Is Saoirse seen as political?

Girl Names
1

I had never thought about this until recently, and now I am curious. [name_f]Do[/name_f] Irish people perceive [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] as a political statement name? Would it be an issue still in certain parts of Belfast if you were named this?

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Are you wondering this due to it meaning “liberty / freedom”? Or is there a particular historic figure you are thinking about??

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It’s the name of the political newspaper put out by the Irish republican party Sinn Féin. As I understand it, the name is popular enough now in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] that it’s somewhat dissociated from the political statement, but I still think many/most Irish people would make the connection. It may well be difficult to wear in certain regions. Personally, I’d steer clear for this reason. [name_m]How[/name_m] do you feel about [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f] or Síofra?

4

I’m not pregnant (and if I were, I wouldn’t use a super Irish name because I feel like it’d be weird on a non-Irish-descent child), I was just curious about its perception, since I’ve been reading about Northern [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] recently. I went to high school with a [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] but I, being American, perceived it no differently than [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] or [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] or any other Irish name. I like it a lot more than [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f], though, which has always felt like a second-rate [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] to me.

5

It is political because of its connection to [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] Irish [name_u]Freedom[/name_u], but I’d only be weary of it if living in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f]. I know of a handful of Saoirses, but they’re all living in [name_f]England[/name_f]. The paper doesn’t even cross my mind at all living here, and I was not even aware of its existence until I fell in love with [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] and researched the name.

6

I was just wondering about this too and I am glad I found this thread.

Are there more opinions on this?

I encountered the name for the first time on a baby name website together with the meaning but didn’t interpret it in a policital way but more in a way of personal freedom. I then heard it on [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] [name_m]Ronan[/name_m].

Now I know that it is/was? often used in a political way in [name_u]Ireland[/name_u].

As it is a not unrealistic option that we will move to [name_u]Ireland[/name_u] in the future I was wondering about this. Would you assume certain political views of the parents with a daughter called [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f]?

And I am also wondering if there are any other names in [name_u]Ireland[/name_u] that would give people ideas about political views.

And has time changed this? For example maybe 30 years ago it would have interpreted in a political way but not now because it is so popular? [name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering.

Thank you.

7

I know of nothing political about the name.

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Are you from [name_u]Ireland[/name_u]?

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I would assume the parents of a child named Saoirse support the idea of Irish reunification. It’s a name that has its history in Irish republicanism (not Republicanism in the American sense! But in the Irish sense of Ireland being a reunified republic independent of British rule).

In Belfast people of different political/religious communities tend to live in their own areas with people of the same background. So someone named Saoirse is likely to live in a Catholic/Nationalist area and mix primarily with other Catholics/Nationalists. So it is unlikely to be a problem.

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10

Thank you so much!

What if I would move there as a foreigner (it is a possibility), not being religious and with a daughter named [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f]? Could she face some problems then? [name_u]Or[/name_u] is the name too common now?

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11

I think it would really depend on what area you live in. If it’s a Loyalist ghetto - bad idea. Otherwise - probably fine. [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] is a fairly common name in the Catholic community but not common at all in the Protestant community for reasons you can imagine.

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Thanks for your helpful replies!

13

The explanations given before are simple and comprehensible, so thank you for that.

I’m wondering if there are any other names that may be conceived poorly in the country of origin, not just in [name_u]Ireland[/name_u], but everywhere. A few days ago I read that [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] is the [name_u]French[/name_u] version of [name_f]Karen[/name_f], which certainly puts me off. I was slightly aware of the political connotations of the name [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] but not entirely. This post helped me understand it.

So, are there any names that may be thought of poorly/has unpleasant associations in the country where they originated and that foreigners are not aware of?

I might make a separate post about this

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Yes, I think a separate post would be a better idea because then we can keep this thread to discuss Irish names.

I would also like to know which other Irish names might be interpreted in a certain way.

I heard that [name_f]Fianna[/name_f] could be political?

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Sure.

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I just want to make clear that Saoirse is not perceived poorly in Ireland. Many (if not most) Irish people support the idea of Irish reunification, at least in theory. It’s a fairly mainstream political opinion, not an extremist belief or something.

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Oh, sorry. Thank you for clarifying that though.