Lovely Irish names I heard today
I was helping out at a local summer scheme, working with kids from 5-8. Most of the kids had Irish names and I love hearing opinions, especially from people (American, English etc) who find them different. I'll list the other kids who where in the group as well,
Eithne (ETH-na)
Aoibhin (EE-van)
Cian (KEE-an)
Eoin (O-in)
Aidan
Eimhear (EE-mur)
Clodagh
Caitlin
Pearse
Caoimhin (KEE-vin)
Brogan (f)
Darragh (DARR-ah)
Bree
Niamh (NEEV)
Jonah
Charlie
Iona
Ruby
Cara
Emma
John
James
Holly
Kayla
Lilly
Lily
Oliver
Eithne (ETH-na)
Aoibhin (EE-van)
Cian (KEE-an)
Eoin (O-in)
Aidan
Eimhear (EE-mur)
Clodagh
Caitlin
Pearse
Caoimhin (KEE-vin)
Brogan (f)
Darragh (DARR-ah)
Bree
Niamh (NEEV)
Jonah
Charlie
Iona
Ruby
Cara
Emma
John
James
Holly
Kayla
Lilly
Lily
Oliver
This message was edited 8/18/2015, 8:20 PM
Replies
I love Irish names, but the only one I like in this list is Darragh. I'd totally consider using it if we were Irish enough!
Cool! I'm American so these are quite different for me.
Eithne (ETH-na) - Interesting, I always thought this was pronounced EN-ya. Does it differ from person to person which pronunciation is used, or is it a geographical thing maybe? I like both pronunciations either way.
Aoibhin (EE-van) - Lovely!
Cian (KEE-an) - I've never been able to fully get on board with this one. It seems incomplete and I don't really like the sound of KEE-an or KEEN.
Eoin (O-in) - I really dislike the sound of this, but it's better than Owen.
Aidan - Aidan gets branded as trendy but I do think it's a nice name, and I especially like this spelling.
Eimhear (EE-mur) - There was an Emer who lived in my dorm and it always reminded me of Elmer's Glue. Not my fav.
Clodagh - Hmm I'm kind of neutral on this.
Caitlin - Pronounced like Kathleen or like Kaitlyn? Either way, it's fine, just a little boring.
Pearse - This is cool, I haven't seen this spelling before.
Caoimhin (KEE-vin) - Awesome! I've never seen this spelling used.
Brogan (f) - I think this has a very ugly sound.
Darragh (DARR-ah) - LOVE
Bree - Doesn't do much for me but it's cute. Reminds of cheese mostly.
Niamh (NEEV) - Love!
Eithne (ETH-na) - Interesting, I always thought this was pronounced EN-ya. Does it differ from person to person which pronunciation is used, or is it a geographical thing maybe? I like both pronunciations either way.
Aoibhin (EE-van) - Lovely!
Cian (KEE-an) - I've never been able to fully get on board with this one. It seems incomplete and I don't really like the sound of KEE-an or KEEN.
Eoin (O-in) - I really dislike the sound of this, but it's better than Owen.
Aidan - Aidan gets branded as trendy but I do think it's a nice name, and I especially like this spelling.
Eimhear (EE-mur) - There was an Emer who lived in my dorm and it always reminded me of Elmer's Glue. Not my fav.
Clodagh - Hmm I'm kind of neutral on this.
Caitlin - Pronounced like Kathleen or like Kaitlyn? Either way, it's fine, just a little boring.
Pearse - This is cool, I haven't seen this spelling before.
Caoimhin (KEE-vin) - Awesome! I've never seen this spelling used.
Brogan (f) - I think this has a very ugly sound.
Darragh (DARR-ah) - LOVE
Bree - Doesn't do much for me but it's cute. Reminds of cheese mostly.
Niamh (NEEV) - Love!
I met a Clodagh once, who said her parents found choosing a name for her very difficult. They wrote a long list of their favourites on a piece of paper and went back and forth until they finally agreed. Underlining the name of th eir choice, they thriftily gave the officiating clergyman the whole list, which he misunderstood. There were just so many! So he turned it over to find just one name - Clodagh - and named the baby accordingly.
The parents were amazed! Clodagh had been part of another, incomplete list, this time of possible holiday destinations. But they decided that they liked the name anyway and stayed with it.
The parents were amazed! Clodagh had been part of another, incomplete list, this time of possible holiday destinations. But they decided that they liked the name anyway and stayed with it.
I love Irish names. I wish Eamonn and Donal (actually I think it loses a little charm with this spelling, I wish I could use Domhnall) were more accessible.
I like:
Eithne
Aoibhin - I'm more familiar with and thus prefer the spelling Aoibheann
Cian
Aidan
Caitlin
Darragh
Niamh
Jonah
Iona
Ruby
Cara
Emma
John
James
Lily - Lilly looks misspelled to me.
Oliver
I like:
Eithne
Aoibhin - I'm more familiar with and thus prefer the spelling Aoibheann
Cian
Aidan
Caitlin
Darragh
Niamh
Jonah
Iona
Ruby
Cara
Emma
John
James
Lily - Lilly looks misspelled to me.
