[name_m]Hi[/name_m] all! I love the idea of my future children having a second, Irish middle name to honor my Irish ancestors. I’ve been looking at lots of names but have only found a couple I like. I definitely want a more traditionally Irish/Gaelic name with a good meaning and any help would be appreciated! So far my favorites are [name_f]Orlaith[/name_f], [name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f], and [name_f]Aoife[/name_f] for girls and the only boy’s name I like is Coinneach (the root of my last name). Thank you in advance!
I love the idea of using the middle name as the place to honor family members, heritage, etc., and I also adore Irish (and Gaelic, Celtic, Scottish…) names. Some of my picks:
Girls:
[name_f]Ailis[/name_f] (AY-lish)
[name_f]Aine[/name_f] (AHN-yah)
[name_f]Aisling[/name_f] ([name_u]ASH[/name_u]-lin)
Bebinn (BEH-vin or [name_u]BAY[/name_u]-vin)
[name_f]Bedelia[/name_f] (Bah-[name_f]DEE[/name_f]-lee-ah)
Brigh ([name_f]BREE[/name_f])
[name_f]Brighid[/name_f] (BRIDG-id)
[name_f]Caitriona[/name_f] (Kah-TREE-na)
[name_f]Ciara[/name_f] ([name_m]KEER[/name_m]-ah)
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] ([name_u]Fee[/name_u]-OH-na)
Grain (GRAHAN-yah)
[name_f]Mairead[/name_f] (Mah-RAYD)
Neasa (NAYS-ah or NES-ah)
[name_f]Niamh[/name_f] ([name_f]NEVE[/name_f])
[name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] (SEER-sha)
Boys:
[name_u]Brennan[/name_u] ([name_f]BREN[/name_f]-in)
[name_m]Cian[/name_m] (KEE-in)
[name_m]Ciaran[/name_m] ([name_m]KEER[/name_m]-in)
[name_m]Conor[/name_m] (KON-er)
[name_m]Cormac[/name_m] (KOR-mak)
Deaglan (DEK-lin)
[name_m]Eamonn[/name_m] (AY-mon)
Finnen ([name_m]FIN[/name_m]-ee-in)
[name_u]Fionn[/name_u] ([name_m]FIN[/name_m])
[name_m]Lochlainn[/name_m] ([name_m]LOCK[/name_m]-lin)
[name_u]Niall[/name_u] ([name_u]NEEL[/name_u] or [name_m]NYE[/name_m]-uhl)
[name_m]Oisin[/name_m] (Oh-[name_m]SHEEN[/name_m])
[name_m]Ruadhan[/name_m] (ROW-in)
[name_m]Seamus[/name_m] ([name_u]SHAY[/name_u]-mus)
[name_m]Tadhg[/name_m] (TEEG)
@violet1296 has suggested some lovely names. I also like:
[name_f]Eithne[/name_f] (EN-ya)
Fiadh (FEE-a)
[name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f] (fi-NOO-la)
[name_f]Meabh[/name_f]/Mebh (MAYV)
Siomha (SHEE-va)
Ailill ([name_m]AL[/name_m]-yil)
[name_m]Cillian[/name_m]
[name_m]Daithi[/name_m] (DAH-hee)
Fiachra ([name_u]FEE[/name_u]-akh-ra)
Naoise (NEE-sha)
[name_m]Ruaidhri[/name_m] (ROR-ee)
Suibhne (SIV-na)
I’m not 100% on pronunciation, I’m just going by what I’ve found online. I tend to go more for the Anglicised versions of Irish names which are clearer in that regard, but as a middle name and if you do your research regarding correct pronunciation, I don’t see a problem with using traditional Irish Gaelic spelling.
I presume you’re in the US?
My main worry would be spelling and pronunciation.
[name_f]Orla[/name_f] is the usual spelling “[name_f]Orlaith[/name_f]”
is old Irish and the “ith” is silent and superfluous really today.
[name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f] is the feminine version of [name_m]Kevin[/name_m] (caoimhín). It’s pronounced Queeva in most of the country but pronounced [name_u]Keeva[/name_u] in [name_m]Dublin[/name_m].
Coinneach isn’t a name I’ve ever heard. It’s pronounced “[name_u]Quinn[/name_u]-yuck” just in case you don’t know!
I’ve noticed a lot of name sites have incorrect information when it comes to Irish names. Often it’s a case that the name simply isn’t Irish. Other times an incorrect pronunciation is given.
So be careful!
Some Irish names that don’t have crazy spelling:
[name_f]Aideen[/name_f]
[name_f]Emer[/name_f] (Pronounced E-mer)
[name_f]Nora[/name_f]
[name_f]Una[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] (méadhbh)
[name_f]Sheila[/name_f] (síle)
[name_f]Brigid[/name_f]
[name_u]Dara[/name_u] (male or female)
[name_u]Alva[/name_u] (ailbhe)
[name_f]Eileen[/name_f] (eibhlín)
[name_f]Noreen[/name_f] (noirín)
Keelan (male or female) (caoilfhionn)
[name_f]Darina[/name_f]
I’ve given the anglicised spelling where they exist. These are acceptable spellings and people I grew up with use these spellings. I’ve given the more Irish spelling of the name in brackets.
There’s a good few mistakes as to pronunciation on this list
I don’t have much to add, but I really like [name_f]Aoife[/name_f].
Thank you all for your help! Fionnabhair, thanks for the insight especially on pronunciation! I probably will still opt for the [name_f]Orlaith[/name_f] spelling just because it looks more balanced out to me. My personal favorites from everyone’s suggestions are [name_f]Ailis[/name_f] (such a pretty name I’m not sure how I’ve missed it!), [name_f]Brighid[/name_f]/[name_f]Brigid[/name_f] ([name_f]Brigid[/name_f] is actually my conformation name and so for that reason I may use the spelling without the h), [name_f]Niamh[/name_f], and Tadgh (although there are various spellings so if anyone knows which is the most “correct” that would be greatly appreciated!).
One name that immediately came to mind is Róisín, I even have it on my own list!!
I know a few boys named [name_m]Tadhg[/name_m] (pronounced [name_m]TYge[/name_m] - as in tiger without the r!), so I would consider this spelling to be most common! 
I also have Irish heritage and have honoured it in my son [name_m]Patrick[/name_m]'s name!
My cousin is called Céilidh (pronounced [name_u]KAY[/name_u]-lee) which means dance and I think it’s beautiful.
I had an Irish friend at school called [name_f]Aoibhe[/name_f] (alt spelling to [name_f]Aoife[/name_f]) which i also like.
You could also go for a place name. I considered [name_u]Ennis[/name_u] and [name_u]Shannon[/name_u] when I was pregnant as my family are from around there.
Oh, I also love [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] and [name_f]Mair[/name_f]éad!
I love the idea of Irish place names as well! I believe part of my family was from the county [name_u]Clare[/name_u] which would make a great girls name! [name_f]Mairead[/name_f] is also lovely and I have a friend with that name (who is one of the sweetest people ever!). Thank you!!