1 week to due date - need some suggestions!

Hi all! We are expecting our wee girl on November 11th - Remembrance Day - and DH and I are still wobbling on names. We both have names we like, but nothing feels "right". DH wants to go with the "bring a list to the hospital" formula, but I'd feel more reassured with something a little more solid in mind.

So, that said, here are our caveats:
1. the middle name is decided on: Verity
2. the first name will be Irish (of the hardcore, mind-boggling spelling variety). My phd is in Irish history, so this is non-negotiable for me.
3. our last name is hyphenated: very similar to "Grant-McKay"

On our list so far:
Aoibheann ("EE-van") - my favourite - I actually called baby this for 5 months before Dh vetoed it - he dislikes it, even if using Evie or Eva (Aoibhe) as a nickname

Saoirse ("SEER-sha") - we both love, but has been mutually vetoed because of its thorny political connotations

Sorcha ("SOR-ha") - means "clarity", which creates the meaning "clear truth" with Verity. ALso, has some of the same sounds as
Saoirse, without the baggage

Saorlaith ("SAIR-la") - again, picking up on the sounds in Saoirse. DH is drawn to "S"-names in general,

Laoise ("LEE-sha") - similar ending to Saoirse, and incorporates DH's brother, Lee. I worry it will lose its personality by being confused with Lisa and Alicia.

Eibhleann ("AYV-lan" - the closest compromise to Aoibheann - but worry it sounds like the too trendy "Avelynn"

We both like Niamh and Caoimhe, but the "V" sound blends in too much with Verity.

So....any suggestions or thoughts? I'd especially welcome any obscure Irish names that flow well with our mn & ln. Like I said, we're down to the wire on this one, and some reassurances would help so much!

So, that said, here are our caveats:
1. the middle name is decided on: Verity - Love it!
2. the first name will be Irish (of the hardcore, mind-boggling spelling variety). My phd is in Irish history, so this is non-negotiable for me.
3. our last name is hyphenated: very similar to "Grant-McKay"


I don't know as much as you do about Irish names, so I will just think about how the name looks and sounds.


On our list so far:
Aoibheann ("EE-van") - my favourite - I actually called baby this for 5 months before Dh vetoed it - he dislikes it, even if using Evie or Eva (Aoibhe) as a nickname - I love the sound of it. I wouldn't want to have to spell it all the time.

Saoirse ("SEER-sha") - we both love, but has been mutually vetoed because of its thorny political connotations - Since I live in California, I don't know what the political connotations are.

Sorcha ("SOR-ha") - means "clarity", which creates the meaning "clear truth" with Verity. ALso, has some of the same sounds as
Saoirse, without the baggage - This is pretty sounding and easy to spell, so I love it!

Saorlaith ("SAIR-la") - again, picking up on the sounds in Saoirse. DH is drawn to "S"-names in general, - lovely sound, interesting spelling, not as easy to spell as Saoirse.

Laoise ("LEE-sha") - similar ending to Saoirse, and incorporates DH's brother, Lee. I worry it will lose its personality by being confused with Lisa and Alicia. - Yes, I agree that it sounds very similar to Lisa and Alicia.

Eibhleann ("AYV-lan" - the closest compromise to Aoibheann - but worry it sounds like the too trendy "Avelynn" - I wouldn't know.

We both like Niamh and Caoimhe, but the "V" sound blends in too much with Verity. - Yes, that would be a problem.

So....any suggestions or thoughts? I'd especially welcome any obscure Irish names that flow well with our mn & ln. Like I said, we're down to the wire on this one, and some reassurances would help so much!

I love
Clodagh - but I wouldn't know if it's cool.
I'm sorry, I don't know what else to suggest. If you think of more, I could talk about how they sound.
There are a lot of Celtic names that I love in a book, but I don't know if they're Irish, Welsh, or Scottish. Let me know if you want me to list them for you.

My favourite Irish names for a wee girl is Roisin which was the obvious first thought for me..
I also love Siobhan, but you have the v-sound blending with Verity again, so I guess no...
Orla (or whichever of the complicated spellings is the original) is also wonderfully pretty!
Orla Verity
Roisin Verity
Both sound very good to me!

