Baby Names

Talk to an Irish person before picking a so-called Irish baby name.

Hi Ladies,

Just wanted to say that alot of these Irish baby names are names that are not used in Ireland as first or second names ever (maybe this doesn't bother you if you are picking one but i thought that i should mention it).  I just looked at the 'Irish baby names we love' on the bump and although they did better than the Irish baby names i usually see in books, two of them are just not Irish first names.  Firstly Bradan is a name i have never some accross in Ireland in the last 30 years and it just doesn't exist there and Flannery is a surname that Irish people would never use as a first name.  I've noticed alot of Irish names are actually surnames in Ireland and Irish/gaelic people would never use tham as first names so beware. 

Also if you are going to pick girls names such as Siobhan and Saoirse be careful you are pronouncing them correctly.  Also apart from Irish people, nobody is probably going to ever pronounce it properly.  As somebosy who is Irish, I've often thought that maybe i should make a list of 'Irish baby names'  as when i usually read these names in books etc, it just makes me laugh.  If anyone is interested, let me know and I'll give it a go.

Thnaks x

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Re: Talk to an Irish person before picking a so-called Irish baby name.

  • SEWFSEWF member
    I'm interested. With my married last name, it's sort of required that we use an Irish first name. haha
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  • Interesting topic. I'm not Irish and therefore have no interest in trying to "honor Irish heritage" with a name, but it sounds like you have some good information on the topic.

    I just wanted to clarify that while Irish people may not use Flannery as a first name, most Americans would as an homage to author Flannery O'Connor. It's Irish (though not traditional as a first name), but O'Connor is an important Irish-American writer, and plenty of (Irish-American) literature geeks would be interested in honoring her.

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  • People may be using Irish surnames to honor a family member with that surname.  Not to sound like they are from Ireland. 

    I see where you are going with this, but I don't think everyone use uses an "Irish" name is doing it because they want to be just like the people in Ireland.  Surnames are very popular in the US right now so it makes sense that people would use Irish surnames too.

    This reminds me of my Aussie girlfriend who always yells at the TV when the "Fosters: Australian for Beer" commercial comes on.  Apparently that beer doesn't exist in Australia :).  We are all being lied to!

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    Ha, ha.  Well if you want, let me know if you decide to pick an irish name or if you want a list i can always try my best to make one for you!
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  • OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    imagealliejo725:

    Interesting topic. I'm not Irish and therefore have no interest in trying to "honor Irish heritage" with a name, but it sounds like you have some good information on the topic.

    I just wanted to clarify that while Irish people may not use Flannery as a first name, most Americans would as an homage to author Flannery O'Connor. It's Irish (though not traditional as a first name), but O'Connor is an important Irish-American writer, and plenty of (Irish-American) literature geeks would be interested in honoring her.

    Don't get me wrong, i may not even pick an Irish baby name myself and for those that do, i don't know if it is about trying to 'honor Irish heritage'.  Maybe not.  I am noticing that alot of Americans do seem to use traditional Irish surnames as first names (as I'm living in the states).  As the other poster mentioned the story of the beer and her Australian friend, it's more that kind of thing with me.  I also feel like shouting, that's not an Irish name (by Standards in Ireland anyway). 

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  • imageEmsyK:
    imagealliejo725:

    Interesting topic. I'm not Irish and therefore have no interest in trying to "honor Irish heritage" with a name, but it sounds like you have some good information on the topic.

    I just wanted to clarify that while Irish people may not use Flannery as a first name, most Americans would as an homage to author Flannery O'Connor. It's Irish (though not traditional as a first name), but O'Connor is an important Irish-American writer, and plenty of (Irish-American) literature geeks would be interested in honoring her.

    Don't get me wrong, i may not even pick an Irish baby name myself and for those that do, i don't know if it is about trying to 'honor Irish heritage'.  Maybe not.  I am noticing that alot of Americans do seem to use traditional Irish surnames as first names (as I'm living in the states).  As the other poster mentioned the story of the beer and her Australian friend, it's more that kind of thing with me.  I also feel like shouting, that's not an Irish name (by Standards in Ireland anyway). 

    Dude, no harm, no foul. I was just pointing out that maybe choosing a non-traditional Irish name (like Flannery or Delaney) could have more to do with being an Irish-American than being Irish, KWIM?

