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Looking into Irish names
I realised I don't know a lot about Irish names, so I decided to look into it. Here's a list of names (girls and boys) I think I like, and which might go on my list. Tell me what you think, or just give me your favourites and least favourites from these. Which ones should go on my list?Caoimhe
Catriona
Dymphna
Eileen
Eilis - Eilish
Eithne
Fionnuala
Laoise
Maire
Neasa
Saoirse
SorchaEachann
Erskine
Feardorcha
Fearghal
Fiachna
Fionntan
Grady
Mainchin
Meallan - Mellan
Naoise
Niall
Peadar
Phelan
Seachnall
Seoirse
Tighe
Mommy to Myrtle Nola (22-10-2012) and Vance Paul Conrad (16-04-2015)
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I really like Irish names out of this list I like
Catriona
Eithne
Prefer Finley to Fionnuala
Maire also Mairead
NeasaPrefer Fintan to Fionntan
GradyDon't mind Niall.
Least favourite: Dymphna Eachann, Erskine PNL: http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/151224
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I likeEilis
Eithne
Catriona
Fionnuala
Maire
Neasa
SorchaFearghal - would change it to Ferghal or so
Fionntan
Meallan/Mellan
PhelanI dislikeCaoimhe
Dymphna
Eileen
SaoriseEachann
Feardorcha - sounds mumbly and not very masculine neither
Mainchin - reminds me of munchkin
Naoise - sounds like a girls name
Peadar - sounds like a misspelled Peter
Seachnall
Seoirse
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The only ones I would actually consider are Saoirse and Eilis. Some of these names (e.g. Caoimhe, Fionnuala, Sorcha) I've always really, really disliked. The pronunciation and the look.
Others like Catriona are ok but dated. Catrionas are in their 20s and 30s.
Dymphna looks like a disease :(
And Laoise reminds me of County Laois which reminds me of boring places.
I like other Irish names better. You happened to pick the ones I like the least :(
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I guess we just have very different tastes then :-) What are your favourite Irish names?
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Yes, I guess :) A lot of Irish names don't look great to me.
I could get behind Saoirse, Aine, Niamh, Teagan, Aislin, Sadhbh, Aoife, Caireann, Branna for girls; Oisin, Sean, Cian, Eirnin, Nollaig for boys.
But none of these would make my top 10. The only Irish or Irish-y name in my top 10 (My top 5, actually) is Gael. I adore it.
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I like Teagan, but only a boy. I also like Oisin. Nollaig is kind of clunky, but I think it's still a good name.
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I know an Irish guy that hates the name Nollaig because it means Christmas and he says it sounds silly :)
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The main consideration with Irish names is spelling and pronounciation. Unless you live in Ireland, you will always be correcting people's spellings of names like Caoimhe and Seiorse.Names I like from your list:
Caoimhe - I know a 2 year old with this name, her parents call her by a nickname which sounds like "Keevy". Sisters are Alannah and Orlaith
Catriona - Love this and it's one with a relatively easy spelling/pronounciation
Eilish
Eithne
Fionnuala - I know a woman called this, whose nickname is NualaFionntan
Grady
NiallOnes I particularly dislike
Dymphna - Sounds dumpy and kind of like "nymph". "dimf" is not an attractive sound.
Eileen - Really dated, Eileen is at least 70 years old
Neasa - Pronounced like NASA as in the space agency, this doesn't really sound like a name to me
Feardorcha - I don't know how to pronounce this, but it looks like it should be said like "fedora". Also a bit feminine
Meallan - Mellan - Melon?
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I agree with you on the spelling and pronounciation issues. I'm not in Ireland and I'm not considering any of these names for an actual child, just for my list with names I like.
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Caoimhe - cute, I think this one should go on
Catriona - it's ok, not sure I'd add it
Dymphna - I don't like it at all
Eileen - it's ok, a little dated where I'm from
Eilis - Eilish - lovely
Eithne - I'm not sure how to say it, but I dislike most of the pronunciations on BtN
Fionnuala - don't like this
Laoise - I really like this
Maire - not bad, I prefer the sound to the spelling
Neasa - don't like it. Sounds like NASA.
Saoirse - I was very disappointed to find that my pronunciation of this was totally wrong (say-or-EES)
Sorcha - mehEachann - don't like it
Erskine - ditto
Feardorcha - nms
Fearghal - nms
Fiachna - horrible sound
Fionntan - it's ok
Grady - ruined by Paul O'Grady and his irritating voice
Mainchin - not sure how to say this, but it has potential
Meallan - Mellan - too much like Melon
Naoise - I like it, but it sounds like a girl's name
Niall - getting quite popular where I am
Peadar - ick
Phelan - don't like it
Seachnall - don't know
Seoirse - too sh-y
Tighe - ick
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Irish names were my first names loves when I was in middle school. Of your list I love Fionnuala, Maire, and Seoirse. My least favorites are Caoimhe, Dymphna, and Tighe.
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