[name_m]Domhnall[/name_m] (like dough-null) Gleeson has got me head over heels for his name. And in researching I’ve found so many more. [name_m]How[/name_m] does [name_m]Seoirse[/name_m] (shor-sha) not make you swoon? [name_m]How[/name_m] is every kid not named [name_m]Diarmuid[/name_m] (like deer-mid) or Dáithí (dah-hee)?
Obviously I’m exaggerating, but I do find myself really enjoying these names, both the way they sound and the way they’re spelled. [name_u]Ever[/name_u] since I first saw it I’ve found myself casually doodling the name [name_m]Domhnall[/name_m] in the margins of notebooks. It’s so satisfying to write.
On one hand, you’d think at least [name_m]Domhnall[/name_m] would be usable, but even [name_m]Domhnall[/name_m] Gleeson has to explain the pronunciation all the time! People know how to pronounce Sinéad and [name_m]Sean[/name_m], so why are others so difficult to pick up? I know names like [name_f]Aoife[/name_f] and [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] are gaining a bit of popularity in the US, but haven’t really seen the same trend with boy names. Am I crazy to imagine using [name_m]Domhnall[/name_m] or anything like it?
I mentioned using Brigh (pronounced [name_f]Bree[/name_f]) for our daughter’s middle on another forum and people were strongly against it. That’s putting it mildly. I would choose a single name and then post that in a thread and see what response you get. I think if you post a thread talking about unusual names people all say… heck yeah! But put a single name out there for consideration and people start saying… um… I can’t spell it… I can’'t pronounce it… it’s too odd.
I’m also in the U.S. by the way. I love Gaelic names, but I say proceed with caution.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they’re totally unusable, but a [name_m]Domhnall[/name_m] or [name_m]Diarmuid[/name_m] or Dáithí in the US (or the parent of one) would have to explain the spelling and/or pronunciation of his name to just about every person he ever meets. Of course, lots of people have ethnic/unusual names that require explanation, but only you can say if it’s worth the trouble. They’re definitely usable as middle names though. Also, accents aren’t recognized in names in the US, so you would have to spell Dáithí without them or prepare for them to be dropped 99% of the time.
Some are usable, some are not. Having to spell, correct and repeat your name everyday for 70 years can definitely be a pain (and I’m totally for unique names, even names that can be difficult to pronounce, like Islune, but the pronunciation people use around me is still close to the real one. It is not the case for some Irish names. They are very complicated names in my opinion). Sorry
As someone who has lived in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] and STILL second guesses myself when I go to pronounce a Gaelic name, I would say: proceed with caution. I’ll be the first one to agree with you that some of these names are absolutely stunning, but also realize that it’s going to be the name that the teacher stumbles on every single time he/she goes to take attendance on the first day of school.
They are beautiful names, but like many other berries mentioned, its a name they will have to explain how to pronounce and or spell all the time. Which can be annoying, but it can also be fun to have a really unique name.
I love Ceiledh (pronounced like [name_f]Kaylee[/name_f]) but i knew people would sound it out and get it wrong all the time. I personally opted not to use it. but its beautiful and has a great meaning!
I had a friend named [name_f]Sian[/name_f] (shan) and she got called cyan like the color all the time. She just got used to correcting people, but once people know how to say its no big deal. so really its up to you. They can be fun and unique.
[name_u]Unique[/name_u] names are very in now, and these are unique and awesome! 