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Teagan ?boy or girl?

  • 16-09-2010 6:43pm
    #1
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭


    My husband and I are both American. We moved to Ireland about 3 years ago. I'm pregnant with #1. We thought that getting pregnant was impossible. And, as a result have been told by many that we have gotten a little boost of "Irish luck".

    With this in mind we thought it appropriate to pick at least one "Irish" name for our child.

    For a boy we chose Conor Dale. And for a girl, Teagan Elizabeth.

    I recently decided to play around online and see what other middle names people had chosen to go with Conor/Teagan.

    Apparently there is a HUGE debate on if Teagan is a boy, girl, or unisex name. Most people were casual about their opinion, but some people were acting Outraged that it was even a Question! Most seemed to be a parent of a boy named Teagan/Tegan. And were saying things like "My Husband (Actually FROM Ireland) and Son are Teagan, it's Obviously a Masculine name. People are idiots who think otherwise." Or, "Why would you be so Stupid and name a girl a BOY name, what a disgrace." And, "My son is Teagan, he's in a class with 5 other Teagans...all boys. I'm sure that makes ME right. It's a boys name, pick again."

    I've never personally encountered a Teagan here and found the name on an Irish Names website that seemed more authentic than most. It was listed as a girls name and sounded feminine enough to me. http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html

    If we end up moving back to our rural home in the U.S., I wouldn't think twice about naming a daughter Teagan. But, if we end up staying here for a while I wouldn't want to give her a commonly known boys name.

    So, is Teagan considered a boy or girl name in Ireland?
    ~Thanks All
    Tagged:


«1

Comments

  • #2
    phasers
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,159 ✭✭✭✭phasers


    I've never heard the name tbh, but just from reading it I'd say it was a girl's name.


  • #3
    Herbal Deity
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,397 ✭✭✭Herbal Deity


    The only time I've ever heard the name Teagan is in relation to the following porn star:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teagan_Presley

    So yeah, female IMO.


  • #4
    exaisle
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,675 ✭✭✭exaisle


    Teagan was one of Doctor Who's (female) assistants back in the 80s I think....


  • #5
    KylieWyley
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 547 ✭✭✭KylieWyley


    I can't say I've ever come across that name. Don't know/haven't met any Teagan. Don't know where online you've come across that name, but I'd hazard a guess that you'd be very hard pressed to come across any Irish folks who know a Teagan..

    Might you be thinking of the male name Tadhg? (pronounced Tie-ggg)


  • #6
    TanG411
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,836 ✭✭✭TanG411


    When I read the thread title, I assumed the name Teagan was a girl's name.


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  • #7
    Rasmus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,075 ✭✭✭Rasmus


    I haven't come across the name before, but a quite googling shows it to be a direct translation of Tadhg, therefore it would be a boy's name. When I first read 'Teagan' I thought it sounded pretty American!


  • #8
    keane2097
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,775 ✭✭✭✭keane2097


    Female porn star was my immediate reaction as well tbh.


  • #9
    carolinespring
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,166 ✭✭✭carolinespring


    thompssn wrote: »
    My husband and I are both American. We moved to Ireland about 3 years ago. I'm pregnant with #1. We thought that getting pregnant was impossible. And, as a result have been told by many that we have gotten a little boost of "Irish luck".

    With this in mind we thought it appropriate to pick at least one "Irish" name for our child.

    For a boy we chose Conor Dale. And for a girl, Teagan Elizabeth.

    I recently decided to play around online and see what other middle names people had chosen to go with Conor/Teagan.

    Apparently there is a HUGE debate on if Teagan is a boy, girl, or unisex name. Most people were casual about their opinion, but some people were acting Outraged that it was even a Question! Most seemed to be a parent of a boy named Teagan/Tegan. And were saying things like "My Husband (Actually FROM Ireland) and Son are Teagan, it's Obviously a Masculine name. People are idiots who think otherwise." Or, "Why would you be so Stupid and name a girl a BOY name, what a disgrace." And, "My son is Teagan, he's in a class with 5 other Teagans...all boys. I'm sure that makes ME right. It's a boys name, pick again."

