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What's so wrong with having an Irish name?

  • 13-05-2013 03:13PM
    #1
    Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,441 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Very often on boards you see someone making a sneery comment over gaeilge names and I have never understood why. There seems to be some implication that only posh spoilt D4 kids have those names and I'm sure most of us would agree that that isn't true. So what's wrong with having an Irish name? How can a name annoy or offend someone so much?


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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,370 ✭✭✭Knasher



    Really annoying outside of Ireland.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    Nowt wrong with Irish names, a name is a name in any language .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,252 ✭✭✭FTA69


    Because some of them are completely fabricated in order to just sound "Irish" and also be "unique" at the same time. I've no bother with a "Gráinne" or a "Dónal", it's when abominations like "Caoimhleann" and what not start materialising is when it begins to sound silly.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,453 ✭✭✭Shenshen


    Very often on boards you see someone making a sneery comment over gaeilge names and I have never understood why. There seems to be some implication that only posh spoilt D4 kids have those names and I'm sure most of us would agree that that isn't true. So what's wrong with having an Irish name? How can a name annoy or offend someone so much?

    Nothing wrong with them per se, I would just always advocate giving the kid a second, pronouncable name so that later in life they can decide themselves how much time they wish to spend on repeating and spelling their name to everybody they meet.

    It's only fair to the child, I think.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,324 ✭✭✭BillyMitchel


    Double barrell surnames are worse.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,996 ✭✭✭latenia


    I have real difficulty remembering Irish names, especially when they're called something like Aoife, Áine or Aileen.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,987 ✭✭✭Legs.Eleven


    Thank you, OP! Exactly!! Everyone in my immediate family has an Irish name, including myself and this bollocks about it only being for D4 heads doesn't apply here. All of us were born 1980 or before and my parents were working class and not in any way posh. Irish names can be beautiful (although there's plenty of clangers....my own name isn't the nicest) and I don't know any other country that complains about giving kids names from their own country. What kind of stupid complaint is that? More Irish self-loathing bollocks if you ask me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 34,788 ✭✭✭✭krudler


    Double barrell surnames are worse.

    double barrel with one of them in Irish, shudder.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,766 ✭✭✭degsie


    Phil McGoother, Fanny Phelan, Justine McGee, Pat McGroin, Eileen Dover.... they all sound grand to me...:pac:


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25 SkadooshJ


    Its not the names thats the problem. Its the D4 accent pronouncing them which is the issue.

    i.e Saoirse is fine when said in any Irish accent but when its "D4-ised" it sounds horrible.


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  • Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,441 Mod ✭✭✭✭XxMCRxBabyxX


    Shenshen wrote: »
    Nothing wrong with them per se, I would just always advocate giving the kid a second, pronouncable name so that later in life they can decide themselves how much time they wish to spend on repeating and spelling their name to everybody they meet.

    It's only fair to the child, I think.

    I take it that means you would say the same to French parents giving their child a French name or Swedish parents giving their child a Swedish name etc?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 655 ✭✭✭hyperborean


    Makey upey Irish names, like Odhran and Caofhlainn should be banned,


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,494 ✭✭✭✭My name is URL


    People on Boards just seem to have a thing about hating Irish full stop. I don't speak the language myself but it never fails to amuse me how riled up people get about it all.

    As for names... just be thankful we're not Thailand.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,453 ✭✭✭Shenshen


    I take it that means you would say the same to French parents giving their child a French name or Swedish parents giving their child a Swedish name etc?

    I have given out to my mother in the past for giving me a German name that's unpronouncable anywhere else, and no second name to fall back on.
    I have to make do with a stupid nick name. I do think a little bit of consideration for your child when chosing a name goes quite a long way indeed.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 34,808 ✭✭✭✭smash


    I just think a lot of Irish names much like the language itself, sound horrible!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 689 ✭✭✭Mr Whirly


    I take it that means you would say the same to French parents giving their child a French name or Swedish parents giving their child a Swedish name etc?

