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Mar 16, 2024 · Here’s a guide, with audio clips, on how to pronounce some common Irish names. We also have some Irish language hacks so you can figure out names yourself.
Hard-To-Pronounce Irish Baby Names. Some Irish baby names are challenging to pronounce. But with our help, you’d be able to pronounce them properly in no time. To hear these Irish names pronounced, just click on the megaphone icon on the upper left part of the name page and choose Pronounce in English (UK).
- Síle. This is another of the hardest-to-pronounce Irish first names. In English, this would be pronounced Sheila, proving the Irish language just makes everything look ten times harder than it actually is!
- Ruaidhri. This is one of those words that looks impossible, but once it has been broken down is astonishingly simple. Without further ado, this Irish boy’s name – which can also be spelt Ruari or Rory – means “a great king” and is pronounced ‘rur-ree’.
- Tadhg. Most foreigners don’t know where to start with this one, and well, we can’t blame them. Indeed, it is easy for an Irish person having been subjected to these names all throughout school; it is also quite understandable why this name is mind-boggler from appearance.
- Oisín. Often foreigners call a bluff on this name or make several failed attempts before accepting defeat! In all fairness, if you’re not from the Emerald Isle, we can see it’s a tough one.
Apr 24, 2023 · If you're looking for a beautiful, poetic Irish name and you want to make sure you're getting the pronunciation just right, here are 13 gorgeous Irish names that are hard to pronounce, but sound beautiful when you get it right.
- Caoimhe. Pronounced: Kee-va in Northern areas, Queeva as you start to move South. Gender: female. English equivalent: sometimes anglicised as Kiva. Meaning: gentle, beautiful, precious.
- Niamh. Pronounced: Neev. Gender: female. English equivalent: sometimes anglicised as Neeve. Meaning: bright, radiant. Origin: Niamh is found in Irish mythology as a daughter of the sea god Manannan mac Lir, a princess with golden hair.
- Seamus. Pronounced: Shay-muss. Gender: male. English equivalent: James. Meaning: supplanter, heel. Origin: Seamus, which is the Irish equivalent of James, comes from the late Latin name Iacomus, itself from the Greek Iakobos from which Jacob is also derived.
- Siobhán. Pronounced: Shiv-awn. Gender: female. English equivalent: Joan, but often anglicised as Chevonne. Meaning: ‘God is gracious’ or ‘gift of God’ Origin: the presently accepted meaning ‘god is gracious’ actually comes from English influence in Ireland and the equation to the name Joan, but supposedly the original meaning of Siobhán was ‘white fairy’ or ‘fairy woman’ as the name can be broken down into ‘sidh’ meaning fairy, and ‘bán’ meaning woman or white.
Aug 3, 2023 · Related: 10 very Irish female names 2023. 9. Pádraig – pronounced ‘PAW-drig’ or ‘POUR-ick’. Pádraig consistently ranks as one of the hardest to pronounce Irish first names. But what is the correct pronunciation? To add insult to injury, there are actually a few ways to pronounce this one.
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Unlike a lot of unique baby names, however, Irish girls’ names are also deeply traditional, calling to mind the centuries of proud Irish women who have born them: warriors, saints, queens — even a pirate! — as well as evoking traditional Irish myths and legends.
