[name]Rois[/name]
Realtin
[name]Sadhbh[/name] (rhymes with “five”)
[name]Morrigan[/name]
Neasa (ness-a or nass-a)
Muireann (mweer-inn)
[name]Honora[/name]
Caoilinn (kee-lin)
Liadan (lee-din)
[name]Riona[/name]
Cuchulainn (I know nobody will ever use this name, but I love it)
Lir
[name]Aonghus[/name]
[name]Finbar[/name]
Cuan
[name]Ruadhan[/name]
[name]Tadhg[/name]
I really must second/third/fourth the vote for [name]Maeve[/name] for a girl, however!
I love [name]Fionnuala[/name] for you, not least because it reminds me of the Anglicized form [name]Fenella[/name]. People seem to have mixed feelings on that name, but I love it, and it makes me think of fennel, which is definitely earthy (I know it’s unrelated, but I operate on sounds). [name]Fionnuala[/name] seems more universally loved then [name]Fenella[/name], and sounds a bit sweeter, and there is just enough connection to the latter to give it a naturey zip.
As for boys…I think you can get away with a name that is less earthy if you find one you like, since people don’t seem to think it’s as weird if themes don’t cross the gender divide.
These are all of the male Irish names on my list, with some of my pronunciation notes.
[name]Alastar[/name] (I normally like [name]Alasdair[/name] better, but [name]Alastar[/name] is irish, accessible, and has “star” in it, which is pretty cool)
Ardal (this makes me think of trees)
[name]Cathan[/name] (apparently KA-hawn)
[name]Faolan[/name] (fee-lahn or possibly fay-lahn; this sounds very woodsy to me)
[name]Finley[/name]
[name]Finnegan[/name]
[name]Lochlainn[/name]
Naomhan (prn. neev-an)
[name]Ronan[/name] (this also makes me think of trees)
Turlough (makes me think of…science fiction. but in a good way!)
Wow I didn’t even see all of these replies and I’m on here pretty regularly!
We are still nowhere near agreeing on a name and I still haven’t found the love for any Irish names. Right now it looks like the (eclectic) front runners for girls are:
[name]Magnolia[/name]–love but everyone wants to call her [name]Maggie[/name], which I think is plain, especially next to [name]Sage[/name] and [name]Lotus[/name]. I love that magnolias are one of the first signs of spring.
[name]Clementine[/name]–DH loves nn [name]Clem[/name], I like [name]Cleo[/name] but mostly I love [name]Clementine[/name]. I’m [name]Rebecca[/name] and managed to avoid going by any nn! I love this name but it bothers me a little that [name]Sage[/name] and [name]Lotus[/name] are so meaningful and this one isn’t as meaningful or spiritual.
[name]Shanti[/name]–I love this! I can see how people wouldn’t like it, but I think it’s pretty and the meaning/history is beautiful.
[name]Fia[/name]–just saw this idea on this post! I like it and DH probably will, too.
[name]Just[/name] to give you an idea of what I like, for boys I love:
[name]Taj[/name]
[name]Sol[/name]–DH said maybe but he’s not crazy about it
[name]Kai[/name]
Koa
DH just suggested [name]Ki[/name]–pn key–which I might like but I’m not sure yet. Could also be spelled [name]Chi[/name]. life force.
What do you think of these with [name]Sage[/name] and [name]Lotus[/name]? Any mn ideas? Thank you for keeping the replies coming even in my absence!! I’m due next week! If we don’t find a name, we are fine holding out and letting the name reveal itself after baby is born.
[name]How[/name] about [name]Azalea[/name]? Same feel as [name]Magnolia[/name] [name]IMO[/name] but some more unusual nicknames (Zalie, [name]Zee[/name])
Or what about [name]Nola[/name] as a nickname for [name]Magnolia[/name]? If you introduce her as [name]Nola[/name], I’m sure people won’t call her [name]Maggie[/name]!
Some ideas for boys:
[name]Diarmid[/name] (deer-muht) with a soft T that is almost a D haha
[name]Cathal[/name] (ca-hal)
Cianan
[name]Fallon[/name]/[name]Faolan[/name]
[name]Roan[/name]
I’m due next week! If we don’t find a name, we are fine holding out and letting the name reveal itself after baby is born.