Breandan (like Brenden but not quite)
Alannah Naomh (ah-LAWN-aH neev)
mother: Caoimhe Siobhan (KEE-vah sha-VOHN) nn Keavy
father: Fionnlagh Cian nn Finn
children:
Fionnlagh Cian (finley keane) nn Cian
Cillian Eavan (KEEL-in ayvan)
Catriona Isobel nn Cat (prncd as it looks, Isobel is a Scottish spelling but she liked it better than Isibeal)
Liam Breandan (like Brenden but not quite)
Alannah Naomh (ah-LAWN-aH neev)
mother: Caoimhe Siobhan (KEE-vah sha-VOHN) nn Keavy
father: Fionnlagh Cian nn Finn
This message was edited 7/20/2007, 8:58 AM
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Yes, I do. I'm not sure about them being a fad or not, but I like them.
My favourites are Caoimhe, Caoilainn, Aislinn, Saoirse, Tadhg and Diarmuid. I used both Caoimhe and Diarmuid on my dogs, because with the apelling/prn. issues I hesitate to use them in Aus. But I really love them.
I have no Irish heritage, so maybe its wrong to consider them. But then I'm not Greek, German or French either- which knocks out my Top 3 names. I don't think it matters really.
ETA: a few names that I'd forgotten
My favourites are Caoimhe, Caoilainn, Aislinn, Saoirse, Tadhg and Diarmuid. I used both Caoimhe and Diarmuid on my dogs, because with the apelling/prn. issues I hesitate to use them in Aus. But I really love them.
I have no Irish heritage, so maybe its wrong to consider them. But then I'm not Greek, German or French either- which knocks out my Top 3 names. I don't think it matters really.
ETA: a few names that I'd forgotten
This message was edited 7/20/2007, 8:56 AM
1
1. Some I do, some I don't. In general, though, I'd say that I do like them. However, I do also think they're a bit of a fad, particularly (by the sounds of it) in the US. And no, it's not different if it comes from your heritage. If anything, it's even more faddish, and just makes the parent seem obnoxiously desperate to 'recognise' some incredibly vague heritage that they have. Unless *you*, or perhaps your parents, were actually born and raised in Ireland, then I don't think it's a close enough relationship to that heritage.
I don't mean you personally of course, it's just a generic 'you.' And it's also different if you're using a particular name because of it being a family name, rather than using an Irish name just for the sake of sounding Irish. For example, naming a child Finola after your great-grandmother is different to naming your children Ryan, Aoife and Niamh because you have one g-g-g-g grandparent who was born in Ireland, so you feel you 'need to honour that heritage.' Does that make sense?
Anyway, mini-rant over, some Irish names I especially like are:
Mairead
Sinead
Niamh
Bridget
Eithne
Caoimhe
Saoirse
Maeve
Dymphna
Grainne
Orlagh
Dearbhail
Malachy
Seamus
Riordan
Diarmuid
I don't mean you personally of course, it's just a generic 'you.' And it's also different if you're using a particular name because of it being a family name, rather than using an Irish name just for the sake of sounding Irish. For example, naming a child Finola after your great-grandmother is different to naming your children Ryan, Aoife and Niamh because you have one g-g-g-g grandparent who was born in Ireland, so you feel you 'need to honour that heritage.' Does that make sense?
Anyway, mini-rant over, some Irish names I especially like are:
Mairead
Sinead
Niamh
Bridget
Eithne
Caoimhe
Saoirse
Maeve
Dymphna
Grainne
Orlagh
Dearbhail
Malachy
Seamus
Riordan
Diarmuid
1
1.) Do you like Irish names? Or do you think they are a bit of a fad? And is it different if it actually comes from your heritage?
Yeah, but I'm biased :P I love them and I have always loved them. Over here you either get a very Irish family like a family with five kids witht he names Sean, Sinead, Niamh, Caoimhe and Laoise or a totally un-irish themed family like my own (David, Joyce, James and Matthew are the names of my sibs).
2.) If you do like Irish names... What are some of your favorites? If not... Why not?
I love:L
Niamh
Sinead
Roisin
Neasa
Sorcha
Treasa
Fiona
Sean
Ruadhri
Daithi
Seamus
Liam
Fionn
Yeah, but I'm biased :P I love them and I have always loved them. Over here you either get a very Irish family like a family with five kids witht he names Sean, Sinead, Niamh, Caoimhe and Laoise or a totally un-irish themed family like my own (David, Joyce, James and Matthew are the names of my sibs).
2.) If you do like Irish names... What are some of your favorites? If not... Why not?
I love:L
Niamh
Sinead
Roisin
Neasa
Sorcha
Treasa
Fiona
Sean
Ruadhri
Daithi
Seamus
Liam
Fionn
This message was edited 7/20/2007, 8:50 AM
1
1. I like some and I don't like some. I think some are fad-ish (like Mackenzie) and some aren't (like Fiona) - it all really depends on the name. If you choose something less common, then it won't seem like following a trend; but if you choose something more common, it doesn't matter what your heritage is because plenty of non-Irish are using it.
2. Some I like are Fiona, Bridget, Bedelia, Finola, Finley, Lachlan, Alastar, Declan, Aoife, Maeve. I probably like more, but I don't really think about the origin of a name, unless it's my own (Dutch mainly).
2. Some I like are Fiona, Bridget, Bedelia, Finola, Finley, Lachlan, Alastar, Declan, Aoife, Maeve. I probably like more, but I don't really think about the origin of a name, unless it's my own (Dutch mainly).
1
It's an Irish surname, that's why it's Irish, even if people in Ireland are smart enough to leave it as a surname.
1
Yep - I have only known one family of Mackenzies - and their father was Scottish!
This message was edited 7/22/2007, 1:54 PM
1
I love Irish names! I think they are becoming a bit of a fad, but for good reason! I think it's wonderful to use them because of your heritage, but I don't see anything wrong with using them if you have no Irish heritage.
My faorites:
Cillian
Ciaran
Aidan
Aisling
Alastar
Eamon
Finn
Finley
Fiona
Grady
Keane
Liam
Maeve
Malachy
Riordan
Rory
Ronan
Sorley
Tiernan
Tierney
My faorites:
Cillian
Ciaran
Aidan
Aisling
Alastar
Eamon
Finn
Finley
Fiona
Grady
Keane
Liam
Maeve
Malachy
Riordan
Rory
Ronan
Sorley
Tiernan
Tierney
This message was edited 7/20/2007, 8:15 AM
1