Thinking about names already...

Avatar for tuffykenwell
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Thinking about names already...
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Thu, 09-01-2005 - 11:19am
DH and I are going to start TTC #3 as soon as AF co-operates and shows up LOL so I am beginning the task of thinking up names to add to "the list".

We currently have two children. DS is 3 and his name is Rhys Christopher William (first name is pronounced "reese"). DD is 9 months and her name is Niamh Beatrix Anne (fn pronounced "neev")

Okay so given that we have a definite "theme" going on here (ie DS is Welsh, DD is Gaelic and yes we use authentic spellings)...and given the fact that no we are not afraid of a name being "hard to pronounce" (obviously) coming up with names for the list is an interesting task.

Criteria: Must be a name restricted to the British Isles (ie yes people use it elsewhere too but that is where it is "from") and we prefer names that are not to common (okay I dropped the ball with Rhys but honest I didn't know I was at the beginning of a huge wave of popularity...and hey its still a great name) what are your thoughts of the SOUND of these names and how they pair with our currently family :)

Boys:
Okay its very likely either going to be Seamus (pr. shay-mus) or Hamish (pr. Hay-mish)...one is DHs favorite and the other is mine. They are two variations of the same name which is the gaelic form of James (and the Scottish variant of the gaelic). Which do you like better??

I lean towards Hamish but that is probably because we already have a Seamus in my family (granted he is 19 years old now LOL and he is my cousin so far enough "removed" to not have it be that big of an issue...plus they wouldn't have the same last name).

Okay for girls I am waffling between Caoimhe (kee-va) or Saoirse (seer-sha)...I think I prefer Caoimhe but I am wondering if it sounds too close to Niamh (which again is pr neev) KWIM?

Any thoughts??

Steph momma to


Rhys - May 17, 2002 http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rhyscw/

momma to

Rhys, Niamh, Isla and Deirdre!

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Registered: 12-08-2004
Thu, 09-01-2005 - 4:39pm

Yes, I think that Caoimhe is too close to your other daughter's name, and frankly, though you don't seem to mind, every grammar school teacher your daughter ever has will thank you for not naming her that (no offense, it's a great name, but NO ONE will pronounce it correctly on the first try, and few will EVER spell it correctly). My best friend had an iguana named Saoirse (we wonder about her sometimes), so it's hard for me to be objective because every time I hear the name, I picture a large lizard lunging toward my ankle (she wasn't a very nice iquana, and she liked to play hide-and-seek, and she used her teeth).

I LOVE the name Seamus, so I definitely think you should use it. I don't mind Hamish, but I don't love it like I love Seamus.

Anyway, good luck finding a name. Let us know what you decide.

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Registered: 06-16-2004
Thu, 09-01-2005 - 5:12pm

Siblings: Rhys Christopher William & Niamh Beatrix Anne

**like

Possible Girl Names: Gwendolyn, Reanna, Meygan, Meredyth, Arwen, Ailene, Ariana, Eowyn, Ashlynn, Breah, Caileigh, Cailiana, Ceridwyn, Colleen, Fallon, Fiona, Finola, Greer, Guinivere, Kelley, Shaelea, Blair, Rynn, Erin

Possible Combos:

Gwendolyn Carys Breann**
Arwen Caileigh Blair**
Meredyth Reanna Shae
Finola Ashlynn Rynn
Eowyn Kelley Gwen

Boys: Aedan , Barra, Bowie, Briant, Bryce, Bryson, Cedrick, Declan, Conner, Darron,Griffith, Keith, Kelley, Kevin, Keiran, Kyle,Niles, Nolan,Ryan, Ross, Seamus,Teague, Trevor, Vaughn , Kennedy

Possible Combos:

Keiran Kennedy Ross**
Declan Seamus Vaughn**
Nolan Conner Briant
Vaughn Griffith Bryce

HTH, I tried to keep with the theme...
Let me know -

Donna
mom to Alexandra, Samantha & Gabriella

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Registered: 06-26-1999
Thu, 09-01-2005 - 6:48pm

Hi there, Steph. Oh, how I love your kids' names! They're so sweet & simple, w/ or w/out the "diffacult" spellings. Rhys & Niamh are so much better than Reese & Neve. Props to you for the using the correct spellings. The are simply beautiful. Here are my thoughts on the lists for #3:

Hamish & Seamus are both fantastic. I think I perfer Hamish by a little bit. There's no real reason, but it just has a very charming boyish feel to it. I'll try my best to suggest a few more that you may like, & that sounds good w/your kiddos' names. Here we go...

Boyd

Conall

Cade

Cael

Colm

Emmett

Liam

Tadgh

Here are a few that don't sound perfect w/your Rhys & Niamh, but would still work fine-

Cullen

Colin

Cian

Duncan

Declan

Devin

Ewan

Flynn

Flint

Finn

Finnian

Finnigan

Fuller

Gavin

Ian

Kieran

Lachlan

Owen

Patrick

Padraig

Quinn

Quinlan

As for the girl names, Saoirse is nms. I just think the sounds get jumbled up on your tounge easily, if that makes any sense. Caoimhe is very pretty, but perhaps a bit too close to Niamh. Here are a few suggestions that work really well w/Rhys & Niamh's names-

Aoife

Aine

Eilis

Fiona

Isla-I love this for you!

Oona

Here are some that aren't as great, but still fine for none picky people like me!

