I like it, but since it's (1) not American and (2) has an alternative Irish pronounciation that people might be more familiar with, you just have to be okay with spelling it and teaching people how to pronounce it EVERY SINGLE TIME you meet someone new.

My daughter has a Gaelic name which we pronounce how it looks because Faelic names can be annoying-- I have one of them myself. If you do it use the Irish pronounciation since it is easier and more familiar. When people ask my daughter's name I do tell them what it is in Irish but that we are American so we use the American pronunciation.

I prefer the name Merrit

I think it's pretty.

I easily learned how to say and spell my childhood best friend's last name (Magaha). People will learn your daughter's name too.

I've never heard that pronunciation before. Like others, I've always heard it pronounced to rhyme with parade. I've known about a dozen Maireads, here and in Ireland.

I grew up with a Mairead. She pronounced it to rhyme with parade. Mu-RADE. I can't really wrap my mind around the other pronunciation since I have known this one all my life. I can tell you that she had to explain the pronunciation and spell her name for people constantly.

I'm familiar with the Irish pronunciation as well (Mah-rayed). I like the Scottish.

In Ireland, it is pronounced Ma-raythe.... like PP said, rhyming with Parade (and it's pretty popular). I've never heard the Scottish pronunciation, but I like both

I have never heard or seen that name before, OP. It is certainly a beautiful name to look at!

Mairead MacKenna

Mairead MacDonald

You will have to pronounce it for people like me, however.

I love it - it is my daughter's name! In my experience, you pronounce it correctly once for people and they get it. But I have always had to pronounce it (outside of Scotland).


Also some Irish pronounce it to rhyme with "parade".

At first, I'd say no. However, honestly, we've all learned to pronounce Siobhan, so if you love it - use it!

I am Irish-American and I love the idea of it. You probably will have a lot of people mispronounce it, though. I am a "Maura" and there are a lot of people unfamiliar with Irish culture and so-forth who even mispronounce this name.

The child will be constantly telling people how to pronounce her name; my first thought on the pronunciation was something like mar-i-ad (combination of mary and myriad?).

I find Gaelic names particularly challenging to pronounce...

I would have no idea how to pronounce it if I was just reading it. Are you okay with saying, then spelling, the name for all eternity? Also correcting people when they say "May-reed" or "My-reed" or "My-red" instead? Bc you will be doing that forever and ever amen.

It is pronounced "MY - rit". The Scots Gaelic version of Margaret.


What do you think? We have a three syllable Scottish (Mac) last name.