    I've never personally encountered a Teagan here and found the name on an Irish Names website that seemed more authentic than most. It was listed as a girls name and sounded feminine enough to me.

    If we end up moving back to our rural home in the U.S., I wouldn't think twice about naming a daughter Teagan. But, if we end up staying here for a while I wouldn't want to give her a commonly known boys name.

    So, is Teagan considered a boy or girl name in Ireland?
    ~Thanks All

    My friend called her little girl Teagan and I run a pre-school and we have another little girl called Teagan. If you like the name just go with it and sod anyone who dose not like it.

    Congratulations and enjoy babs


  • #10
    Shelli2
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 928 ✭✭✭Shelli2


    The direct translation of Tadhg is Timothy.

    Teagan is a girls name, with a different meaning, I have a book about it at home, I'll chek it out and update this reply when I get home.

    it's a lovely name btw, it was actually on my list for a girl....we had a boy in the end.


  • #11
    foxinsox
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,080 ✭✭✭foxinsox


    I first heard Teagan a few years back, a Scottish girl I was working with, she had called her daughter Teagan, about ten years ago.

    I've only ever heard it as a girls name.


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  • #12
    eimearcmh
    Closed Accounts Posts: 599 ✭✭✭eimearcmh


    Teagan is the name of Donna's sister in Neighbours(Australian soap). Personally i would also associate it with being a girls name.


  • #13
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭thompssn


    This was the first link I found it on.

    http://www.babynamesofireland.com/pages/girl-names-n-z.html

    On this one it claims to be the Irish form of a Welsh name. Some others said it was a variant of Tadhg (and therefore male). Maybe that's where the difference of opinion comes from.

    I have found it on about 10 other "Baby Name" sites. Around 6 had it as a Female name, 2 said Unisex, and 2 said Male.

    I was just surprised at how Offended some people were about it being used as a female name. And all of those people claimed some kind of actual Irish knowledge of the subject. So I thought this would be the best place to ask.
    :)


  • #14
    goose2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,798 ✭✭✭goose2005


    keane2097 wrote: »
    Female porn star was my immediate reaction as well tbh.
    Mine too!

    The male Teagan is an Irish name (Tadhgáin) meaning "poet", related to Tadgh/Tadhg. The female Tegan/Teagan is Welsh for "fair". So you have male and female names of different origins converging.


  • #15
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭thompssn


    Yes, I also stumbled across the Porn Star connection! Though, to be honest it's hard to find Any name these days that isn't associated with some Porn Star or another. :)

    People were actually using that as justification on why it was a Male name, if that makes any sense. Something along the lines of: "This is the Only female I know of with the name, and look how stupid it is for her. Makes you think of a man, not a pretty female."

    I don't know. I guess I'm just always shocked at how truly Upset people get over things that really don't matter in the long run. If I'm going to put any energy into being Outraged over something, it's not going to be over what name someone chooses for their child.

    I just wanted to make sure that I didn't run the risk of sending a little girl to school here with a name that was the equivalent of David, Liam, or the like! ;)


  • #16
    January
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23,862 ✭✭✭✭January


    Teagan is a girls name... well to me anyway! I've only ever heard of girls being named it and had it on the list for my second daughter :) Lovely name!


  • #17
    mariebeth
    Registered Users Posts: 892 ✭✭✭mariebeth


    I think there used to be a female character on home & away called Taegan...that's my only reference. I would associate it as a girls name, it sounds too feminine to be a boys name. I think it's a lovely name by the way.


  • #18
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    I've only come across the name once and I instantly thought female when I heard it. I'd actually be surprised if I was introduced to a man/boy named Teagan but I've heard some people convinced that the Teagan I've heard of must be a man so there must be some element of unisex to it.

    I wonder though if it has anything to do with it sounding very similar to Keegan and perhaps this guy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Keegan


  • #19
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    thompssn wrote: »
    With this in mind we thought it appropriate to pick at least one "Irish" name for our child.

    For a boy we chose Conor Dale. And for a girl, Teagan Elizabeth.

    I would automatically think female, but to be honest, it would not be considered a typical Irish name, well definitely not in the way that Conor is. It would be perceived as being American, in the same league as Taylor for example.


