Cé eile a bheith ag úsaid d'ainm gaeilge ina shaol?

I've used my Irish-language name and address solely (bank details, passport, driver's licence etc.) for just over a decade now and have had no real problems to be honest. There was one time when AIB put my address back into English without asking, but they put it back again without a quibble when I requested it and apologised for doing it.

Other than the fact that I usually have to spell my name out to the person writing it down almost everytime, I've no complaints. But I even know people with unusual names in English who have to do the same. Such is the Gaeilgeoir's burden.

I think the reason it worked ok was because I did it thoroughly and all at once. If you make the decision to do it, don't half do it, or it could cause problems if half you stuff is in English and half in Irish, especially if you go abroad. Most people abroad don't get the concept of having two names and that can cause you problems.

Toyota_Avensis wrote: »

I often wonder why more people don't do it.. Not because its some headbanger sense of annestory or nationalism, but a general authentic way to stand out from the crowd. Many Irish today seem to have poor interest in making an effort to pronounce a surname which is as gaeilge. I understand pronounciation can throw people, but immediately requiring your english name over your official Irish name is pig ignorant IMO

I think it is becoming more popular, though quite slowly. I've had a few friends and acquaintances ask me for advice on how to do it, since they intend to do it themselves. I've also noticed that it's very popular now on Facebook to use your Irish name, even amongst people who don't use it in their everyday lives or wouldn't be fluent in Irish.

An gal gréine wrote: »

deise go deo wrote: »

In general yes, but you do 'change' the name that appears on your documentation.[/QUOTE

My point is that it is still the same name, but different language.

Think that can depend on the name. Sometimes people try a bit too hard to come up with a Gaelic version/equivalent of a name which doesn't quite ring true, e.g. using the name Cathal to "translate" Charles, when they are in fact two unconnected names which happen to have a C and an A in them. Likewise, Donncha being used to "translate" Denis. But there are plenty of forenames which don't have a Gaelic root, but still have very commonly used Irish equivalents, e.g. Séamas/Séamus, Antaine, Máire, Seosamh etc.