Would you?

Would you use a Welsh, Scottish or Irish name if you were not any either of these?

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Yes and no, it depends on how well known the name is in [name_u]America[/name_u] and if a child would butcher the spelling

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It depends on how common/familiar or how Anglicized the name is…

[name_f]Maeve[/name_f] - sure
[name_f]Niamh[/name_f] - probably not

[name_u]Aidan[/name_u] - sure
Muiredach - probably not

[name_f]Guinevere[/name_f] - sure
[name_f]Gwenllian[/name_f] - probably not

Does that help? :slight_smile:

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Yes, though it would need to be popular enough that it would be familiar where I live.

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I’m in the UK

So yes but only with the more common, familiar spellings basically.

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Well, yes, generally. But I am speaking from an American perspective. A name like [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] or [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] might be more familiar and less of a spelling/pronunciation headache over in the UK?

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[name_m]Ah[/name_m] yes I didn’t quite take into account our American berries. So I am British. [name_f]My[/name_f] partner has Scottish and Scandinavian ancestry. We have a very Scottish surname. And I realised Finnian/Finn is Irish. It even sounds very Irish too lol but we don’t have a hint of Irish ancestry. On my side it’s [name_u]French[/name_u] and Greek.
I just wondered if it seems strange to use a distinctive Irish name when we are not Irish. [name_f]My[/name_f] other son’s names are a mix of Greek and Hebrew

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I probably wouldn’t but it depends on the name. If it’s a name that still ‘seems’ very Welsh, Scottish or Irish, then most likely not. But maybe if it’s a name that is already more ‘integrated’ , then I would.

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It would depend. I have Scottish and Welsh ancestry, so I could see using those personally. It would also have to be a name relatively familiar worldwide and easier to pronounce. Overall, I’m not too picky with people using names not within their heritage as long as the chosen name is not seen as sacred to an ethnicity or religious group and would be offensive if used outside of those circles.

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I think if you’re in the UK and the name isn’t entirely unheard of, I think it would be fine :slight_smile:

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I agree with [name_f]Jane[/name_f].

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i think it’s totally fine, i’m scottish & irish and i don’t see any problem with it, my top names are english & greek (of which i am neither) and i would happily use them

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From an American perspective, maybe one that is established and familiar in the US. Otherwise, it could be a headache and be stranger to have without the heritage.

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I probably would! I tend to love those names :heart:

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In the case of Finnian/Finn, I don’t really see that as completely tied to Ireland/Irish people. I knew a [name_u]Finn[/name_u] with no Irish ancestry, and it’s super popular here in the US. Of the 2,000 babies born in 2020 with that name, I’m sure that not 100% of them have Irish heritage, so I don’t really see it as a problem.
Also, it comes down to you. Since this doesn’t really look like CA, then it’s personal preference. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you like the name? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you feel comfortable using it?

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It depends on the name. If it’s familiar and easy enough to pronounce then yes, but if it’s more obscure, overtly Gaelic and will inevitably cause spelling/pronunciation problems then no.

I think that [name_m]Finnian[/name_m] would be completely fine. It doesn’t read as super Irish (to me anyway) so I don’t think anyone would question you using an Irish name with no Irish ancestry. Especially with the popularity of [name_u]Finn[/name_u] and [name_u]Finley[/name_u] in the UK.

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Yes, definitely. Unconcerned with popularity or the tricky (beautiful) spelling, all that matters is that I love it.

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I am Irish, but not Welsh or Scottish. I would only use the Welsh or Scottish names if they were pretty ubiquitous and common in other places, and if I knew I were pronouncing them correctly!

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I would stay away from traditional spellings if it weren’t in my background, but the Anglicized spellings of these names would be alright. It depends on the name more than anything, and also how well known it is in your area.

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