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member

    imageTheWop:
    OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

    Well I'll start off with boys and include of course my husbands name first:

    Boys

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    imagealliejo725:
    imageEmsyK:
    imagealliejo725:

    Interesting topic. I'm not Irish and therefore have no interest in trying to "honor Irish heritage" with a name, but it sounds like you have some good information on the topic.

    I just wanted to clarify that while Irish people may not use Flannery as a first name, most Americans would as an homage to author Flannery O'Connor. It's Irish (though not traditional as a first name), but O'Connor is an important Irish-American writer, and plenty of (Irish-American) literature geeks would be interested in honoring her.

    Don't get me wrong, i may not even pick an Irish baby name myself and for those that do, i don't know if it is about trying to 'honor Irish heritage'.  Maybe not.  I am noticing that alot of Americans do seem to use traditional Irish surnames as first names (as I'm living in the states).  As the other poster mentioned the story of the beer and her Australian friend, it's more that kind of thing with me.  I also feel like shouting, that's not an Irish name (by Standards in Ireland anyway). 

    Dude, no harm, no foul. I was just pointing out that maybe choosing a non-traditional Irish name (like Flannery or Delaney) could have more to do with being an Irish-American than being Irish, KWIM?

    Oh yeah, i completely agree with you.  Defo an Irish american thing.  what is KWIM?
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  • KWIM= Know What I Mean?

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  • OP, I think you have a really good point. I used to live in Ireland, which I know is not the same thing as being Irish, but looking at the lists of Irish names that baby name websites list sometimes just gives me a huge '?' because many of the names would never, ever be used as first names in Ireland. I remember discussing baby names with my Irish boyfriend, and when I brought up that I liked Brady for a boy, he was totally confused. He kept insisting Brady was just a surname, and nobody in Ireland would ever use it for a first name. 

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  • imageEmsyK:

    imageTheWop:
    OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

    Well I'll start off with boys and include of course my husbands name first:

    Boys

    I'm assuming the bump ate your post...unless your h's name really is Boys.

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  • I have a thing for Irish/Gaelic names. It always makes me so mad when people get all pissy over the name Siobhan. My mom talked me out of it for DD because "it sounded too ghetto". The only people I have met with that name spelling is irish white girls. So meh. We will be naming our next DD Mara, which is a gaelic word, not a name. I do see a lot of the irish surnames as first names though, like Rowan. It doesn't bother me. However, I would love to see more traditional Gaelic names coming back. Some of them are like Siobhan, Maeve, Liam, ect. I just wish I could convince DH to be on the same page as me when it comes to the irish/gaelic names. He prefers to name after Star Wars characters lol.
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  • frlcbfrlcb member

    Eh, some people just want an Irish sounding name. Most of those people are probably not Irish or maybe they had great great great great grandparents who were. It isn't harming anyone.

    And considering the most popular names in Ireland are Jack, Sophie, Daniel, Emma, Conor and Emily it appears that the Irish don't always like traditional Irish names. 

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member

    imageTheWop:
    OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

    Sorry, I'll start again.

    Boys: Aodh?n (Ay-dan), Cathal (Kah-hal), Ciar?n (Keer-an), Cillian (Kill-ee-an), Cian (Kee-an), Connor, Donncha (Dun-a-ka), Finn/Fionn (Finn), Gear?id (Gar-od),M?che?l (Mee-hawl), Padraig (Pah-rick), Ruair?, Rory (Ror-ee), Se?n (shawn),Tadhg (Tie-ag), R?nan (Row-nan) my hubby's name.

    Girls: ?ine (Aw-nea), Aisling (Ash-leen), Aoibheann (aev-een), Aoife (ee-fa), Caoimhe (Keev-va), Ciara (Keer-ra), Dearbhaile (Derv-la), ?mer (E-mer), ?abha (Ey-va), Maedhbh/Maeve (Mayv), Muireann (Mir-an), Niamh/N?amh (Neeve), Neassa (Nessa), Orlaith (or-la), R?is?n (ro-sheen), Sadhbh (Syve), Saoirse (Seer-sha), Sin?ad (Shin-ayd), ?na (OO-na)

    Some are very popular names and some are just favourites. 

