Irish Names Now: What’s doing in Dublin?

We’ve been scrutinizing your responses to our recent survey, in particular the question that asked what you’d like to see more of on nameberry, with an eye to accommodating your suggestions.  Quite a few responders put in requests for more ethnic names— with pronunciations—and a couple took note of our blog on birth announcements in the London Times, interested in seeing similar subjects, which Pam will be updating soon.

So, since we aim to please, this time we are taking a look at announcements in the Irish Times over the past few months–the ethnic and not-so-ethnic names found there–with pronunciations when needed.

The current batch of newborn names in Ireland shows a typical mix of Anglo-Saxon classics (especially for boys), modern Irish standards , and the old Gaelic names that have been revived and become fashionable in recent years, as well as some internationally trendy choices.  Below are some of the more interesting, with pronunciations where useful–bearing  in mind that they change from region to region (and reference book to reference book).

GIRLS

Among the currently most popular girls’ names are Emily, Lucy, Isabel (and Isabelle, Isabella and Isobel), and Grace, with several appearances of Hazel and Sophia/Sofia , Rose and Ruby.  Leading middle names in this sampling appear to be Elizabeth, Grace, Rose, Louise, May and Maeve.

Here, some of the more unusual choices–including some interesting combos:

AMELIE Rose

ANNA Catriona (kat-REE-na) Monica

AOIFE (EE-fa)

ARABELLA Elizabeth

ASHLING Elizabeth

AVA Maeve

BEVIN

BRONA Rose

CAMILLE Ita

CAOIMHE (KEEV-eh) Nadine

CIARA (KEER-a)

CLIODHNA (KLEE-oh-na)

CLODAGH (KLOH-da) Catherine

CHLOE Iris Hazel

DERVLA

ELEANOR Siobhan (sha-VAUN)

ELENA Mary

EMER (EE-mir) Maeve

EMILY Kariba

ESME Jemima

EVIE

FREYA Kate/Rosalind Antonia

HAZEL Maeve

ISABEL Dot/Daisy Mabel

ISABELLA Carmel

ISEULT (EE-sult) Estelle

ISOLDE

JUNO Helena

LEDA Marie

LEILA Katherine

MAEVE Emma

MARTHA Aisling (ash-ling)

NEASA (NASS-ah)

NESSA Joan

NIAMH (neev)

NORA Elizabeth

NYAH Jennifer

PASCALE Sophia

PENELOPE Hilary Danielle (the latter two the names of both Grandmas)

RACHAEL Olivine

ROSE Mairead

RUTH Harriette Lola

SABHBH (SIVE—rhymes with five) Olivia

SAOIRSE (SEER-sha) Mary Bronagh ( broh-nah)/Maureen

SEANNA (shaun-a)

SIOFRA (SHEE-fra) Ros Aine(oyn-nyeh)

SIONED (SHON-ed, the Welsh equivalent of Janet) Eva

SIUN (shoon) Margaret

SKYE Newsom

TESSA Mathilda

BOYS

The boys’ roster is significantly Anglo-classics-heavy, with many Matthews, Michaels, Davids, Charleses, Jacks, Thomases, Jameses, Edwards, and a liberal sprinkling of the more Irish Patricks, Oscars and Hughs.  In addition to which we find:

BRETT Rocky (!)

CALLUM Pearse

CALUM James

CATHAL (KOH-hal)

CIAN (KEE-an) Patrick

CIANAN (KEE-anh-aun)

CONALL (KAW-nall) Jeremy Ailill (pron. not found)

CONOR Liam Patrick

CULANN John

DEVLINN Pearse Giles

DONNCHA (DUNN-aka-ah)

EOGHAN (OH-an) Patrick

EOIN (OH-in) Alexander

FINN Michael

FIONN (FYUHN)

GAVAN Diarmuid (DEER-mud)

HUGO Michael/Thomas Andrew

JAMES Fintan

JUDE Thomas

KILLIAN

LOCHLANN (LUK-lan)

LUKE Conor Niall (NEE-al)

MARK Declan

MAXIMILIAN Raymond

MICHAEL Oisin (OH-sheen) Charter (mother’s maiden name)

OSCAR Hugo/Simon George/Willem

RHYS James

RORY Peter

THEO James

THOMAS Diarmuid (DEER-mud)

TOM Ruari (ROO-re)

Coming soon–what’s in in Inverness: Scottish birth announcements.