I’ve begun to fall in love with the Irish name [name]Sorcha[/name], but would it be too unheard of in the United States? So, my question is when you first see [name]Sorcha[/name], how do you assume it’s pronounced?
It’s actually pronounced sor-ih-ka. [name]Do[/name] you think this is doable in the us or would I be setting her up for a lifetime of confusion? WDYT?
Well I’m fluent in Irish so I knew how it was pronounced, great choice btw! 
Another (less common) pn is Sor-sha.
I don’t think its too difficult, its a beautiful name. Most people would catch on if the pn explained to them 
I knew how it was pronounced too, but only because I’d read it somewhere before!
I think it’s a pretty name although I think I prefer the other pronunciation that lucykate mentioned. I like the softer sound. It reminds me a bit of Saiorse
I guess the worst that can happen is that people might call her sor-cha and kids could come up with scorcher lol. I think it’s useable!
Oh, also thought I’d throw in that [name]Sorcha[/name] is the Irish/Gaelic version of [name]Sarah[/name].
Very sweet!
lucykate- [name]Do[/name] you mean you are fluent in Gaelic?! I know many bits and pieces from my grandparents but other than them I have never met anyone else who was fluent in Gaelic!
And I love the name [name]Sorcha[/name]. My sister is [name]Brigid[/name] and she always has to correct people but I don’t think it is that big of a deal and she isn’t bothered by it.
Yes, I went through the entire education system learning through Irish/Gaelic, as I attended an Irish language speaking school. I began learning when I was 4yrs old, and I reached a fluent level when I was around 10yrs old. Its a dying language so its something I’m very happy to have, and I’m hopeful I can pass it down to my little one!
Where are your grandparents from? That’s so interesting!
My daughter’s name is [name]Sorcha[/name]: we pronounce it “SOR-a-kha” with an aspirated “K” sound, as in “[name]Loch[/name]”. She also gets “SOR-a-ha”, and “SIR-ka”, from our Irish friends with various accents. She has been called “Orca” - as in Killer Whale - but mostly in good fun.
It’s not strictly a form of [name]Sarah[/name] - [name]Sarah[/name] was merely used as an easy Anglicization when Gaelic names were frowned upon. It means “Clear” and “[name]Bright[/name]”.
We used [name]Sorcha[/name] for its meaning, its references in mythology and literature, and as an alternative to [name]Saoirse[/name] (which for me had way too many political overtones).
We’re in Canada, and haven’t had to explain it too much - mostly we get compliments and questions about its origin. But we also have an extensive network in Eire and NI so we also got really positive reactions from that quarter.
[name]Hope[/name] that helps, and good luck with the naming process!
That’s so great! They are from [name]Cork[/name]. All my dad’s side still lives there. My great-grandfather on my mom’s side came from Irelnad and married a French woman (scandalous, I know), so I am 80% Irish and about 20% French.
This is way too crazy…I live in [name]Cork[/name]!
[name]West[/name] [name]Cork[/name], Clonakilty, to be exact.
Small world or what
I think your child would have it mispronounced her entire life in the U.S.!
Sorika- makeup a different spelling
Otherwise, she’ll be called sorCHA- emphasis on ch sound
The Sor-a-ka pronunciation immediately brings to mind an orca. As in [name]Free[/name] [name]Willy[/name]. I like the Sor-sha pronunciation better.
…except that there is no existent Irish accent I can think of where “Sorsha” is an authentic (or even acceptable) pronunciation. If you want something like Sorsha, go with [name]Saoirse[/name] (Seer-sha) or [name]Sasha[/name] or even Laoise ([name]Lee[/name]-sha).