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HelpSome Irish names
I adore Irish names, and I grew up in Ireland and can read Gaelic so I have no issues pronouncing them, but I am starting to wonder how usable they really are in a country like Australia or America. Here is a list of some of the names I have been thinking about lately...
WDYT of them? Are they usable?
Girls:
Ailbe (all-bay)
Clodagh (clo-da)
Aibhlinn/Eibhlinn (ave-leen)
Aoife (ee-fa...this is my older sister's name so I can't actually use it but I love it)
Caoimhe (keeva)
Eithne (en-ya)
Eimear (ee-mer...my little sister's name so I can't use it but I do love it)
Maebh (maeve)
Niamh (nee-v)
Orlaith (orla)
Radha (row-a)
Saoirse (seer-sha)
Siobhan (shi-vawn)
Iseult (ee-solt)
Boys:
Aodhan (aid-on)
Aonghus (angus)
Ardan (are-dawn)
Cathal (ka-hal)
Cian (key-in)
Colm
Deaglan (deck-lan)
Eamonn
Lorcan
Odhran (o-ran)
Oisin (osh-een)
Seamus
Tadhg (ti-gue)
WDYT of them? Are they usable?
Girls:
Ailbe (all-bay)
Clodagh (clo-da)
Aibhlinn/Eibhlinn (ave-leen)
Aoife (ee-fa...this is my older sister's name so I can't actually use it but I love it)
Caoimhe (keeva)
Eithne (en-ya)
Eimear (ee-mer...my little sister's name so I can't use it but I do love it)
Maebh (maeve)
Niamh (nee-v)
Orlaith (orla)
Radha (row-a)
Saoirse (seer-sha)
Siobhan (shi-vawn)
Iseult (ee-solt)
Boys:
Aodhan (aid-on)
Aonghus (angus)
Ardan (are-dawn)
Cathal (ka-hal)
Cian (key-in)
Colm
Deaglan (deck-lan)
Eamonn
Lorcan
Odhran (o-ran)
Oisin (osh-een)
Seamus
Tadhg (ti-gue)
Archived Thread - replies disabled
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Replies
I think some Irish names are more familar than others, at least when you're talking about the U.S. (and Australia, I'm sure, as well). And although many of us here, being namenerds, know how to spell and pronounce them, that doesn't mean 'the rest of the world' will. LOL. However, that shouldn't keep you from using a name you love that also happens to be rooted in history and culture. Yes, he or she will have to spell and pronounce their name quite often, but I'd rather be in Siobhan's boat than in Kaeytlian's. :-/
From your list, I like:
Aoife
Caoimhe
Maebh - I prefer the Maeve spelling though. That's one Anglization (sp?) that doesn't bother me.
Niamh
Siobhan
Cian
Colm
Eamonn
Lorcan
Oisin
Seamus
~Heather~
From your list, I like:
Aoife
Caoimhe
Maebh - I prefer the Maeve spelling though. That's one Anglization (sp?) that doesn't bother me.
Niamh
Siobhan
Cian
Colm
Eamonn
Lorcan
Oisin
Seamus
~Heather~
1
Girls:
Ailbe (all-bay)- A little strange
Clodagh (clo-da)- Too close to claddagh
Aibhlinn/Eibhlinn (ave-leen)- nms
Aoife (ee-fa...this is my older sister's name so I can't actually use it but I love it)- Like it!
Caoimhe (keeva)- Like it.
Eithne (en-ya)- Love it!!!
Eimear (ee-mer...my little sister's name so I can't use it but I do love it)- very nice.
Maebh (maeve)- Prefer it spelled Maeve.
Niamh (nee-v)- I like very few N names on girls, and I can't really say why.
Orlaith (orla)- Like it a lot, but wouldn't use it. Prefer the spelling Orlaith over Orla.
Radha (row-a)- nms
Saoirse (seer-sha)- That used to be one of my faves, and I still like it.
Siobhan (shi-vawn)- That's a favorite.
Iseult (ee-solt)- *Adore* it!
Boys:
Aodhan (aid-on)- Now there's a nice way to spell Aidan! Like it.
Aonghus (angus)- Nmsaa
Ardan (are-dawn)- nms
Cathal (ka-hal)- A little weird, but wouldn't make a bad mn.
Cian (key-in)- Prefer something more like Ciaran.
Colm- nms, but alright.
Deaglan (deck-lan)- Interesting...
Eamonn- Like it!
Lorcan- Weird!
Odhran (o-ran)- Very nice.
Oisin (osh-een)- Like it.
Seamus- Like it because of association
Tadhg (ti-gue)- I know a guy by that name who's a bit nutty, but I still like it. :)
-Bethany
___________________________________
I'll walk with God, I'll take His hand.
I'll talk with God, He'll understand.
I'll pray to Him, each day to Him
And He'll hear the words that I say.
His hand will guide my throne and rod
And I'll never walk alone
While I walk with God.
Ailbe (all-bay)- A little strange
Clodagh (clo-da)- Too close to claddagh
Aibhlinn/Eibhlinn (ave-leen)- nms
Aoife (ee-fa...this is my older sister's name so I can't actually use it but I love it)- Like it!
Caoimhe (keeva)- Like it.
Eithne (en-ya)- Love it!!!