  • #20
    Nevyn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    It's welsh not irish and it's female.


  • #21
    Sundew
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,554 ✭✭✭Sundew


    I was really surprised to see Tegan mentioned as an "Irish name". I certainly would not recognize it as such.
    Nice name but certainly foreign in my opinion .just my tuppence worth ;)


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  • #22
    XxMCRxBabyxX
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,439 Mod ✭✭✭✭XxMCRxBabyxX


    I have only ever heard of Teagan as being a girls name. I also wouldn't associate it as being an Irish name either, the only Teagan's I have ever heard of are South Africans I knew when living in Botswana as a kid and from American TV. it is a nice name though!


  • #23
    ?Cee?view
    Registered Users Posts: 2,848 ✭✭✭?Cee?view


    Sorry, but there's just no way it's an Irish name.

    As to whether it's a male or female name. I don't know, I've never heard it before, but for some reason it just sounds like a girl's name - dunno why though.


  • #24
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,078 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    I remember Tegan in Doctor Who many years ago ..............

    tegan.jpg

    Slightly different spelling though.


  • #25
    Moonbeam
    Moderators, Education Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,968 Mod ✭✭✭✭Moonbeam


    Only ever heard it as a girls name and in the name books/websites it is also listed as a girls name.
    I wouldn't worry we have plenty of names in Ireland that can be used for either eg Naoise a boys name originally but plenty of girls called Naoise now too.
    If you like the name use it!


  • #26
    Saruman
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,389 ✭✭✭✭Saruman


    Well the music group Tegan & Sarah are girls if that helps.


  • #27
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭thompssn


    For those of you who are making Strong Assertions that there's No Way it's an Irish name, I was just wondering Why you feel that way? I've found lots of proof that it is considered one, and nothing other than unbacked claims that it's not.

    I'm not saying that you're Wrong, I'm just a little surprised. All of the debate that I've come across in other places is between it being Male or Female, not about it being Irish/Not Irish. And, I wasn't under the impression that it's a horribly popular Irish name. I'm just a little taken aback because everything I've looked at online, and in hardcopy Irish Baby Name books we've been given recently (some printed In Ireland as far back as the late 90's) have it listed as an "Irish" name. At the very most removed, they have it listed as an Irish-form of a Welsh name. But, some as just a variant of other Irish names.

    I just like information to base my decisions on.

    (Not very good at navigating message boards, obviously...lol) Don't know how/if you can reply to more than one message at a time, and didn't want to post this over and over as a reply to everyone individually. :o

    ~Thanks to Everyone so far. I'm quite please at how much/pleasant activity my post received so quickly. Much better than my experiences on other similar sites. :)


    One more thing: It's very interesting to find out what a popular name it is in other parts of the world. FYI, I also ran across a message board on FB that had TONS of girls named "TEGAN" posting about comical misspellings and mispronunciation they've had to deal with. Most all of them seemed to be from Canada!


  • #28
    JohnK
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,780 ✭✭✭JohnK


    thompssn wrote: »
    For those of you who are making Strong Assertions that there's No Way it's an Irish name, I was just wondering Why you feel that way? I've found lots of proof that it is considered one, and nothing other than unbacked claims that it's not.

    Probably because few people would ever have heard of anyone in Ireland with that name where as you'd hear of a few non-Irish Teagans.


  • #29
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭thompssn


    JohnK wrote: »
    Probably because few people would ever have heard of anyone in Ireland with that name where as you'd hear of a few non-Irish Teagans.

    Posted a "quick reply", but don't see it, sorry if this ends up coming up twice.

    I originally said something along the lines of:

    That's very understandable. And it's what I assumed most of the people were thinking who said they didn't Think it was, or that they had never come across it.

    I was just wondering about the people who were so Absolute in their responses that it was Not Irish. Most of the time people who are that Positive/Sure about something have a reason. You and others provided good reasons for your opinion. The assertions just didn't seem have any.


  • #30
    Nevyn
    Closed Accounts Posts: 43,045 ✭✭✭✭Nevyn


    I have family in wales, I know it as a welsh name meaning fair/beautiful.

    http://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/tegan.shtml

    Many site ones will lump all the celtic both P and Q and all the different countries under the term celtic and then many
    american sites take that as to mean irish and post the info about all celtic names under the title irish names.


