A helpful guide on how to correctly say our most popular ainmneacha.
With an ancient language as old and as rich as ours, it would stand to reason that we would have our fair share of colourful names and titles connected to our mother tongue.
Whether you’re planning a visit to the isle of Éire or trying to sharpen your Gaeilge, here are ten Irish names that you may be pronouncing incorrectly.
10. Dearbhla – ‘derv-lah‘
A mix of the names Dearbháil and Deirbhile, many people make the mistake of calling people “deer-blah” if they are not familiar with the sounds of Irish Gaelic.
Originating from the phrase “daughter of the poet,” it dates back to the file, a class of poets that existed in Scotland and Ireland during the Renaissance.
9. Fiachra – ‘fee-ya-crah’
Commonly found in Irish folklore, this name dates back to ancient pre-Christian Ireland. Incorrectly pronounced as “fiyah-churah”, it is a popular name for boys in this country.
With different meanings depending on the dialect of Gaelic, it either means “raven” or “king of the battle”
8. Áine – ‘awh-nyah‘
Used as a girl’s name in Ireland, it is a title as old as the language itself. Sometimes mistaken with “Anne” or “Annie,” it signifies radiance and has its own place in Irish mythology.
Unlike the previous entries, the use of the fada on the first letter can often confuse newcomers to our language. With fada being the Irish word for long, it broadens the sound of the vowel it sits above and makes the sound longer.
7. Saoirse – ‘seer-shah‘ or ‘sur-shah’
While one of the more complicated names for non-natives to grasp, Saoirse is a word deeply connected with Ireland’s fight for independence. It is arguably one of the most important words in the language itself, as it literally means freedom.
Our very own Saoirse Ronan has undoubtedly had to listen to many different mispronunciations of her name on her travels, with the most common being “Sah-oar-see” or “Say-or-See”.
6. Tadhg – ‘tai-g‘
Sometimes spelled as Tadhgh or Tadgh, this boy’s name can often be read as “Tag” or “Tad-ig” by mistake. Its origin is in the south of the country, in the province of Munster.
It means “storyteller” and “poet,” with other variations appearing across countries with Celtic or Gaelic culture. It is certainly one of the hardest-to-pronounce Irish first names.
5. Ciara – ‘key-rah‘
An old Irish name dating back over 1,500 years, the feminine name Ciara means “dark-haired one” and has many variants in other languages and cultures around the world.
It will sometimes be misinterpreted as “Sierra” or “Sigh-rah,” but because of the international version of the name, these mistakes seem to be few and far between.
4. Dáithí – ‘dah-hee’
A name which can be misread as “dite-tee”, Dáithí is an older Irish name that is still commonly used for naming boys in Ireland.
Famous Dáithís include TV presenter Dáithí Ó Sé and Irish musician Daithí Ó Drónaí. The use of fadas and the spelling of the name generally depend on where in Ireland they originate from. This is because certain counties or provinces pronounce names and words differently from others.
3. Órlaith – ‘or-lah‘
Frequently spelled as Órla, it is a feminine name that means “golden princess” and is one of the more common names given to girls in recent years.
Depending on the spelling, it can be mistakenly pronounced as “ar-lay” or “orl-lite” but is also one of the easier names to explain to those unfamiliar with Gaelic pronunciation.
2. Caoimhe – ‘kweev-ah‘
Another name for girls, Caoimhe is a name that many travellers or tourists have struggled with when visiting from abroad.
The most common mispronunciation is usually “cay-um-hee,” and the correct version usually takes a few tries. The anglicized variant Keeva is a good way of phonetically teaching it to others.
1. Aoibheann – ‘ay-veen’, ‘ee-vun’, ‘ee-veen‘
Popular for girls in Ireland, this name has a deep history with Irish mythology and medieval Irish history. It dates as far back as the medieval period and was often attributed to those high-born or noble people.
Quite possibly one of the most difficult to pronounce for first timers, it can be read as anything between “abe-hee-yan” and “ay-yo-bean”.