Eimear (ee-mer...my little sister's name so I can't use it but I do love it)- very nice.
Maebh (maeve)- Prefer it spelled Maeve.
Niamh (nee-v)- I like very few N names on girls, and I can't really say why.
Orlaith (orla)- Like it a lot, but wouldn't use it. Prefer the spelling Orlaith over Orla.
Radha (row-a)- nms
Saoirse (seer-sha)- That used to be one of my faves, and I still like it.
Siobhan (shi-vawn)- That's a favorite.
Iseult (ee-solt)- *Adore* it!
Boys:
Aodhan (aid-on)- Now there's a nice way to spell Aidan! Like it.
Aonghus (angus)- Nmsaa
Ardan (are-dawn)- nms
Cathal (ka-hal)- A little weird, but wouldn't make a bad mn.
Cian (key-in)- Prefer something more like Ciaran.
Colm- nms, but alright.
Deaglan (deck-lan)- Interesting...
Eamonn- Like it!
Lorcan- Weird!
Odhran (o-ran)- Very nice.
Oisin (osh-een)- Like it.
Seamus- Like it because of association
Tadhg (ti-gue)- I know a guy by that name who's a bit nutty, but I still like it. :)
-Bethany
___________________________________
I'll walk with God, I'll take His hand.
I'll talk with God, He'll understand.
I'll pray to Him, each day to Him
And He'll hear the words that I say.
His hand will guide my throne and rod
And I'll never walk alone
While I walk with God.
1
Here are my favorites from your list. (I love Irish names too.)
As far as write and readability...well, some are easier than others, but it's only a matter of time before people learn. At this stage almost eveyone knows Sean, a lot of people know Sinead and Siobhan, and Niamh is becoming much better known than it was 25 years ago. The popular thing right now is Irish names, but only the readable ones. I see why, but it still seems like a bit of a cop out to me. Dh and I had a short discussiion over the spelling of our second daughter to be's name, Caoimhe. We decided it just wasn't the same name if it was anglesized. So Caoimhe it is. My name is Caragh (KARE-ah), I have to spell it all the time, but I love it, and love that my parents didn't change it to Kara. So, I say go with original spellings, people will learn, and your kids will have lovely unique names. when they grow older they will be able to explain the spelling and yet another celtic mystery to those who ask.
Clodagh - I love the sound of this.
Aoife - great.
Caoimhe - LOVE this of course.
Meabh - if I have another daughter this will be her name.
Niamh - fantastic, very popular in Ireland, super cool meaning
Saoirse - "freedom" - another supercool one! If I didn't already have a Shea...
Aodhan - lovely.
Cathal - my uncle, so I like it.
Colm - nice
Declan - Love this.
Eamonn - another uncle, so I like it.
Lorcan - "fierce", cool too. Slightly pretensious in Ireland though.
Seamus - great.
Tadhg - Love it! If I have a son...this may be his name.
Love your taste.
Caragh
As far as write and readability...well, some are easier than others, but it's only a matter of time before people learn. At this stage almost eveyone knows Sean, a lot of people know Sinead and Siobhan, and Niamh is becoming much better known than it was 25 years ago. The popular thing right now is Irish names, but only the readable ones. I see why, but it still seems like a bit of a cop out to me. Dh and I had a short discussiion over the spelling of our second daughter to be's name, Caoimhe. We decided it just wasn't the same name if it was anglesized. So Caoimhe it is. My name is Caragh (KARE-ah), I have to spell it all the time, but I love it, and love that my parents didn't change it to Kara. So, I say go with original spellings, people will learn, and your kids will have lovely unique names. when they grow older they will be able to explain the spelling and yet another celtic mystery to those who ask.
Clodagh - I love the sound of this.
Aoife - great.
Caoimhe - LOVE this of course.
Meabh - if I have another daughter this will be her name.
Niamh - fantastic, very popular in Ireland, super cool meaning
Saoirse - "freedom" - another supercool one! If I didn't already have a Shea...
Aodhan - lovely.
Cathal - my uncle, so I like it.
Colm - nice
Declan - Love this.
Eamonn - another uncle, so I like it.
Lorcan - "fierce", cool too. Slightly pretensious in Ireland though.
Seamus - great.
Tadhg - Love it! If I have a son...this may be his name.
Love your taste.
Caragh
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I Love Irish names! though I do not think I would use one in real life just due to the fact that if others heard the name they wouldn't be able to spell it and if they saw it they wouldn't be able to pornounce it.
The way I see it, if I ever did name my child an Irish/welsh/scottish name it would be their middle name and I could use it as a nn while if they wanted at school or wherever else they could use their first name which would be more normal.
Unfortunately I think only Seamus is really useable (although I love Aiofe).
"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live."
Mark Twain
The way I see it, if I ever did name my child an Irish/welsh/scottish name it would be their middle name and I could use it as a nn while if they wanted at school or wherever else they could use their first name which would be more normal.
Unfortunately I think only Seamus is really useable (although I love Aiofe).
"Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live."
Mark Twain
1
Some of these are beautiful but I suspect that in any country outside of Ireland they will pose problems with spelling and pronounciation. I would go with English spellings where possible (like Maeve instead of Maebh, Orla instead of Orlaith).
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