Saoirse

mrsb_IN

I am in love with the name Saoirse. I love Gaelic names, but I know they pose plenty of pronunciation problems this side of the Atlantic. Do you think this name is usable, or does anyone have any suggestions of names with a similar sound? Pronounced sare-sha.

annabanana2280

I think it's pretty bad, sorry. 

I think you're setting her up for a LIFETIME of "how do you pronounce your name??" "how do you spell your name??" 

cwie828

I LOVE how this name sounds and even looks. But sadly, I don't think its usable here in the good old U.S of A. I don't think ANYONE could pronounce it and I wouldn't want to put my child through that.

I think changing the spelling would take away from the actual beauty of the name.

sugarpumpkin716

i have a very tough time with names that i end up staring at because i have no idea how to say them.

MrsWindyCity

I've always heard it more like seer-sha. I think it's very pretty. Personally, it's one of the more "popular" names I think of when I think of Gaelic names, and probably one of the few I know how to pronounce. 

starrkitten89

I think it looks absolutely beautiful.I don't think I'd ever use it though because I think 99% of people would not know where to even begin to try to pronounce it.I do think it is pretty though.

mrsb_IN

If it helps, hubby and I are both very Irish, although hubby is Irish/Scottish and we have a Scottish last name.

Moxie27

if you love it, use it!

people mess up/mispronounce the easiest of names, so don't forego a name you love in an effort to avoid something (the mispronounciation/misspelling of your kid's name) that cannot be unequivocally avoided.

Southern-Yankee

I wouldn't even know how to begin to pronounce it if you didn't tell us.  I would have said sow ear say.  I'm sorry but I'm not a fan.

CrazyToast

I said "NO" to Gaelic names when DH started trying to suggest those.  I didn't want my child to forever repeat her name again and again.  I know I still chose an unusual name - but you get how to say it when you see it.

We do know a Saoirse but her family says "Sur-sha."

gimmietimmies

MrsWindyCity:

I've always heard it more like seer-sha. I think it's very pretty. Personally, it's one of the more "popular" names I think of when I think of Gaelic names, and probably one of the few I know how to pronounce. 

ITA with this. Beside, it is becoming more of a norm to have a huge variety of names both sides of the 49th. There are people immigrating from all over the world with a rainbow of names. I find some Asian and Indian names difficult, but I'd never say name your daughter Elizabeth, because Xinyue might be too hard for people.

Saoirse is lovely. Go for it.

scorch

Im in love with it too. I think it is so pretty and I love how it looks.  But my DD is Isla and I am constantly having to correct people.  I would be afraid to use it just for the fear of having to correct her for the rest of her life.

MarxieVonTrapp

I think there are a lot of other Gaelic names out there that will be easier to pronounce.  I think Saoirse will struggle her entire life with pronounciation and spelling.

BlueRidge8

I dig it and with actress Saoirse Ronan being in more films I think the pronunciation is getting around.

ames71

BlueRidge8:

I dig it and with actress Saoirse Ronan being in more films I think the pronunciation is getting around.

This. FWIW, I mentioned it to DH once (I think we had just watched The Lovely Bones) and I pronounced it once and he remembers how to say it. He thought it was beautiful, BTW. Yes, you will have to pronounce it for more people than you won't at first, but I just don't think it's that big of a deal.

salt78

MrsWindyCity:

I've always heard it more like seer-sha.

Agreed. This is a guilty pleasure name for me. I love it and as PP have said, because of the actress, I think more people will get used to the pronunciation. I've seen names on this board that were a lot further out there than Saoirse.

 

 

 

plunderb

I would not discourage you from using a name because of possible pronunciation/spelling problems.

I would, however, advise you to research Saoirse carefully, as it is a very strongly political name. To some people, it will mean "freedom," to others, it is associated w/ terrorism. Just be aware.

ashley0616

It looks very pretty, but the actual pronunciation is IMO pretty bad. There are some Gaelic names that are really beautiful, and if you are worried about it being mispronounced then you could always change the spelling. If you don't mind the mispronunciations, then go with what you like!

apc1929

I think its beautiful..  Yes she may have to correct people but once should be enough.  It is a totally legit name and I think how boring the world would be with only Annes, Johns etc.  

miababy

I love this name!  As long as you don't mind always having to explain how to say/spell it, then go for it.

alliejo725

I kind of hate Gaelic names, and I don't thin there's anything attractive about the way Saoirse is pronounced at all, BUT...

When it comes to Gaelic names, I think you're pretty safe using Saoirse, Aislin, Diedre or Siobhan. All, though not common, are heard-of. If it's your cup of tea, I think you can get away with it (it's no Aoife or anything).  

bread&jam

Like other people, I've always heard it pronounced SEER-sha. I've asked similar questions about Caoimhe (KEE-va) and Niamh (NEEV) as my husband is of Scottish decent and we have a Scottish last name as well. I love traditionally spelled Gaelic names and think this one is totally usable.

I just have to say that I have a daughter named Mary Jane and I always have to repeat it and spell it for people. I think most people nowadays just expect names to be spelled differently, or pronounced differently. Plus, American literacy skills in general continue to decline. And for a lot of people learning your child's Gaelic name will be one of the biggest cultural lessons they learn all year. Sad, but true.

ObLaDi

BlueRidge8:

I dig it and with actress Saoirse Ronan being in more films I think the pronunciation is getting around.

This is what I was going to say.

Ivana_Stolichnaya

You would be putting your child through years of hell having to explain and sound out her name for people.  She's going to hear it mutilated during roll-call and no doubt it will be mispronounced at her HS graduation.  Please don't.

anna7602

I love it. I think it depends on where you live. Around here, people know how to pronounce it, for the most part.

This is my absolute favorite Gaelic name.

Moneypenny424

I'm torn on this one.  I like the name, but it is going to be mispronounced a lot.

I say that as someone who grew up having a name that was (and continues to be) butchered.  I'm Gillian (like Jillian, but the traditional spelling) and have been called the name with a hard G, Gilligan, etc. all my life.  It was always a fear of mine for graduations, bar inductions, etc. that my name would be mispronounced.  Is it a huge deal?  No, but it is annoying...and Gillian isn't nearly as complicated as Saoirse.

I also thought that Gillian Anderson and X-Files would help the pronunciation of my name.  Didn't at all.

slukd79

starrkitten89:

I think it looks absolutely beautiful.I don't think I'd ever use it though because I think 99% of people would not know where to even begin to try to pronounce it.I do think it is pretty though.

This. Beautiful, but it doesn't fit one of my categories of easy to say/easy to spell. This is setting her up for a lifetime of correcting people.

MrsMitty08

I actually had a student two years ago with this name.  The only frustrating thing was that she assumed people should know how to pronounce it on first glance.  I obviously didn't mess it up after she told me how to say it, but I think people who have names that might not follow traditional or contemporary spellings/pronunciations should be a bit more understanding if people have to ask how to say it, KWIM?