I also really love Eithne, mostly for her fiery meaning, and maybe she'd be a good replacement for Sorcha since fire often represents purity which would get a 'pure truth' meaning ^^

I don't know too many obscure Irish names, my expertise lies in Scandinavian names ^^
I did check the blog for Irish names, and here's what I got:
Ailbhe
Aoife
Blathnaid
Eabha
Clodagh

Eabha and Aoife might me too close to Ava though? At least that's my thought from the pronunciation help I found...

Good luck agreeing!

Hi there, think Verity is a lovely name.

Well Aoibheann to me is pronounced as Aveen and Sorcha can either be Sor-ic-ca or Sore- sha.

I'm not too keen on some of them but here's a few that came to mind that I think are quite lovely with Verity and your surname, hope it helps:)

Aoife Verity
Aven Verity* (fair radiance also)
Caitlyn Verity (pure)
Ciara Verity
Cliona Verity (pronounce Clean- na)
Eavan Verity (evan)
Finola Verity (fin-ola)
Nola Verity
Maeve Verity (too many v sounds maybe)
Muriel Verity
Noreen Verity (Norr-ian)
Nuala Verity (New-la)
Oona/ Una/ Oonagh Verity* (all pronounced ooh-na)
Riona Verity* (Ree-ona)
Sinead Verity (shin- naid)
Siofra Verity (she-fra)
Tara Verity

"Sorcha ("SOR-ha") - means "clarity", which creates the meaning "clear truth" with Verity."

Of your original list I would pick Sorcha because, as you pointed out, it has some of the sounds you are drawn to yet fewer pronunciation and spelling issues. It's also not too long with your hyphenated last name, none too brief either, and goes well with Verity. I like some of the other more traditional suggestions like Finola, Muriel but am guessing those aren't unusual enough for you.

A few ideas, just in case you are still looking,
Sabina
Riona
Tallulah/Tuilelaith
Tanith
Catriona
Decia
Eithne (ET na); (EN ya)/ Ethenia (eh THEE nee ah)
Finella/ Fionuala
Imogen
Liadan (LEE dan) (accent on the a)
Mairead (MAH raid)
Muireann (moo eer ahn)
Nolana
Seanan (SHAY nahn) (accent on the a)
Saraid (sor id)

Good luck!

You have stumped me when I think of Irish names the most unusual one I know of is Siobahn, and it is lovely, otherwise for me it is a bunch of Kathleens, Colleens and Marys.

Thanks to all for the suggestions - many were on our long list, which we might have to go back to if nothing "sticks" upon her arrival!

@aklein - thanks for the advice re: pronunciations. I think the problem is my lack of skill with phonetic spelling - I share an offie with a fluent Irish speaker (she's an instructor, actually), so I've got the pronunciation right in my head, just not on paper. The "ch" in Sorcha is especially tricky to convey. As far as I know, Aoibheann is always said with a long "E", as is the Anglicized form Eavan. But this is based on the Ulster dialect, which can vary from southern ones.

We considered Roisin, as Rose is a traditional name for DH's family, but our actual last name is very "R" heavy, as is Verity, so ultimately it didn't flow. So Riona is out as well.

We're not fussy about the long, complicated spellings - in the case of Sorcha it's simplicity is just a bonus.

Sinead was also a consideration - it's the Irish form of my mom's name, Janet. I like the idea of Seanait, an unrelated name meaning "little hawk" which is pronounced very like Janet. DH and I know too many Sinead's and Siobhan's IRL, and Aoife is lovely but has been "claimed" already by a friend.

Siofra and Siomha have also been tossed around, but feel a little "light-weight" to me, despite their lovely meanings. Kind of in line with Sheena, Shayna, and Shayla IYKWIM. Of course, DH really like s those. NMS, however.

So we're working with a lot of constraints - which makes me appreciate everyone's help so much more!

Final question (and thanks for indulging a long post): of the following, which work, in your opinion?

Sorcha
Seanait
Saorlaith

Aoibheann
Ceibhionn ("KAY-vin")
Eadaoin / Etain ("AY-deen" or "ee-DAYN") - variations of the same name.

Of the names you just posted, my favorites are:

Sorcha Verity Grant-McKay
Saorlaith Verity Grant-McKay

And out of those two, my first choice is Saorlaith.

However, I LOVE the name Aislinn and think that Aislinn Verity Grant-McKay is absolutely beautiful!! That would be my pick hands down if it were in the running.

Saorlaith is gorgeous!

I love Sorcha. It would fit a lady of any age. It seems like a name for a beautiful, independent woman.