Saoirse - Which pronunciation (or mispronunciation) will we run into most frequently?

[Anonymous]

I'd say sigh-erse

This will not end well.

[Anonymous]

Oh god

[Anonymous]

Say-Or-See

[Anonymous]

Say oh er see

[Anonymous]

I love Irish, I'm learning to speak it, but this thread has my laughing so hard.

Truth is OP, it will be butchered by people who have to read it, and by people who first see it in writing before hearing it. People who hear it first, will think the spelling is weird when the eventually see it in writing, but will thereafter associate the spelling with the correct pronunciation. So most people will butcher it until they get really used to it.

[Anonymous]

I am so Irish, but I never lived there and have no idea how to say this name. Once you tell me how to say it, I will remember. But I will butcher the spelling over and over again.

How about using it as a middle name?

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm familiar with the name so I know how to pronounce it, but not many people will. They will butcher the name--think Say Oh Ris ey as an example (and not even close to the way the name is supposed to be pronounced). Honestly, I would not use that name outside of Ireland. However, I happen to think it's very pretty.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't even guess. I'd just stare at the paper with raised eyebrows and wait for the child to speak up (and she would speak up because it wouldn't have been the first time it happened).

[Anonymous]

Swar-See? But honestly, I wouldn't even try.

[Anonymous]

There are thousand ways to butcher that name, and the correct pronunciation will not come to anyone who doesn't already know what it is.

[Anonymous]

Unless you're planning to relocate to Ireland by the time she's old enough for school, I wouldn't do it.

[Anonymous]

It looks like "Say-orse"

[Anonymous]

Sour urse

[Anonymous]

Say-or-see

No idea!

[Anonymous]

Sireesha is an Indian name that sounds similar and with less tortured spelling. Plus ethnic cred.