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  • imageEmsyK:

    imageTheWop:
    OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

    Sorry, I'll start again.

    Boys: Aodh?n (Ay-dan), Cathal (Kah-hal), Ciar?n (Keer-an), Cillian (Kill-ee-an), Cian (Kee-an), Connor, Donncha (Dun-a-ka), Finn/Fionn (Finn), Gear?id (Gar-od),M?che?l (Mee-hawl), Padraig (Pah-rick), Ruair?, Rory (Ror-ee), Se?n (shawn),Tadhg (Tie-ag), R?nan (Row-nan) my hubby's name.

    Girls: ?ine (Aw-nea), Aisling (Ash-leen), Aoibheann (aev-een), Aoife (ee-fa), Caoimhe (Keev-va), Ciara (Keer-ra), Dearbhaile (Derv-la), ?mer (E-mer), ?abha (Ey-va), Maedhbh/Maeve (Mayv), Muireann (Mir-an), Niamh/N?amh (Neeve), Neassa (Nessa), Orlaith (or-la), R?is?n (ro-sheen), Sadhbh (Syve), Saoirse (Seer-sha), Sin?ad (Shin-ayd), ?na (OO-na)

    Some are very popular names and some are just favourites. 

    if you like any of these you can find most of them on babynamesofireland dot com and they even have an audio pronunciation for most

  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    imagefrlcb:

    Eh, some people just want an Irish sounding name. Most of those people are probably not Irish or maybe they had great great great great grandparents who were. It isn't harming anyone.

    And considering the most popular names in Ireland are Jack, Sophie, Daniel, Emma, Conor and Emily it appears that the Irish don't always like traditional Irish names. 

      I wasn't saying you couldn't just choose an irish sounding name at all if thats wahat you want.  My name is Emma so although I'm Irish, i don't have a traditional name.  I was just saying that if a traditional irish name is what your after, be careful about trusting books or websites as thay can be misleading and it may be better to ask an Irish person. 
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  • EmsyKEmsyK member

    imageNana_Osaki06:
    I have a thing for Irish/Gaelic names. It always makes me so mad when people get all pissy over the name Siobhan. My mom talked me out of it for DD because "it sounded too ghetto". The only people I have met with that name spelling is irish white girls. So meh. We will be naming our next DD Mara, which is a gaelic word, not a name. I do see a lot of the irish surnames as first names though, like Rowan. It doesn't bother me. However, I would love to see more traditional Gaelic names coming back. Some of them are like Siobhan, Maeve, Liam, ect. I just wish I could convince DH to be on the same page as me when it comes to the irish/gaelic names. He prefers to name after Star Wars characters lol.

    Thats funny about Siobhan as it is so common at home and it's lovely.  Mara is lovely!

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member

    imagestrawberrytree:
    OP, I think you have a really good point. I used to live in Ireland, which I know is not the same thing as being Irish, but looking at the lists of Irish names that baby name websites list sometimes just gives me a huge '?' because many of the names would never, ever be used as first names in Ireland. I remember discussing baby names with my Irish boyfriend, and when I brought up that I liked Brady for a boy, he was totally confused. He kept insisting Brady was just a surname, and nobody in Ireland would ever use it for a first name. 

    Funny about the Brady name.  That is exactly the point i was making.  I got a book of baby names recently and there was an Irish baby names section and i was also very confused!

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  • OP & the Australian Foster comment remind me of when I threw a 'fiesta' (I'm of no hispanic heritage) and my friend from Mexico got irritated because nachos are not even a real Mexican food and they only have them in the states. Lesson learned.

  • OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    Yes
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Yes
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  • frlcbfrlcb member
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

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  • imagefrlcb:
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

    agreed! my husbands family is irish, but they are irish american.  they have a very irish last name and are very into their heritage, so irish sounding or associated names go great with the last name.  plus, that is like saying people who are not italian or greek shouldnt use sophia, yet it is a beautiful and popular name in the states

  • imagefrlcb:

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

    In Irish, Caitlin is spelled with a fada (accent) on the second i and is pronounced Cat-leen or Caht-leen. It's Anglicised as Kathleen. Kate-lynn is a phonetic, American pronounciation because (I'm guessing, at least) when people found or read the name, they didn't realise how the fada changed the pronounciation. 

