Original Spelling

[woah-jackson.livejournal.com]

Is using the original (in this case Gaelic) spelling of a name just too much for modern times? Since I'm Irish, some girl names we were toying around with include...

Name (pronunciation) - meaning/origin
* Éile (AYL-yeh) - ???
* Muirín (MWYR-in) - born of the sea
* Beckett (BEK-et) - author Samuel Beckett
* Cearnaigh (KEER-nee) - fox, victorious
* Máire (MAW-y-reh) - rebellious, bitter

We both like Máire (very similar to Moira) the best, but I thought I'd throw them out there to see what you fine folks think :) Thanks for any feedback!

And you guys should see some of the crazier ones, haha. For example, "Bairrfhionn" is pronounced "Berrin" and "Caoimhe" is pronounced "Keevah." Crazy Irish!

Comments

[penguiny7.livejournal.com]

I'm so familiar with Irish names that I'm not one to judge, but I think Máire would do okay. My favorite "crazy" Irish name was always Caoilfhionn.

These are my favorite Irish girls' names for some ideas:
Aíbgréne
Alastríona - this could probably work in the US
Aoibheann
Fíona - this one's easily recognizable
Fionnghuala - my favorite spelling though is Fionnuala, plus you could always use Finola which shouldn't have pronunciation issues.
Fionúir - but I prefer the Anglicizations Fennore or Finora
Gráinne
Maeve - easily usable too
Mairéad
Muirne
Muireann
Órfhlaith
Saoirse
Saraid
Sorcha
Úna - another easy to use one

[ribcage-diagram.livejournal.com]

I love Sorcha and Saoirse from this list!