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Modifying the way your mad Irish name is spelled - is it ok?

  • 15-08-2013 4:56pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 792 ✭✭✭


    I'm talking first names here - and I'm moreso talking in a legal sense but I suppose it's open up to a general discussion too. My name is Darragh and I live abroad, finished education and now I'm going around looking for a job, (god help me (if you exist))

    I get phone calls back and the people are like "oh hi there Darr-aag-huh"

    So I'm thinking of just changing my name to Darra on my CV to stop this. Not that I'm ashamed of course, but just for convenience sake. But will it cause problems if I do get a job offer, considering my passport says Darragh?

    I'm expecting some offers from some pretty big corporates (lol, just kidding) so would this affect me if they see my name is spelled differently on my passport, even if I explain to them it the anglicised version of my name?


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 463 ✭✭Christ the Redeemer


    A friend of mine was called Ny um Haich by a doctor. Niamh!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 228 ✭✭PingO_O


    What about just putting the pronunciation beside your name in italics or brackets or something? Would probably prevent confusion re. the passport.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,739 ✭✭✭✭minidazzler


    People with foreign or harder to pronounce names are less likely to get a call for interview..... so definitely spell it in a way that is phonetically correct.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Just change your name to Mark. Everyone knows how to pronounce Mark.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,590 ✭✭✭✭kneemos


    Doubt anyone could care less,loads of people mess with their names these days in your case it's just a short version like Pat or Tom.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,113 ✭✭✭shruikan2553


    As far as I know you can call yourself whatever you want as long as its not used for fraud. I read it somewhere but not sure the exact details or even if its true


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 111 ✭✭ericsinjun


    Try just using the Irish version (Dara) rather than the anglicised version. In your case it would be a lot handier.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,533 ✭✭✭the keen edge


    Just use your boards.ie user name.

    Till help impress them big corporate suits; you can't get a boards.ie user name unless you've use a computer at some stage in your life.

    Tisn't everybody can use a computer.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,180 ✭✭✭hfallada


    I know an african american who went by the name of Kerry in Ireland as every one pronounced Ciara as Ciara instead of Cee-air-ra like in America. You can change your name in Ireland with deed poll which is €35 and in the district courts.

    Go for something everyone can pronounce like Obama or like Mclovin in Superbad( or his second chance Mohammad the most popular name in the world, but not the best name to have if you want to find work in the deep south of America)/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,659 ✭✭✭CrazyRabbit


    Just do what a lot of the people in India do. Adopt 'English' names for international business.

    I had a lovely chat with Peter Srininavidasikarim earlier today.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    I work a lot with China and they too have adopt English second names
    Hui-Peter, Wei-Jack, etc


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,389 ✭✭✭mattjack


    biko wrote: »
    Just change your name to Mark. Everyone knows how to pronounce Mark.

    Or maybe a double barrelled name like Birth Mark.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 503 ✭✭✭derb12


    Would they know how to pronounce English words that end in gh? If not, feck em.

    Tell them that "AlthougGH there is a gh at the end of my name, it is silent" and see if they get it. Maybe one for the emails.

    I've a complicated enough first name and a very complicated surname for non-irish people, but for the most part folks aren't thick and they just get on with it. In fact, it is easier abroad where they just treat it as a non-run-of-the-mill name.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 4,660 ✭✭✭COYVB


    ericsinjun wrote: »
    Try just using the Irish version (Dara) rather than the anglicised version. In your case it would be a lot handier.

    That's a girls name in North America usually though -could potentially cause confusion


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭Sinfonia


    My friend Aoife was called 'Oof' by her boss in London.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,061 ✭✭✭keith16


    Sinfonia wrote: »
    My friend Aoife was called 'Oof' by her boss in London.

    Maybe she was acting like an Oof?


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Sunglasses Ron


    Are the way people are Gaelic- ising their names even accurate? The Celts did not follow the Roman alphabet, so none of these names were written in modern script until it was introduced at a latter point. Surely the adopted Roman spelling and pronunciation of a name differed by accent and location within Ireland? While some names were almost certainly changed over time by British census takers and civil servants recording them incorrectly (De Bruin becomes Browne for example) I have seen people Gaelic- ising names that are clearly not of Celtic origin. People called Johnson becoming Ui Jonstain or something similar, and other names when the name is presumably of English, Norman or Nordic extraction.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 560 ✭✭✭markomuscle


    You could rename yourself 'The Oak' or derry after the county as the name derives from that i think.

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


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,831 ✭✭✭Peanut Butter Jelly


    I wrote me Irish name down as Pódhl as a kid and loved it so I still use it, bet it would confuse the arse of some people.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,901 ✭✭✭Howard Juneau


    I have a habit of booking into hotels under my name in Irish, not because I'm a native speaker or anysuch, but its a feckin mouthful & it's nice to see the European receptionists struggling for a change when trying to pronounce it!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,831 ✭✭✭Peanut Butter Jelly


    When I first heard someone say "Pode-hul" or "Pod-hill" I nearly needed new jocks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,174 ✭✭✭RhubarbCrumble


    My friends name is Caoilfhionn Bhreatnach. She moved to London with work and within a few weeks had to become Keelin Walsh. She got pretty sick of being called Kweel-fi-on and Kay-oil-feen!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,691 ✭✭✭Lia_lia


    I change my name to Eva sometimes when I'm abroad..just makes things easier. (It's Aoife..)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 192 ✭✭happyviolet


    I really don't get why people cannot just look up the pronouncition of a name if it looks complicated for them to pronounce or at least ask the person in question how to pronounce it.
    I just don't think it is fair that Irish people with Irish names should change them just so that it can be convenient for other people who are just too lazy to learn or even ask.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,410 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    PingO_O wrote: »
    What about just putting the pronunciation beside your name in italics or brackets or something? Would probably prevent confusion re. the passport.
    That can lead to even more confusion...

    Chonchubhair Krih - hoor (Conor)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 45 Siosleis


    Is it wrong to have an Irish name?
    Seán/John/Juan/Johann/Jean...
    I like Irish names and their silly little lines over vowels and names meaning things and stuff.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,622 ✭✭✭Ruu


    Just count yourself lucky that your name isn't Michael Bolton. :)


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


    Lia_lia wrote: »
    I change my name to Eva sometimes when I'm abroad..just makes things easier. (It's Aoife..)


    Me too (my name is not Aoife though but similar sounding).


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 12,318 ✭✭✭✭Menas


    Me too (my name is not Aoife though but similar sounding).

    Caoimhe?!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭Toby Take a Bow


    Are the way people are Gaelic- ising their names even accurate? The Celts did not follow the Roman alphabet, so none of these names were written in modern script until it was introduced at a latter point. Surely the adopted Roman spelling and pronunciation of a name differed by accent and location within Ireland? While some names were almost certainly changed over time by British census takers and civil servants recording them incorrectly (De Bruin becomes Browne for example) I have seen people Gaelic- ising names that are clearly not of Celtic origin. People called Johnson becoming Ui Jonstain or something similar, and other names when the name is presumably of English, Norman or Nordic extraction.

    Irish is standardised now, though, as far as I know. The gaelic-ising of non-Irish names is a fairly common practice around the world (that is standardising non-local names into the local language).


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,311 ✭✭✭✭Quazzie


    How many work places look to see your passport?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,695 ✭✭✭December2012


    I do this too - I use a shortened nickname that would be known internationally instead of my beautiful Irish name.

    I love Irish names - but I like an easy life more!

    Plus I find that it has made me make more of an effort to get the pronunciation right of non-traditional names.


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