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  • #31
    Sundew
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,554 ✭✭✭Sundew


    The only link I have discovered from the web is that as a surname Tegan may be related to the Irish surname McTeague. Personally I think this is an extremely tenious link!
    http://wiki.name.com/en/Tegan

    Granted the name is not that comon here, but there are also proper Irish names that are not that common either.
    I have a friend called Sadbh (pronnounced Sive) and is a name that is very rarely used, but is a proper Irish name.

    Perhaps somebody in the History/heritage section may have a better knowledge of the history of Irishnames.
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=330


  • #32
    Jimbob1977
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,239 ✭✭✭Jimbob1977


    There was a Tegan/Teagan in "Home and Away" during the mid-1990s. She was a wild child and quite grouchy.


  • #33
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    It depends on what you want OP. It's a beautiful name and if it has Irish connotations and a meaning for you, then go for it. If, however, you want your child to have a recognisably Irish name, then Teagan isn't it, as the vast majority of Irish people will not regard it as being an Irish name.

    The second name, Elizabeth, is beautiful too. You could use the Irish version of it - Eilis/Eilish/Ailish.


  • #34
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    Sundew wrote: »
    I have a friend called Sadbh (pronnounced Sive) and is a name that is very rarely used, but is a proper Irish name.

    It's been in the top 100 names in Ireland for the past few years.


  • #35
    LucyLouLou
    Closed Accounts Posts: 123 ✭✭LucyLouLou


    Always thought of Teagan as a girls name but always thought it was a Welsh name, probally down as Irish in some places because it's gaelic and then they just automatically asume that's Irish, forgetting that gaelic can mean Irish, Welsh, Scottish or Manx.


  • #36
    Scoobydoobydoo
    Registered Users Posts: 388 ✭✭Scoobydoobydoo


    I wouldn't for a second consider this name to be Irish, I would consider it to be American if I had to guess, as it's only through American popular culture that I've ever heard it used, though I see your book says it's Welsh.
    Never, ever heard it here, though I'd expect there is a recent batch of babies given names inspired by U.S. tv characters etc. and that is the only way I'd imagine you'd find a name like this used in Ireland, but certainly not Irish in origin.
    Some of these Irish name books I find a bit strange, but I can only make a suggestion that you look to names from Irish mythology to find some genuine Irish names.


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  • #37
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭thompssn


    Thaedydal wrote: »
    I have family in wales, I know it as a welsh name meaning fair/beautiful.

    http://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/tegan.shtml

    Many site ones will lump all the celtic both P and Q and all the different countries under the term celtic and then many
    american sites take that as to mean irish and post the info about all celtic names under the title irish names.

    Thanks much for the link! I enjoyed the new background info and was led to some interesting name lists.

    I had begun to wonder about the possibility of all Celtic names being lumped together as "Irish". Just confused because some of the sites and all of the hardcopy books I have are actually Irish, not American. In-fact an old baby name book I just picked up today at a local charity shop had other "new to me" info about the name. Said that it was Irish and was Male. That it came from Tadg/Tadc and was "generally anglicised in the North of Ireland to Taig, Teague, Teagan" and that it was also used as a derogatory term. Pretty sure I'm not happy with this book's point of view!


  • #38
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    If it is Irish (and I'm not sure it is) it could be a derivative of the feminine of Tadhg, Tadhgín. In Irish the feminine form of a lot of names is made by simply adding ín at the end. For example, the irish for Patricia is Pádraigín. Confusingly some people use the ín version as a pet name for the guy as it literally means "little".

    Then again I've never heard of anyone called Tadhgín so this could be a pointless post!


  • #39
    Sundew
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,554 ✭✭✭Sundew


    deemark wrote: »
    It's been in the top 100 names in Ireland for the past few years.

    Never look at the C.S.O namelists so wasn't aware of this.

    Somebody mentioned Naoise earlier. I have actually never heard of a female being called this so thats new one for me.
    I always associate the name with the Ex Tipperary hurler called Naoise Jordan :D


  • #40
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    thompssn wrote: »
    That it came from Tadg/Tadc and was "generally anglicised in the North of Ireland to Taig, Teague, Teagan" and that it was also used as a derogatory term.