Cailin

Caitron

Ciara

Eibhlin-Okay, that's pretty close to Niamh too, but it's so lovely.

Finola

Finuala

Keelin

Laoishe-This is not my personal favourite, but I thought you may like it.

Maeve-Also very close to Niamh, but also beautiful.

Maire

Maren

I'm assuming that you know how those are all pronounced, but if not then let me know. Hope you like some!

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-01-2005
Thu, 09-01-2005 - 9:39pm
Unusual names, but I like them... I like Seamus and Caoimhe, although I agree it does sound alittle similiar to Niamh. Good luck.
Avatar for haarlasr
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 09-01-2005 - 10:30pm

Whew, Steph -- TTC again? I can't even imagine a 3rd baby just yet...

Anyway, I like Seamus a lot. I'm a fan of the similar Sean anyway, and it just sounds nicer to my ears than Hamish.

I have a hard time with the unusual spellings, but Caoimhe sounds beautiful even though it's similar to Niamh. Saoirse is pretty, too, though.

Okay, I guess I was no help at all! :-P Good luck TTC!
Stephanie w/ Megan (6/6/03) and Annie (11/10/04)

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Registered: 05-09-2004
Fri, 09-02-2005 - 12:58am
Good luck TTC again! I actually remember when Niamh was born! hehe

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-24-2004
Fri, 09-02-2005 - 3:34am

I like the name Hamish for a boy.

I think Caiomhe probably sounds too similar to Niamh.

Some Irish suggestions you haven't had yet:
Eimear (pronounced Ee-mer) - meaning:
Aislinn (pronounced Ashling) - meaning: dream, vision
Roisin (pronounced Rosheen) - meaning: little rose
Sinead (pronounced Shinaid) - Irish form of Jane
Siobhan (pronounced Shivawn) - Irish form of Joan
Orla or Orlaith (both pronounced Orla) - meaning: golden
Eavan (pronounced Ee-van) - meaning: fair form
Liadan (pronounced Leedan)- meaning: grey lady
Sorcha (pronounced Sorra) - meaning: bright
Fiona (pronounced Feeona) - meaning: white shoulders

Welsh suggestions:
Angharad (pronounced AnGARad) meaning: much loved
Arianwen - meaning: silver white
Kyna - meaning: wise
Nerys - meaning: lady
Rhiannon - meaning: nymph, goddess
Tegan - meaning: doe
Taliesin - meaning: radiant brow (normally a boy's name, but I think it would be a lovely girls name)

Hope this helps

Avatar for tuffykenwell
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 09-02-2005 - 5:33am

Just commenting on some of the names and suggestions that jumped out at me...


Isla...I do like that one :) I do however have IRL friends with a daughter named Ayla which has the same pronunciation...do you think that would be confusing?


Roisin...I think its pretty but honestly every time I see it my mind wants to say Raisin LMAO!!


Arianwen...Niamh came THIS close to getting that name (seriously!) But we decided that even though it is actually nearly phonetic that too many people couldn't wrap their heads around it (still love the name though!)


Finuala....actually my all time favorite girls name is Fionnuala but DH absolutely refuses and his mother and Aunt got tipsy one Thanksgiving and started making fun of it (mispronouncing it as Fi-doola...WTH is the D in that name I ask you??) And even though that makes me want to use it anyway just to be spiteful ;) the fact that DH doesn't like it means I won't


Maeve...*my* pick from our top four names for Niamh (which incidentally were Niamh, Maebh, Deirdre and Fiona) was Maebh...which is pronounced the same as Maeve. I just think Niamh and Maebh are a bit too similar in sound (though I do love the name!)


Fiona...it got kicked of the list last time due to the Shrek following..I can't see it getting reinstated anytime soon.


Áine was an early pick for Niamh but I realized there are an AWFUL lot of babes with that name (with its various spellings...Anya, Anja et al) so it got booted ;)


Lachlan...love it but don't like how it sounds with DHs last name (too many l's and k's....) so won't ever use it.


Nerys...I just think that given that it is a Trek name (with a very different pronunciation from the Welsh version) that it wouldn't work...plus we have a strict no alliteration policy :)


momma to

Rhys, Niamh, Isla and Deirdre!

Avatar for haarlasr
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Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 09-02-2005 - 2:53pm

Steph, sorry if offended you by questioning your TTC plans. I just see you as such a superwoman with babies that I figured you were a superfertile superwoman, too. :-)

I think Isla is beautiful, and I guess the confusion with your friend's DD depends on how much you see them. Is it every day? Once a month? Also, the girls would be at least a few years apart (don't know how old your friend's DD is), so I think you could find a way around the confusion if you truly love the name.

Arianwen is pretty, and it would have the benefit of a simple nn (Ari/Aria) if she ever wanted to go with something a bit shorter.

So, what about Deirdre? Is that still on your list, or is that a no-go, too?

Anyway, good luck TTC! I *am* what you'd call a fertile Myrtle (although no sign of AF yet), so I'll sprinkle all my baby dust in your direction for now. :-)

Stephanie w/ Megan Joy (6/6/03) and Julianna May (11/10/04)

Avatar for tuffykenwell
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Fri, 09-02-2005 - 3:06pm

No offense taken :) I can't imagine having my babes actually 18 months apart...that would exhaust me LOL!

Steph momma to


Rhys - May 17, 2002 http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/r/rhyscw/

momma to

Rhys, Niamh, Isla and Deirdre!

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