Name Spelling - original Gaelic or Anglicized version?

Emmagk · March 2014

HD and I have finally settled on a boys name. I'm usually fully on the side of using the original spelling of any name, however the one we picked is Irish and I'm worried that using the original Gaelic spelling will mean the kid will spend his entire life telling people how to pronounce and spell his name. HD is of the opinion F everybody else if they can't figure it out, its a legit name and spelling.

There is an anglicized version of the name that removes letters and makes the spelling pretty much as its pronounced "o+ran"

Gaelic version - Odhran

Anglicized - Oran

So what would you ladies do? Use the original spelling or just make life easier?

typeset · March 2014

Make life easier.

Emmagk · March 2014

savannah_girl said:

Do you live in a very Gaelic area that people will know how to spell it? Or more of a melting pot type of area?

Melting pot? Make life easier.

We currently live in a place that people will probably not be familiar with the Gaelic but dont see ourselves living here forever. We're also British and currently living in Canada, its not beyond possibility that we will one day go back to the UK where people would be a little more familiar with Gaelic names.

Luckyu317 · March 2014

Team Make Life Easier.

danabsd · March 2014

#whattypesetsaid

I would never guess Odhran is pronounced Oran with out being told.

SMM1986 · March 2014

I would make life easier.

Glitterlicious · March 2014

I'm a sucker for Gealic names. We have a few on our name list. So, I'd go with the original.

theoryofwhat · March 2014

Too many glitter sn's on this board.

CMDR513 · March 2014

I ditto the other sentiments on Team Easier.

tjkdlhb · March 2014

I'd go with Oran.

That+One+Girl · March 2014

I have one of those names that gets mispronounced and misspelled most of the time. It never bothered me, I love my name. But I do know that some people get frustrated by it.
Your choice on the spelling, but each is very nice.

Emmagk · March 2014

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to try to convince DH to go with the easier spelling. Like PP said it's not us that have to live with the annoyance of correcting people forever. Neither of us have any idea what that's really like, we both have very common and easy names.

katsmewsings I know what you mean. I absolutely love the name Saoirse (sear+sha) but there is no way I'd ever use it.

usernewname · March 2014

As someone who is always spelling their name I would go with the Gaelic version. It's annoying yes but not the end of the world. Usually I just automatically spell it anyway.

spacepotatoes · March 2014

Emmagk said:

Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to try to convince DH to go with the easier spelling. Like PP said it's not us that have to live with the annoyance of correcting people forever. Neither of us have any idea what that's really like, we both have very common and easy names.

katsmewsings I know what you mean. I absolutely love the name Saoirse (sear+sha) but there is no way I'd ever use it.

I agree that Oran is the better way to go. And I learned something new today because that's not at all how I thought Saoirse was pronounced! I love the way that name looks but would never have guessed it was said that way.

deanna1313 · March 2014

I'm normally good with name pronunciation, but that one I would have pronounced wrong for sure!
Oran is my suggestion.

awc1986 · March 2014

Oran. I'm also British and I guarantee most of the people here will not know how to pronounce it from the Gaelic spelling.

Jillzy86 · March 2014

Oran is easier for people to read and write but do what is best for your son. If you want traditional go for it. I love the name!

MissLadyTay · March 2014

I like Oran!

Tnpeach · March 2014

#teameasier

mrt · March 2014

I would go with what you like, not necessarily what is easier. My son's name is Fionn (pronounced "Finn"). While, yes, I have to spell it and pronounce it for people, anybody who matters, including teachers, will figure out very quickly what your son's name is and how to spell it.

Also, I always have to spell my first name for people, and it is often mispronounced, I went through a phase in middle school when I wanted to change it, but now love that it's not just plain.

I love the name Saoirse and would totally use it spelled like that if my husband liked it. Our girl choice is Mairead (rhymes with parade).

It looks like I am in the minority though...

naflmj · March 2014

I have a Graeme and Rhys so I cute use the Garlic spring if you want to.

awc1986 · March 2014

My name is Amy and I still have to spell it. I automatically say "Amy with a Y".

ABColeslaw · March 2014

I love the name Oran or Oren. If you wanted to make life easier go with Oren, because that is the original Hebrew spelling of that name.

limechiffon · March 2014

FWIW my name has an obscure, often mispronounced spelling -- and not from a culture I have any ties to, it's a spelling my mom came across while living abroad. It bothered me up to about age 10 but now it's a non-issue, my name has enough "common" spellings in the US that I am usually asked to spell it anyhow. And there is at least a story behind it, it's not something my mom just made up out of thin air.

Anyhow, just wanted to be one more person to say that my oddball spelling has not actually complicated my life in any real way. I do appreciate that it's effectively a unique identifier in the digital age, in that if you search on first+last it's always me.

Emmagk · March 2014

It's good to hear that so many of you with unusual spelling don't mind the extra hassle. I was all set to argue for making life easier but I'm back to being torn again. Since we are team green we might just leave the final decision for when LO is here and see if we even have to talk boy name. I just like to have things sorted and hate making last minute decisions.

rainydayluck · March 2014

I have a non-typical name and am always having to correct the spelling and pronunciation. It's annoying, but it's close enough usually.
Anyway, for a girl we like the name Aisling/Aislin. Unfortunately it would be slaughtered all the time. DH is on the side of, make life easier, so we will probably go with Ashlin.

ABColeslaw · March 2014

rainydayluck said:

I have a non-typical name and am always having to correct the spelling and pronunciation. It's annoying, but it's close enough usually. Anyway, for a girl we like the name Aisling/Aislin. Unfortunately it would be slaughtered all the time. DH is on the side of, make life easier, so we will probably go with Ashlin.

Lola's middle name is going to be Aisling. I personally like the spelling so much more than Ashlin.

Emmagk · March 2014

ABColeslaw said:

rainydayluck said:

I have a non-typical name and am always having to correct the spelling and pronunciation. It's annoying, but it's close enough usually.
Anyway, for a girl we like the name Aisling/Aislin. Unfortunately it would be slaughtered all the time. DH is on the side of, make life easier, so we will probably go with Ashlin.

Lola's middle name is going to be Aisling. I personally like the spelling so much more than Ashlin.

I went to school with an Aisling and people always mispronounced it the first time but usually remembered after that

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