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Help[Opinions] Irish names
What do you think of these? Do any people from Ireland write here? I'm trying to find out how popular these are/were in Ireland and whether they're seen as dated, trendy, tacky, classic etc. So if you know please tell me and anyone else feel free to comment, please. Do any of them not work at all in the US? What are your favorites?
Sinéad
is this seen as dated? Or more as a classic? I'm never quite sure whether it's shin-AID or shin-NED.
Siobhan
again is this seen as dated?
Caoimhe
I guess this is trendy? Or classic?
Aine
Niamh
Aisling
Aoibhe
Aoibheann
Saoirse
Diarmuid
I guess Diarmuid is the only boys name I like right now that is Irish. Opinions?
Sinéad
is this seen as dated? Or more as a classic? I'm never quite sure whether it's shin-AID or shin-NED.
Siobhan
again is this seen as dated?
Caoimhe
I guess this is trendy? Or classic?
Aine
Niamh
Aisling
Aoibhe
Aoibheann
Saoirse
Diarmuid
I guess Diarmuid is the only boys name I like right now that is Irish. Opinions?
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Sinead is one of my all time favorite Irish names! And it's definitely "shin-AID." (my mother was born and raised in Ireland so blame her if any of my takes on pronunciation are off. I have no idea about popularity or how the names are viewed. You'd have to ask my cousins. :-)
Yay, Sinead! Siobhan is great too. My sister used it for her dd's mn (Clare Siobhan). She was born in 1987 and it was before that "American Idol" (or whichever show) contestant made it more known to U.S. audiences. If she were born today, she might use it after all as a fn.
Caoimhe -- I'm surprised the Anglicized spelling hasn't caught on more here. I prefer the Irish spelling, but it's a bit of a handful. With all the Kevins born in the 1980s I would have thought the feminine form would be of interest by now.
Aine -- My name in Irish, so I'm biased. It's the best name in the world. :-)
Niamh -- If I had a dd tomorrow she would be Niamh. This spelling.
Aisling -- Beautiful, but too similar to Ashley for me.
Aoibhe -- Gorgeous.
Aoibheann -- Wow. But I fear it's too much for the U.S. at the moment. Sad.
Saoirse -- Heaven bless Saoirse Ronan's parents for making this name well known. Perhaps we all should be brave and then our child will be the one to make a Celtic spelling of any other name well known.
Diarmuid -- Another personal favorite (Cormac, Malachy, Tadhg, Eamonn, Finbarr, Muiris too). I love the "deer-" sound at the beginning. It's very romantic sounding.
Yay, Sinead! Siobhan is great too. My sister used it for her dd's mn (Clare Siobhan). She was born in 1987 and it was before that "American Idol" (or whichever show) contestant made it more known to U.S. audiences. If she were born today, she might use it after all as a fn.
Caoimhe -- I'm surprised the Anglicized spelling hasn't caught on more here. I prefer the Irish spelling, but it's a bit of a handful. With all the Kevins born in the 1980s I would have thought the feminine form would be of interest by now.
Aine -- My name in Irish, so I'm biased. It's the best name in the world. :-)
Niamh -- If I had a dd tomorrow she would be Niamh. This spelling.
Aisling -- Beautiful, but too similar to Ashley for me.
Aoibhe -- Gorgeous.
Aoibheann -- Wow. But I fear it's too much for the U.S. at the moment. Sad.
Saoirse -- Heaven bless Saoirse Ronan's parents for making this name well known. Perhaps we all should be brave and then our child will be the one to make a Celtic spelling of any other name well known.
Diarmuid -- Another personal favorite (Cormac, Malachy, Tadhg, Eamonn, Finbarr, Muiris too). I love the "deer-" sound at the beginning. It's very romantic sounding.
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I love Clare, especially this spelling. I think it looks so much calmer and more elegant than Claire.
I like Saoirse but I think Saoirse Ronan is actually mispronouncing it. I mean I have no idea, but I read somewhere that she pronounces it SIR-sha and that the correct pronunciation is SEER-sha. I like both pronunciations and I think it's awesome that the name is usable because of her.