    It's my name and I LOVED how it was pronounced when I lived in Ireland. First time in my life I have never had to spell my name for anyone! 


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  • frlcbfrlcb member
    imagestrawberrytree:
    imagefrlcb:
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

    In Irish, Caitlin is spelled with a fada (accent) on the second i and is pronounced Cat-leen or Caht-leen. It's Anglicised as Kathleen. Kate-lynn is a phonetic, American pronounciation because (I'm guessing, at least) when people found or read the name, they didn't realise how the fada changed the pronounciation. 

    It's my name and I LOVED how it was pronounced when I lived in Ireland. First time in my life I have never had to spell my name for anyone! 

    Or, maybe, it is a name that has more than one pronunciation. My point with this is that it can be said one way in Ireland and another way here. My name is said very differently in Spain than here, but that doesn't mean either is wrong.  

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  • I liked the list of how to pronounce the names.  thanks op.  I have to say though that sticking to "american" names is a wash.  First of all America is made up of a melting pot of other cultures- even if most americans forget this-so most all names come from ethnic backgrounds technically.  Yes most names get "americanized" and mispronounced, but thats the way we get new names!  To the original poster :   I understand what you were saying about trying to find names of a certain culture and being misled by books and websites and I appreciate your candor.
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  • All names would be pronounced differently in Ireland from people with an Irish brogue!  The OP just meant the new commonly used names here are considered of a Gaelic or Irish association when in Ireland they don't have an actual Irish meaning or origin.
  • I agree, just because a name is pronounced a certain way in Ireland doesn't mean that it needs to be pronounced that way here.  Parents picking an Irish name may not even know it is Irish or be intending on picking an Irish name specifically.  That said....my exH's Irish and his last name is Madden (which is now my last name) and it is really driving me crazy that people are starting to use it as a first name.  It just doesn't work in my mind but I have yet to hear someone say they are thinking of it because it's Irish, more that they just like how it sounds.

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  • imagefrlcb:
    imagestrawberrytree:
    imagefrlcb:
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

    In Irish, Caitlin is spelled with a fada (accent) on the second i and is pronounced Cat-leen or Caht-leen. It's Anglicised as Kathleen. Kate-lynn is a phonetic, American pronounciation because (I'm guessing, at least) when people found or read the name, they didn't realise how the fada changed the pronounciation. 

    It's my name and I LOVED how it was pronounced when I lived in Ireland. First time in my life I have never had to spell my name for anyone! 

    Or, maybe, it is a name that has more than one pronunciation. My point with this is that it can be said one way in Ireland and another way here. My name is said very differently in Spain than here, but that doesn't mean either is wrong.  

    Sorry, I thought you were asking a legitimate question about how Caitlin was mispronounced, so I answered you. I'm not trying to get involved in a debate here.   


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  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    imagefrlcb:
    imagestrawberrytree:
    imagefrlcb:
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

    In Irish, Caitlin is spelled with a fada (accent) on the second i and is pronounced Cat-leen or Caht-leen. It's Anglicised as Kathleen. Kate-lynn is a phonetic, American pronounciation because (I'm guessing, at least) when people found or read the name, they didn't realise how the fada changed the pronounciation. 

    It's my name and I LOVED how it was pronounced when I lived in Ireland. First time in my life I have never had to spell my name for anyone! 

    Or, maybe, it is a name that has more than one pronunciation. My point with this is that it can be said one way in Ireland and another way here. My name is said very differently in Spain than here, but that doesn't mean either is wrong.  

    Yes, i get it Caitlin (Caht-leen) with a fada and it must have been nice to have people pronounce it correctly in Ireland. 

    For the other poster, i don't think you should be restricted to American names at all and you can pronounce names however you like, but to me it isn't Irish anymore if you change it so much and the fada's do make alot of difference to how it is pronounced.  I hadn't really intended to make this point anyway but agree with Caitlin.

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member

    imagejessandandy09:
    I liked the list of how to pronounce the names.  thanks op.  I have to say though that sticking to "american" names is a wash.  First of all America is made up of a melting pot of other cultures- even if most americans forget this-so most all names come from ethnic backgrounds technically.  Yes most names get "americanized" and mispronounced, but thats the way we get new names!  To the original poster :   I understand what you were saying about trying to find names of a certain culture and being misled by books and websites and I appreciate your candor.

