Gaelic names

ateach

My husband is very Irish and really wants Irish/ Gaelic names. We've had a hard time picking them, because not many sound especially nice to me (especially for girls for some reason). Here are 2 ideas. What do you think? Too weird for US kids? 

 Girl: Cliona (Clee-uh-nuh is the typical pronunciation)

Boy: Cormac (Cor-mack or Cor-mick) 

guilletskichuk

I do not like the girl name at all.

I DO like Cormac. I've heard it in North America. It's easy to pronounce. 

CiderWench

I really like Cormac but think the girl name is very homely. Sorry.

swimiz500

I agree with the PPs. Love Cormac, not so much on Cliona. 

ilenegrace

Gaelic boy suggestions:

Blaine          Brody          Carlin

Collin           Connor        Corey 

Craig            Devin          Dillon

Donovan       Doyle          Keenan

Kevin            Kyle            Logan

Nolan           Ryan

My fav boy irish names are Micah and Liam

ilenegrace

Gaelic girl name suggestions:

Ainsley       Alanna         Kaley           Mackenzie

Bree           Casey          Kenadee      

Colleen       Cori              Leslie

 

 

 

magsugar13

i do not like either

nanabanana06

https://www.ourbabynames.co.uk/gaelicgirl.php

Ton's of good gaelic girls names! I almost named DD Siobhan. Cormac is fine, and I like it.

gimmietimmies

I like Cormac. Cliona gets a meh from me, I have so many Gaelic favs, this isn't on my list. What about Catriona? I also like Siobhan, Maeve, Niamh, Ailis, Aine, Aoife, Ciara/Keira, Eilish, Fiona, Nola, I could go on. 

 

Moxie27

not a fan of either name.

 

Meggiemuggins

I like Cliona nn Clio - I think it's cute.  My niece is Mairead, Irish for Margaret.  It rhymes with "parade".

strawberrytree

I knew a few Clionas in Ireland, where it is a totally normal name. I always thought that visually, the name looked too close to cliitoris for me. I'd imagine in the US or Canada, where the name is uncommon, that might come up.

I love Ciara and Caoimhe, which have similar sounds.

ateach

Thanks for all the input! Sounds like Cormac is a hit. I was definitely more sure about that one than Cliona. My husband is Matt, so our only hesitation is the Matt and Mac thing if we decide to use Mac as a nickname. Do you think that is weird?

 I really don't want a super Gaelic spelling. I think it gets too complicated in the US and I can't figure out how to pronounce them either. I've been through every list and Cliona is the only one that is both not used by zillions in his family and that I like! I'll have to keep chugging along. :-) 

 

EDIT: Our last name is very Irish- 3 syllables- starts with C 

ateach

I really love the name Aibhlinn (Ave-leen). It is beautiful and means "longed for child" which is very meaningful to us after 2 miscarriages and infertility. I just wish there was nice Anglo spelling. Suggestions?

Zimger

I tend toward german names for girls, so I'm not much help there.

I like most Irish boy names but Cormac isn't one of them. It reminds me of a brand of spices. However I do like the nn Mac.

caramia582

What about Catriona?  A similar feel but a nicer sound.  I really like that name, although pronunciation might be difficult (pronounced like Katrina).

shalyncross

Not a fan of Cliona...sounds like an illness to me (sorry to your hubby), but I do really like Cormac!

mummalove

I wouldn't mind the girl's name if it rhymed with Fiona. 

happy_un-bride

I like Cormac.  I've known one or 2 Cormac's.

I worry about the pronunciation of Cliona...  she would likely get Clee-Oh-Nah.

I don't know if its gaelic, but I go like Roisin for a girl... 

LoCarb

I dislike the girls name and the boys name is ok.

BlueRidge8

gimmietimmies:

I like Cormac. Cliona gets a meh from me, I have so many Gaelic favs, this isn't on my list. What about Catriona? I also like Siobhan, Maeve, Niamh, Ailis, Aine, Aoife, Ciara/Keira, Eilish, Fiona, Nola, I could go on. 

 

I love Cormac and Niamh.

 And while I'm sure you wish to stick with traditional Gaelic, my DD (Adair) is named after Adare, Ireland. Adare in Gaelic is Ath Dara and I love Dara!

aislinnanne

Since the consensus seems to be negative on the girls names, I thought I'd offer some suggestions. My name is Aislinn (pronounced Ash-lyn) and I'm rather fond of it. We'll be naming our little girl (if our LO in a girl) Ebhlin (prounounced E-vuh-lyn like the more american "Evelyn"). 

 Irish girls names can be rough! My mom wanted to name my beautiful little sister "Dervla" (pronounced exactly as it's spelled!!). Luckily, we convinced her that her second choice, Margaret, or Maggie, was much better. 

AmyRI

ateach:

I really love the name Aibhlinn (Ave-leen). It is beautiful and means "longed for child" which is very meaningful to us after 2 miscarriages and infertility. I just wish there was nice Anglo spelling. Suggestions?

I'm with everyone else... I don't like Cliona at all. I do like Aibhlinn, but I agree that I wish there was a nice Anglo spelling.... it would get misprounounced and misspelled constantly.

We struggle with girls' names for the same reasons. DH loves the traditional Gaelic names, I like the more common Irish names (Kathleen, Molly, etc.). We compromised and are using Clare for a girl.

Sounds like you like Cormac, but we have a DS named Tynan and if this LO is a boy, will be Kiernan or Finnegan.

MarxieVonTrapp

Cliona reminds me of clitoris.

One of my all-time favorite Gaelic names for a girl that isn't very common in the US is Orla.  I think it's so pretty.

And to the OP, it won't be weird to have a Matt and a Mac, but it will be confusing. 

jallascalla

I like Cormac, but not so crazy about Cliona.

Others that you might like: Fiona, Roisin (Ro-sheen), Orla, Nuala (New-la)