I like Saoirse but I think Saoirse Ronan is actually mispronouncing it. I mean I have no idea, but I read somewhere that she pronounces it SIR-sha and that the correct pronunciation is SEER-sha. I like both pronunciations and I think it's awesome that the name is usable because of her.
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Oh. I hadn't heard that. I've only ever heard her name as "SEER-shuh." Perhaps I'm not paying close enough attention.
I'm glad you like the Clare spelling. Sometimes I think I'm the only one. I fear most people think of it as a misspelling, when really it's the English way. The French Claire looks prissy to me. I pronounce them the same way so there's no logic to it. It's just my weird take, influenced no doubt by my sister and niece.
I'm glad you like the Clare spelling. Sometimes I think I'm the only one. I fear most people think of it as a misspelling, when really it's the English way. The French Claire looks prissy to me. I pronounce them the same way so there's no logic to it. It's just my weird take, influenced no doubt by my sister and niece.
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I read an interview where Saoirse Ronan says she pronounces her name to rhyme with "inertia" (so, sir-shah, probably) but she knows it's not the correct pronunciation.
I'm a little irritated at her... before Atonement came out one of my favorite sibsets was Saoirse, Orla, and Ronan, and now I can't use it.
I'm a little irritated at her... before Atonement came out one of my favorite sibsets was Saoirse, Orla, and Ronan, and now I can't use it.
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I met a lady online several years ago from Ireland. Her name is Saoirse and she told me there are two common pronunciations in Ireland. One is SEER-sha. The other is SAYR-sha which is how this particular woman pronounces her name. When you think about it, SAYR-sha and Saoirse Ronan's pronunciation, SIR-sha are very similar so I wouldn't be surprised if the SAYR is what her parents were going for and it came out as SIR (sort of like mad-uh-LEN vs. mad-uh-LYN).
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I live in the US, and the ones I know how to pronounce are
Sinead- I know a Sinead, and she pronounces it shuh-NAID, I guess. The Irish form of Jane. Ranked 97 in Ireland.
Siobhan- because of a book. A form of Jeanne. Not on the charts at all.
Niamh- I know a Niamh. Ranked 78 in England, 25 in Ireland, 22 in N. Ireland, and 41 in Scotland.
Aisling- I know an Ashling, and Aisling is pronounced the same, apparently. Ranked 42 in Ireland.
Saoirse- because of a movie. Ranked 18 in Ireland.
Others
Caoimhe- Ranked 24 in Ireland, 35 in N. Ireland
Aine- form of Anne. Ranked 58 in Ireland, 65 in N. Ireland.
Aoibhe- form of Eve. Ranked 79 in Ireland.
Aoibheann- Ranked 76 in Ireland, 82 in N. Ireland.
Diarmuid- Not on the charts.
Sinead- I know a Sinead, and she pronounces it shuh-NAID, I guess. The Irish form of Jane. Ranked 97 in Ireland.
Siobhan- because of a book. A form of Jeanne. Not on the charts at all.
Niamh- I know a Niamh. Ranked 78 in England, 25 in Ireland, 22 in N. Ireland, and 41 in Scotland.
Aisling- I know an Ashling, and Aisling is pronounced the same, apparently. Ranked 42 in Ireland.
Saoirse- because of a movie. Ranked 18 in Ireland.
Others
Caoimhe- Ranked 24 in Ireland, 35 in N. Ireland
Aine- form of Anne. Ranked 58 in Ireland, 65 in N. Ireland.
Aoibhe- form of Eve. Ranked 79 in Ireland.
Aoibheann- Ranked 76 in Ireland, 82 in N. Ireland.
Diarmuid- Not on the charts.
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I'm not Irish, however, I do love Irish names and while I tend to be a name purist, these spellings are problematic so I'd probably avoid the more outlandish ones such as Aoibheann.
I love Siobhan and don't find this one too unwieldy at all. I also love Aine and Saoirse. Other favorites are: Liadan, Caitriona, Cian, Conall, Eamonn and Tadhg.
I love Siobhan and don't find this one too unwieldy at all. I also love Aine and Saoirse. Other favorites are: Liadan, Caitriona, Cian, Conall, Eamonn and Tadhg.
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