    Thanks Smile

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    imageRhenna:

    I agree, just because a name is pronounced a certain way in Ireland doesn't mean that it needs to be pronounced that way here.  Parents picking an Irish name may not even know it is Irish or be intending on picking an Irish name specifically.  That said....my exH's Irish and his last name is Madden (which is now my last name) and it is really driving me crazy that people are starting to use it as a first name.  It just doesn't work in my mind but I have yet to hear someone say they are thinking of it because it's Irish, more that they just like how it sounds.

    Yes, as you said they are probably just picking it because of how it sounds.  Just irritates/amuses me when those names are put in baby name book/websites as traditional irish names. 

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  • imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Just wanted to say that I'm also Irish and Swedish except my father is Swedish and my mother is Irish. :)

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  • imageEmsyK:

    imageTheWop:
    OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

    Sorry, I'll start again.

    Boys: Aodh?n (Ay-dan), Cathal (Kah-hal), Ciar?n (Keer-an), Cillian (Kill-ee-an), Cian (Kee-an), Connor, Donncha (Dun-a-ka), Finn/Fionn (Finn), Gear?id (Gar-od),M?che?l (Mee-hawl), Padraig (Pah-rick), Ruair?, Rory (Ror-ee), Se?n (shawn),Tadhg (Tie-ag), R?nan (Row-nan) my hubby's name.

    Girls: ?ine (Aw-nea), Aisling (Ash-leen), Aoibheann (aev-een), Aoife (ee-fa), Caoimhe (Keev-va), Ciara (Keer-ra), Dearbhaile (Derv-la), ?mer (E-mer), ?abha (Ey-va), Maedhbh/Maeve (Mayv), Muireann (Mir-an), Niamh/N?amh (Neeve), Neassa (Nessa), Orlaith (or-la), R?is?n (ro-sheen), Sadhbh (Syve), Saoirse (Seer-sha), Sin?ad (Shin-ayd), ?na (OO-na)

    Some are very popular names and some are just favourites. 

    Interesting. Someone else who claimed to be from Ireland came on and lectured us on Saoirse saying it would literally be like an American naming their kid "freedom" and it wasn't actually used as a name by people in Ireland.

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  • EmsyKEmsyK member
    imagebrookelynpaisley:
    imageEmsyK:

    imageTheWop:
    OP- what are some of your favorite Irish names for boys and girls? 

    Sorry, I'll start again.

    Boys: Aodh?n (Ay-dan), Cathal (Kah-hal), Ciar?n (Keer-an), Cillian (Kill-ee-an), Cian (Kee-an), Connor, Donncha (Dun-a-ka), Finn/Fionn (Finn), Gear?id (Gar-od),M?che?l (Mee-hawl), Padraig (Pah-rick), Ruair?, Rory (Ror-ee), Se?n (shawn),Tadhg (Tie-ag), R?nan (Row-nan) my hubby's name.

    Girls: ?ine (Aw-nea), Aisling (Ash-leen), Aoibheann (aev-een), Aoife (ee-fa), Caoimhe (Keev-va), Ciara (Keer-ra), Dearbhaile (Derv-la), ?mer (E-mer), ?abha (Ey-va), Maedhbh/Maeve (Mayv), Muireann (Mir-an), Niamh/N?amh (Neeve), Neassa (Nessa), Orlaith (or-la), R?is?n (ro-sheen), Sadhbh (Syve), Saoirse (Seer-sha), Sin?ad (Shin-ayd), ?na (OO-na)

    Some are very popular names and some are just favourites. 

    Interesting. Someone else who claimed to be from Ireland came on and lectured us on Saoirse saying it would literally be like an American naming their kid "freedom" and it wasn't actually used as a name by people in Ireland.

