Reply to Saoirse or Niamh?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm surprised people are so unfamiliar with these names, but I went to a Jesuit college so maybe it's just my social circle. I don't think they're more unusual than any number of "unique" ethnic names I've been exposed to since moving to DC.
I like Saoirse better, but both are great names.[/quote]

I think the problem is not so much that they are more unusual as that they are less phonetic.  Of all the people I have known with Asian or African first names, only one has had a name whose pronunciation is as far from what it appears to be as some of the Irish names (and even so, half the Asian-Americans I know go by an "easier" nickname anyway because people have such a hard time with their given name).  Celtic spelling is just really different from English spelling.  I love some of these names, but they are definitely going to be challenging for people to pronounce correctly, so if that's a concern, plan accordingly.

[b]I think it is just your social circle.  FWIW, I went to Catholic school for a significant chunk of my education, and I have never known a Saorise or even a Siobhan (although I've taught lots of Shavonnes).  I have a friend who went to Catholic school for almost her entire education, including six years at Notre Dame, and I always tease her that I can't keep her friends straight because they all have Irish names, but even her friends all have the more common Irish-American names like Erin and Shannon.[/b]  [/quote]

Interesting. I'm the PP you quoted. I went to school with three Siobhans and know two others. Two of my friends have named their babies Saoirsie. It must just be me. 
OP, I still think they're beautiful names and you should go for it although the PP makes valid points about spelling issues. I believe Saoirsie may be a little more familiar (from my own anecdotal experience but I've also seen it on Nameberry more often). There's also an actress with that name. So it's still the name I'd choose 
[/quote]

NP - I think it is your circle too I was surprised by your comment about people knowing these names. I grew up just south of Boston in a big Irish-American family, filled with similar families in our neighborhood and town and attended Catholic school and have never heard or seen Saoirse or Niamh. [/quote]

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