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I like it a lot, the sound is really nice. As others have said I think it would have pronunciation difficulties outside of Ireland but Orla doesn't seem to have that mystical quality. My cousin recently named her daughter Órlagh Frances, which is a combo I love. Órlagh is perhaps not as delicate looking as Órlaith but I think the pronunciation is a bit more discernible.

I really like Orla, but this spelling somehow just doesn't seem right for a name pronounced Orla.

Well, it looks better than Orla! There would always be pronunciation issues, though, and it seems to me that half an Irish spelling is neither here nor there. Orflaith (I'm doing it from memory through sheer idleness) would at least signal that there are questions to be asked, but people would be highly likely to just take a stab at Orlaith and come up with Or Layeth.

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Would I use it? No. Regardless of its looks, it sounds drab and dull.

A little confusing. But it's Irish so I guess it should be. It's a little weird. I don't really like it.

I quite like it, but it does seem to be popping up everywhere now. It also kind of bugs me, because I really like the sound of Or-layth, but unfortunately that will never be a feasible pronunciation of any name haha.

I like it but think it just doesn't work among English-speakers. I do quite like Orla; my ear loves the long "o" sound and I've always liked that I can hear "ore", mentally alluding to its "golden" meaning.

This message was edited 11/15/2015, 12:18 PM

Hm. If only it were more familiar. It looks like a handsome heroic sort of name, and feminine. And not too fanciful. I've never seen it in real life, I don't think, so to me it's a little exotic.

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I think trying to get Americans to say Orlaith would be futile, though. I think most of us could be taught not to make sounds for the ith, but ... probably not to say the vowel as in cat. So in the US, I'd say it doesn't work. Unless you like OR-luh.

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I'm sort of a sucker for -rl- in girlnames. I don't think Orla is the prettiest of them. I feel like it's not striking among all the Ella, Isla, Aria, Aliya type names. And I'm not a fan of names starting with O generally.

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But, it does seem like a neat name and I think I'd be pleased to see it on someone.

Well, for starters, its pronunciation is very much at odds with the spelling, a major strike against any name.
Even if we spell it Orla, it holds no appeal for me. It's mumbly and indistinct.