Oliver
(I'm an American)
Eithne (ETH-na) - reminds me of Mount Etna and I don't care for the sound. Thought it was a boys' name until I checked. Pass.
Aoibhin (EE-van) - I like this, but wouldn't use it because it sounds like 'even' and that distracts me. Thought this was a boys' name too. I prefer Eve.
Cian (KEE-an) - Seems trendy, bores me
Eoin (O-in) - I like the sound a lot, but dislike the way it looks. I prefer Owain.
Aidan - I used to like this name but I'm so fed up with -ayden names that it's just a snorefest for me now
Eimhear (EE-mur) - Interesting. I don't like it personally but I can appreciate it. Thought it was a boys' name but I can't decide whether I like it better on a girl or a boy.
Clodagh - like the rings? the "kl" sound in names reminds me of throat-clearing
Caitlin - with the Irish pronunciation I can tolerate it. With the Anglicized pronunciation it's so boring I can't appreciate its relatively nice sound.
Pearse - Didn't realize this was an Irish name. It sounds kind of cheesy to me, like it's trying too hard to be suave.
Caoimhin (KEE-vin) - I like it better than Kevin, but it sounds too trendy for my tastes
Brogan (f) - badbadbad on a girl. Tolerable on a boy.
Darragh (DARR-ah) - I really like this name, too bad it wouldn't work well on a boy in the US
Bree - I knew so many Briannas and Brianas growing up who were called this for short, it's withered for me
Niamh (NEEV) - This is my favourite Irish name, hands down. I love it.
Jonah - has had a major surge in popularity lately so I think of it as on the trendy train
Eithne (ETH-na) - reminds me of Mount Etna and I don't care for the sound. Thought it was a boys' name until I checked. Pass.
Aoibhin (EE-van) - I like this, but wouldn't use it because it sounds like 'even' and that distracts me. Thought this was a boys' name too. I prefer Eve.
Cian (KEE-an) - Seems trendy, bores me
Eoin (O-in) - I like the sound a lot, but dislike the way it looks. I prefer Owain.
Aidan - I used to like this name but I'm so fed up with -ayden names that it's just a snorefest for me now
Eimhear (EE-mur) - Interesting. I don't like it personally but I can appreciate it. Thought it was a boys' name but I can't decide whether I like it better on a girl or a boy.
Clodagh - like the rings? the "kl" sound in names reminds me of throat-clearing
Caitlin - with the Irish pronunciation I can tolerate it. With the Anglicized pronunciation it's so boring I can't appreciate its relatively nice sound.
Pearse - Didn't realize this was an Irish name. It sounds kind of cheesy to me, like it's trying too hard to be suave.
Caoimhin (KEE-vin) - I like it better than Kevin, but it sounds too trendy for my tastes
Brogan (f) - badbadbad on a girl. Tolerable on a boy.
Darragh (DARR-ah) - I really like this name, too bad it wouldn't work well on a boy in the US
Bree - I knew so many Briannas and Brianas growing up who were called this for short, it's withered for me
Niamh (NEEV) - This is my favourite Irish name, hands down. I love it.
Jonah - has had a major surge in popularity lately so I think of it as on the trendy train
This message was edited 8/18/2015, 10:31 PM
Here are my impressions as an American.
Eithne (ETH-na) --Don't like it at all. It reminds me of the word "ethnic", which is just odd as a name.
Aoibhin (EE-van) --Very masculine-sounding.
Cian (KEE-an) --Nice.
Eoin (O-in) --Love Owen, am not huge on this spelling.
Aidan --I like it a lot.
Eimhear (EE-mur) --Super ugly IMO.
Clodagh --Ditto.
Caitlin --Yaaaaawn.
Pearse --Is this the Irish version of Pierce? I've never cared for Pierce. It's so...violent.
Caoimhin (KEE-vin) --Inoffensive. It could grow on me.
Brogan (f) --Gah, so horrible.
Darragh (DARR-ah) --Cannot wrap my head around this as a boys' name. I love Dara on a girl, though.
Bree --Way too cutesy.
Niamh (NEEV) --Very nice.
I also like Jonah, Emma, John, James, Holly, Lily, and Oliver.
Eithne (ETH-na) --Don't like it at all. It reminds me of the word "ethnic", which is just odd as a name.
Aoibhin (EE-van) --Very masculine-sounding.
Cian (KEE-an) --Nice.
Eoin (O-in) --Love Owen, am not huge on this spelling.
Aidan --I like it a lot.
Eimhear (EE-mur) --Super ugly IMO.
Clodagh --Ditto.
Caitlin --Yaaaaawn.
Pearse --Is this the Irish version of Pierce? I've never cared for Pierce. It's so...violent.
Caoimhin (KEE-vin) --Inoffensive. It could grow on me.
Brogan (f) --Gah, so horrible.
Darragh (DARR-ah) --Cannot wrap my head around this as a boys' name. I love Dara on a girl, though.
Bree --Way too cutesy.
Niamh (NEEV) --Very nice.
I also like Jonah, Emma, John, James, Holly, Lily, and Oliver.
This message was edited 8/18/2015, 8:27 PM