    There's a higher likelihood of children from this country emigrating. I have an Irish name, a pretty common one and it was still a pain in the hole when I lived abroad.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    There can be some pretentious associated with some Irish names like it somehow makes the named person more Irish then somebody else and if that's what floats yer boat then so be it .


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 964 ✭✭✭Anynama141


    Irish names can be beautiful (although there's plenty of clangers....my own name isn't the nicest)
    Strictly speaking, 'Legs' isn't an Irish name.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,264 ✭✭✭✭jester77


    Shenshen wrote: »
    I have given out to my mother in the past for giving me a German name that's unpronouncable anywhere else, and no second name to fall back on.
    I have to make do with a stupid nick name. I do think a little bit of consideration for your child when chosing a name goes quite a long way indeed.

    Was your mother German or why did she give you a German name?


  • Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,441 Mod ✭✭✭✭XxMCRxBabyxX


    Makey upey Irish names, like Odhran and Caofhlainn should be banned,

    But those aren't made up names (though I think it should be spelt more like Caoilainn). They're quite old Irish names.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,903 ✭✭✭Napper Hawkins


    I take it that means you would say the same to French parents giving their child a French name or Swedish parents giving their child a Swedish name etc?


    French and Swedish kids speak French and Swedish, respectively.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,453 ✭✭✭Shenshen


    jester77 wrote: »
    Was your mother German or why did she give you a German name?

    I am German, living in Ireland now.
    My mother is German, my father Austrian.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 34,808 ✭✭✭✭smash


    But those aren't made up names (though I think it should be spelt more like Caoilainn). They're quite old Irish names.

    Thank god for deedpoll huh....


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 655 ✭✭✭HurtLocker


    Nothing wrong with the person with the name. But what parent in their right mind would name their child "Siobhan" pronounced She-va. If you can't speak Irish its impossible to read and its impossible to spell when you hear it. I struggle to see why bother call a child that? Tradition ain't a good enough reason in my mind but I can't make up others minds. IMO Just makes the child's life harder once they leave to Gaeilge loving education system.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 34,808 ✭✭✭✭smash


    HurtLocker wrote: »
    But what parent in their right mind would name their child "Siobhan" pronounced She-va.

    That is not how you pronounce Siobhan ffs.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,559 ✭✭✭✭AnonoBoy


    HOW DARE PEOPLE HAVE A NAME THAT I DON'T LIKE!!!!!

    :mad:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 440 ✭✭3qsmavrod5twfe


    Double barrell surnames are worse.

    Used to be when someone was the offspring of two "prestigious" families and wanted ties to both. Now it means parents weren't married.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,903 ✭✭✭Napper Hawkins


    HurtLocker wrote: »
    Nothing wrong with the person with the name. But what parent in their right mind would name their child "Siobhan" pronounced She-va. If you can't speak Irish its impossible to read and its impossible to spell when you hear it. I struggle to see why bother call a child that? Tradition ain't a good enough reason in my mind but I can't make up others minds. IMO Just makes the child's life harder once they leave to Gaeilge loving education system.

    Shiv-awn.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators Posts: 7,441 Mod ✭✭✭✭XxMCRxBabyxX


    French and Swedish kids speak French and Swedish, respectively.

    Yet not every girl called Chloe speaks French (or Greek) and not every boy called Michael speaks Hebrew...

    Most people who give their children Irish names have a connection to the language or at least the country and nationality.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,772 ✭✭✭byronbay2


    People on Boards just seem to have a thing about hating Irish full stop. I don't speak the language myself but it never fails to amuse me how riled up people get about it all.

    +1 on that. It's amazing that some people get so agitated about Irish names and how contemptuous they are towards people who like Irish names. Similarly (though OT), the Atheists who ridicule and belittle Christian beliefs on other forums. Can they not just agree to differ? I am not a Christian btw.


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