    A 'Taig' would be an insulting term for a Catholic in the North. I doubt the name comes from that though!


  • #41
    Posy
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 27,643 Mod ✭✭✭✭Posy


    From seeing the title of the thread, I would think it's an American name and a female one. Never heard of it being an Irish name at all, never heard the name in any Irish context. I do think it's a pretty name though. :)


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  • #42
    crazy cat lady
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,196 ✭✭✭crazy cat lady


    I've only ever known it as a girls name but spelt 'Tiegan'

    I think its a really pretty name :)


  • #43
    MzFit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37 ✭MzFit


    deemark wrote: »
    A 'Taig' would be an insulting term for a Catholic in the North. I doubt the name comes from that though!

    That's exactly what I was thinking. It would be a very bad move to name an Irish-born child this in my opinion. Whether you'll be pronouncing it as "teegan" or "taygan", there will be a lot who will go with the latter option and "taig" will be the unfortunate by-line. You open the child up to the possibility of ridicule. Having a horrible, unreadable-unpronounceable name myself, I would never wish this on anyone.


  • #44
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    MzFit wrote: »
    Whether you'll be pronouncing it as "teegan" or "taygan", there will be a lot who will go with the latter option and "taig" will be the unfortunate by-line.

    In fairness though, the word 'taig' probably doesn't even register in the south of the country. I've only heard it in the north. I don't think pronunciation is an issue either, the surnames Reagan and Egan are common enough and the pronunciation 'taygan' would only be found in the Wesht.


  • #45
    MzFit
    Closed Accounts Posts: 37 ✭MzFit


    deemark wrote: »
    In fairness though, the word 'taig' probably doesn't even register in the south of the country. I've only heard it in the north. I don't think pronunciation is an issue either, the surnames Reagan and Egan are common enough and the pronunciation 'taygan' would only be found in the Wesht.

    Two rebuttals to that:
    1) I'm a Dubliner and the first thing that occurred to me was "taig".
    2) My first inclination was also to read it as "taygan" and I've heard Americans read it like this more often than "teegan"! (Ronald Reagan, anyone?)
    ;)


  • #46
    Chuchoter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,305 ✭✭✭Chuchoter


    Tegan (thats how I'd spell it?) is one of my favorite names, but I think its just for girls.


  • #47
    thompssn
    Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭thompssn


    The pronunciation issues seem to mostly be with the "Tegan" version of it. People not knowing if it's teg-an (teg, like peg) or tea-gan. (At least in the US and Canada). That's why the "a" was added to those wishing to pronounce it tea (tee) -gan.

    I know quite a few American's named Regan and Ke(e)gan. And never heard of anyone having problems with pronunciation. I think Teagan would be pretty easy, just based on sight. By no means would it ever cross my mind as being "a horrible, unreadable-unpronounceable name".

    All of this was interesting, informative and could have been helpful, and I thank everyone who contributed. However, the anatomy scan yesterday has rendered the issue irrelevant! (In my current circumstance, anyway.)

    We found out we're having a Conor. :D


  • #48
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    thompssn wrote: »
    We found out we're having a Conor. :D

    :DHilarious, after 4 pages of discussion!

    Congrats!


  • #49
    cinderella2010
    Closed Accounts Posts: 133 ✭✭cinderella2010


    Here are two Irish girl names I love

    Siofra - pronounced Shee-fra

    I also love Sadbh - pronounced Si-av

    finally Cadhla - ka-la


  • #50
    ?Cee?view
    Registered Users Posts: 2,848 ✭✭✭?Cee?view


    thompssn wrote: »
    We found out we're having a Conor. :D

    Congrats - hope all continues to go well with the little man.

    Now, why don't you spell Conor with a K - Konor - and we can have another discussion on that :D

    Best of luck!


  • #51
    Scoobydoobydoo
    Registered Users Posts: 388 ✭✭Scoobydoobydoo


    churchview wrote: »
    why don't you spell Conor with a K - Konor - Best of luck!

    Please don't do that, that's a horrible thing to do to a lovely name! Yuck!


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