    It wasn't too popular years ago but in the last few years, it has sprung up again.  I'm a teacher and have taught quite a few Saoirse's in Dublin, Ireland in the last few years.  Years ago, it wouldn't have been used though!
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  • sorry if this is duplicated but i dont' see the edit that i did listed... a link to almost every name the OP lists (she may have even use the site) is babynamesofireland dot com and you can hit the play button next to the name and it will pronounce it with the "correct" irish accent
  • imageEmsyK:

    imageNana_Osaki06:
    I have a thing for Irish/Gaelic names. It always makes me so mad when people get all pissy over the name Siobhan. My mom talked me out of it for DD because "it sounded too ghetto". The only people I have met with that name spelling is irish white girls. So meh. We will be naming our next DD Mara, which is a gaelic word, not a name. I do see a lot of the irish surnames as first names though, like Rowan. It doesn't bother me. However, I would love to see more traditional Gaelic names coming back. Some of them are like Siobhan, Maeve, Liam, ect. I just wish I could convince DH to be on the same page as me when it comes to the irish/gaelic names. He prefers to name after Star Wars characters lol.

    Thats funny about Siobhan as it is so common at home and it's lovely.  Mara is lovely!

    Here in the states the way it is pronounced is a stereotypical "african-american name". Which is why I didn't name DD Siobhan. I freaking love the name! Love it! I just got tired of the flack for the name. So instead DD is Rosalie, which is more of an english name with the french spelling. However, Mara is the next DD. I love it because it is Gaelic for sea, I am pretty certain. So it fits my requirements. I have this love of Iraish/Gaelic names and will go as far as English/Welsh names. For our DS when we have him his mn will be Liam. It's too popular for me to use it as a first name. Also, I LOVE your names! Seriously I do!

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  • imageEmsyK:
    imagefrlcb:
    imagestrawberrytree:
    imagefrlcb:
    imageEilis123:

    OP - amen, amen.  So glad someone said this.

    My dad is Irish and I lived in Galway, Ireland for awhile.  I honestly find psuedo Irishy stuff kind of offensive.  Not really offensive - but it is irritating.

    Especially this time of year, when all the drunks in sparkly leprechaun hats are out in full force singing that friggin 'Wild Rover' song.

    In general, I'm not a fan of people using very culture specific names that aren't their culture and am definitely not a fan of using them improperly.  I think that it waters down the cultural connection and meaning behind the name when they become trendy a la Aidan and Caitlin.  My sister is Caitlin; when she was born it was given to her as a meaningful Irish name with a rich history.  Now her name is just another mispronounced and misspelled trendy American name.

    My other half, my mom, is from Sweden, and I've seen a few family names from her side on this board, and not always used correctly.  I really really hope I don't see a trend of mispronounced Linnea and Annika on girls with absolutely no northern European background.

    That is just my opinion.  Sure, no one owns a name.  People can name their kids what they want.  But that is how I feel.  

    Sorry, this gets a big eye roll from me.  What difference does it make? And how is Caitlin mispronounced? 

    If people who live in the US were restricted to 'American' names then we would all have kids with really awful names. 

    In Irish, Caitlin is spelled with a fada (accent) on the second i and is pronounced Cat-leen or Caht-leen. It's Anglicised as Kathleen. Kate-lynn is a phonetic, American pronounciation because (I'm guessing, at least) when people found or read the name, they didn't realise how the fada changed the pronounciation. 

    It's my name and I LOVED how it was pronounced when I lived in Ireland. First time in my life I have never had to spell my name for anyone! 

    Or, maybe, it is a name that has more than one pronunciation. My point with this is that it can be said one way in Ireland and another way here. My name is said very differently in Spain than here, but that doesn't mean either is wrong.  

    Yes, i get it Caitlin (Caht-leen) with a fada and it must have been nice to have people pronounce it correctly in Ireland. 

    For the other poster, i don't think you should be restricted to American names at all and you can pronounce names however you like, but to me it isn't Irish anymore if you change it so much and the fada's do make alot of difference to how it is pronounced.  I hadn't really intended to make this point anyway but agree with Caitlin.

     

    Never said Americans should be purely restricted to American names.  Of course all names come from melting pots, different cultures etc.

    But...

    - If you use an ethnic name, don't MIS-use it.  Pronounce and spell it correctly.

    - It seems off to me when people use names that have a *strong* ethnic connection without having any background in that ethnicity.  

     

     

  • OP, what is your opinion on Saoirse? I've heard that some people in Ireland associate it with the IRA and therefore it's kind of controversial.
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