I’ve been working on a story for a while. Its a retelling of the legend of [name_m]King[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. This particular character is from [name_m]Saint[/name_m] [name_m]Brendan[/name_m]'s Island, so I would like for him to have a Celtic name(preferably Irish). I really like [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] for him, but I am aware that its pronunciation isn’t exactly obvious (I’m from Southeastern [name_u]America[/name_u]). I don’t have a huge problem with using hard to pronounce names(there are already characters named [name_f]Bryony[/name_f], [name_f]Roisin[/name_f] and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f]), but [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] is extremely close to [name_m]Malachi[/name_m]. Most people are more familiar with [name_m]Malachi[/name_m], so they’d probably pronounce [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] the same way. It seems like it might be confusing for anyone who reads it if I were to put the pronunciation(mal-a-key) into the story. With [name_f]Roisin[/name_f] and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] there aren’t any really similar names(in English anyway), so putting the correct pronunciation in the story wouldn’t be quite so confusing for people. There are other names that I could use for him besides [name_m]Malachy[/name_m], but [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] is my favorite by far. Can I use [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] or is it too similar to [name_m]Malachi[/name_m]?
I personally pronounce [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] and [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] the same (mal-a-key) and I’m from Southwestern/Central [name_m]Pacific[/name_m] Northwest. I also know how to pronounce [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] and [name_f]Bryony[/name_f] (I prefer Priony, personally). I pronounce mal-a-kai when it’s spelled Malachai, bit I also wouldn’t consider myself to be the voice of the typical American.
If you’re looking for alternatives to [name_m]Malachy[/name_m], you could try: [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m], [name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_u]Aidan[/name_u] (alliteration of [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]), [name_m]Conell[/name_m], [name_u]Rory[/name_u] (might conflict with [name_f]Roisin[/name_f]), [name_m]Cillian[/name_m], or [name_u]Murphy[/name_u].
I used to pronounce [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] and [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] the same way until I read somewhere that they were pronounced differently. If you really love [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] then you should use it although you’ll definitely need to show how it is pronounced. But if you’re still not sold on it, then substitute it with [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] or another name. When I first read the [name_m]Harry[/name_m] [name_m]Potter[/name_m] books (before the movies came out) I used to mispronounce [name_f]Hermione[/name_f]'s name until I read the fourth book in the series, in that scene with her trying to teach [name_m]Viktor[/name_m] how to say her name. I don’t think I was the only one who had a hard time with it either. [name_f]My[/name_f] point is, if you really like the name then use it. You could put a scene in where someone mispronounces it and he corrects them, if that helps. If not, if it still bothers you, then you might have to change it after all. It’s up to you. I had a similar problem with a character of mine, but ultimately I stuck with it because I liked it. I hope this helps you out 
[name_m]Just[/name_m] use [name_m]Malachy[/name_m]. It’s a traditional Irish/Gaelic name and it fits. Some readers may mispronounce it, but how many readers do you think actually know how to say the names in War and [name_u]Peace[/name_u]? If [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] is the name of the character, then use it.
I think I’m definitely going to use [name_m]Malachy[/name_m]. Thanks!