Baby Name Terror

General Name Discussion
1

I have always loved names. I’m always trying to find some great name for my “future” kids. Well now the future is here and I’m due in February, and I find that the most terrifying thing about this pregnancy is finding the right name.

I really want an Irish name, but the only time the poor kid wouldn’t have to constantly correct people would be in [name]Ireland[/name]. I also don’t want to repeat names, or give a name that is generic and bland.

sigh

[name]How[/name] do you get past it?

[name]Claire[/name]:confused:

2

[name]How[/name] about:

[name]Duncan[/name]
[name]Declan[/name]
[name]Ian[/name]

[name]Maggie[/name]
[name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Colleen[/name]
[name]Eilish[/name]
[name]Ailish[/name]
[name]Mara[/name]

3

I would suggest using an Irish name that is common in the U.S. or is easy for people in the U.S. to say.

Suggestions

Girls -
[name]Nora[/name]
[name]Brenna[/name]
[name]Dara[/name]
[name]Delaney[/name]
[name]Cassidy[/name]
[name]Deirdre[/name]

Boys-
[name]Brody[/name]
[name]Connor[/name]
[name]Ian[/name] (Other berry suggested, and I love it too!)
[name]Carbry[/name]
[name]Brennan[/name]
[name]Kieran[/name]
[name]Covy[/name]

4

The best way round it is to pick a name with a more obvious pronounciation.

5

My husband is Irish and wants all our kids to have Irish names, but I refuse to name them something that can’t be pronounced/spelled in English. It is limiting, but it can be done.

[name]Maura[/name]/[name]Moira[/name] (Irish forms of [name]Mary[/name] - our daughter is [name]Maura[/name].)
[name]Maureen[/name] (diminutive of [name]Maura[/name])
[name]Brigid[/name]/[name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Colleen[/name] (means “girl” in Irish - It’s not actually used as a name in [name]Ireland[/name], but it was popular with Irish immigrants to the US.)
[name]Kathleen[/name]
[name]Caitlin[/name]
[name]Erin[/name]
[name]Deirdre[/name] (Deer-druh - not that popular anymore, but it was common enough in the past that it should be familiar to most adults.)
[name]Brenda[/name]/[name]Brenna[/name]
[name]Brianna[/name]
[name]Fiona[/name] (very familiar now because of Shrek)
[name]Maeve[/name]

[name]Patrick[/name]
[name]Brendan[/name]
[name]Finn[/name]/[name]Finnegan[/name]
[name]Cormac[/name]
[name]Sean[/name]/[name]Shawn[/name]
[name]Kevin[/name] (this name, along with [name]Sean[/name]/[name]Shawn[/name], was fairly common when we were kids, but I’m a substitute teacher and almost never hear them now.)
[name]Declan[/name]
[name]Connor[/name]
[name]Aidan[/name]

Also, my husband would cringe at this suggestion, but there are a lot of Irish surnames that are used as first names.

6

My first thought was the terror will pass once you find the perfect name. But honestly I’m not sure even that can lift the weight of worrying if it’s the right name for you kid -> at least not till you meet him/her in February.

I love pp’s suggestions of finding Irish names that are easier for non-Irish to pronouce and read.
I assume you are in love with the Irish names because 1) they are awesome and 2) family heritage. If it’s only the first then you could expand your search to include Welsh and Cornish names. They tend to be a little more phonetic in spelling but can still have that cool lilty sound. Otherwise, you could consider the Anglicanized spelling of an Irish name that you love.

7

It’s ok! [name]Don[/name]'t psych yourself out. [name]Even[/name] if you’ve loved names forever and you’ve been searching forever, you might suddenly find that you don’t have THE NAME in your stash for THIS CHILD. It’s ok. [name]Just[/name] keep searching. Head off the beaten path if you need to. Check out behindthename.com for some great antiques, and babynamespedia.com for links to bunches of different variations and spelling options for names. [name]Just[/name] don’t put yourself up against self-limiting ultimatums. [name]Even[/name] though it feels like it, it’s really NOT a matter of choosing between a great sound and spelling ease – sometimes you just have to search long and hard for the [name]ONE[/name] thing that strikes the perfect balance between all you’re looking for. [name]Don[/name]'t give up!

Here are a few Irish/Celtic (I think! I didn’t double check from my massive long list) names that are not too tedious to spell, not too hard to pronounce, and yet are off the beaten path…

[name]Carbry[/name]
[name]Cormac[/name]
[name]Caradoc[/name]
[name]Quillan[/name]
[name]Riordan[/name]/[name]Rearden[/name]
Bailintin
Donaghy
Donegan
Seireadan/[name]Sheridan[/name]

8

Upon seeing this, I though you were naming your child Terror. Is it strange that I like that idea? Seems like a cool name. (Nickname [name]Terry[/name]? or even [name]Rory[/name]?)

9

I totally agree! If you name your daughter [name]Caoimhe[/name] (kee-va) or [name]Aoibheann[/name] (ee-vin) or [name]Aibhilin[/name] (ev-ill-in), you’re bound to make correcting an absolute possibility.

10

yes it is awful. Really really awful. Terror is associated with terrorists. It is an evil name. You could also get the nickname [name]Terry[/name] from Terrible. As in it’s terrible idea to name your kid terror.

11

As for Irish names I like:
[name]Fiona[/name]
[name]Deirdre[/name]
[name]Kathleen[/name]
[name]Maureen[/name]
[name]Maura[/name]
[name]Una[/name]
[name]Bridget[/name]
[name]Aileen[/name]
[name]Eileen[/name]
[name]Caitlin[/name]
[name]Ciara[/name]
[name]Margaret[/name]
[name]Nora[/name]
[name]Sheila[/name]
[name]Siobhan[/name]
[name]Talulla[/name]

For boys I like:
[name]Aidan[/name]
[name]Barry[/name]/ [name]Barrie[/name]
[name]Brendan[/name]
[name]Kieran[/name]
[name]Conan[/name]
[name]Connor[/name]
[name]Declan[/name]
[name]Eamon[/name]
[name]Fergus[/name]
Gilroy
[name]Keegan[/name]
[name]Kennedy[/name]
[name]Neil[/name]
[name]Padraig[/name]
[name]Patrick[/name]
[name]Ronan[/name]
[name]Sean[/name]
[name]Seamus[/name]

Good [name]Luck[/name]!