Message: "Not in Ireland" - Behind the Name

Not in Ireland

by Erin (guest)

1/21/2004, 3:57 PM

I just found out that my name is not used as a first name in Ireland. Why is that? It wouldn't be that strange in America to name a child America, but I guess that says something in itself.

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- Jordan (Jordija) +2

1/21/2004, 4:11 PM

Based on the popularity lists, I guess Irish people have only recently started using the name. Erin is only a version of the original spelling Eireann, so I would think it's not quite the same as an American child named America.

2001 - Erin was the 13th most popular girls' name in Northern Ireland.
2002 - Erin was the 48th most popular girls' name in Ireland.

http://www.behindthename.com/php/search.php?terms=erin&popterm=&gender=both&extra=p

- Mika (guest) +1

1/21/2004, 5:37 PM

ah so they do use Erin ... I never really checked into it ...Erin, where did you get your info?
I've heard of people named Eire, but do they use it it Ireland?
Using the name Ireland or Irelin in Ireland would be more like using America in the US than Erin.

- Attica (guest)

1/23/2004, 2:11 PM

I think its probably got quite popular recently because of all the troubles there at the moment. I guess it could be seen as an equivalent to calling their baby "Peace" or something. Also, English is spoken just as much as Gaelic, so it would probably be thought of as less strange to call someone "Erin."

- Mika (guest) +1

1/21/2004, 4:06 PM

it's because it is practially the name of the country. Eire or Eireann is what Ireland is called in Gaelic, so to name someone Erin there would be rather strange. Actually, I would be odd to name an American America, a Canadian Canada or an Australian Australia, etc.

- Yahalome (guest)

1/22/2004, 11:37 PM

Now a Canadian Canada or Australian Australia *is* strange, but Americans will use _*anything*_ for names! (Eck...)
Y :(

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