Labhaoise is a rather unusual Irish name, even mostly unheard of in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] itself. It is pronounced- lau-ee-shuh and means “warrior maiden”? It is often used as a non-direct translation for [name_f]Louise[/name_f] or [name_f]Louisa[/name_f] which is one of my favorites. In my opinion it is spunky, lovely, melodic, charismatic and strong. What are your opinions?
Well, I love Irish names (even in their original spellings) but I would really really really think twice before saddling a child with the name Labhaoise, unless you happen to live in a gaeltacht, in which case people would probably know how to pronounce it. Otherwise, NO ONE will be able to pronounce your child’s name. It’s not that it’s too obscure, it’s that it’s unpronounceable by the average person. I love the meaning and love that it’s Irish, but…
What about actually using [name_f]Louise[/name_f]/[name_f]Louisa[/name_f], [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]/[name_f]Eloisa[/name_f], [name_f]Aloisa[/name_f], [name_f]Elise[/name_f], [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] (if you’re going for the ise/isa ending) paired with an Irish middle–anglicized version in parentheses–[name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f] ([name_f]Finola[/name_f]), [name_f]Maire[/name_f] ([name_f]Maura[/name_f]/[name_f]Mary[/name_f]), [name_f]Ciara[/name_f] ([name_f]Keira[/name_f]), [name_f]Catriona[/name_f] ([name_f]Katrina[/name_f]/[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]), [name_f]Aoife[/name_f] ([name_f]Eva[/name_f]/[name_f]Ava[/name_f]), [name_f]Aine[/name_f] ([name_f]Anya[/name_f]), [name_f]Roisin[/name_f] ([name_f]Rosaleen[/name_f]), [name_f]Eithne[/name_f] ([name_f]Enya[/name_f]), [name_f]Ailis[/name_f] ([name_f]Alice[/name_f]), [name_f]Muireann[/name_f] ([name_u]Marion[/name_u]). Or you could put Labhaoise in the middle spot and pick a different first name.
I thought “bh” made the “v” sound. Shouldn’t it sound more like “lah-vee-shuh?”
I wouldn’t use it outside of [name_f]Ireland[/name_f]. I’m not even sure how usable it is in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f].
When BH is followed with “a” it is silent.
I’ve never heard of this spelling, only [name_f]Laoise[/name_f] (lee-sha), which is in fact a form of [name_f]Louise[/name_f]/[name_f]Louisa[/name_f]. I would turn this one down, because, much like some of my Irish favourites ([name_u]Aoibheann[/name_u] for one), the abundance of letters that make sounds we don’t commonly see in English (bh being silent or equalling a ‘v’) make it rather cumbersome and difficult for a child.
I agree: it is beautiful, but really difficult for a child. A girl I know has had enough problems with [name_f]Niamh[/name_f], let alone Labhaoise. Most people would pronounce is LAB-how-ees, which is sad, because it is so lovely. I would suggest using it as a middle name, or using a phonetic spelling: Lauisha, maybe?
I reminds of the nomenclature of names similar to [name_f]Shaniqua[/name_f], Laquisha, Queesha, etc. Nothing wrong with those names, but there are certain connotations. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it is beautifully Irish (and I’m a sucker for Irish names no matter the pronounciation), if I heard Labhaoise I wouldn’t think beautiful or Irish until I saw it on a paper. In letters, it looks amazing, but are you ready to give your child that name? Unless the name Labhaoise has meaning to you, I wouldn’t use it, especially for the reason “to be edgy.” I love previously mentioned [name_f]Laoise[/name_f], which sounds like a variant of [name_f]Alicia[/name_f] to me. Could you use it as a middle? I suppose, but I’m sort of opposed of using Labhaoise. I’m sorry, but I just think it cannot be used in [name_u]America[/name_u].
I really love it, I’m just afraid your future daughter would have her name misspelled and mispronounced all her life. I’d suggest putting it in the middle spot with a more familiar first name.
It is lovely, but I fear it would be a problematic name to have in most of the world as spelling and pronunciation are concerned. I’d vote that you use [name_f]Louisa[/name_f]/[name_f]Louise[/name_f] or else put Labhaoise in the middle name spot.
Sorry, my first thought was to wonder what breed of dog it was. I’m sure it’s a lovely name, but perhaps in the middle spot?
As much as I like the idea of it, I only had a vague idea of how to pronounce it before reading your post. I would nix it, or put it in the middle. It’s a lovely-sounding name, but hopelessly confusing to anyone who doesn’t speak Gaelic.
[name_f]Laoise[/name_f] would be much easier, especially with [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] on the rise.
Maybe if I spoke Irish and lived in an Irish-speaking area of [name_f]Ireland[/name_f], it would be perfection.