Irish names are some of the most beautiful in the world, and also some of the most stressful to choose, because half of them aren't pronounced the way they look. Here's how to think about it.
The pronunciation question
If you're outside Ireland, your child will spell their name for strangers their whole life. That's not a reason to skip an Irish name, millions do it gracefully, but it is something to choose with open eyes.
Easier wins
Names where spelling and sound match reasonably well: Liam, Finn, Nora, Erin, Maeve, Ronan, Declan, Brigid, Cian (KEE-an), Tadhg (TIGE).
Worth the spelling-out
Genuinely gorgeous names where the spelling won't be obvious: Aoife (EE-fa), Niamh (NEEV), Saoirse (SUR-sha), Caoimhe (KEE-va), Sinéad (shin-AYD), Eoin (OH-in).
A note on respect
Irish names belong to a living culture. There's no requirement to be Irish to use them, but if you choose one, learn the pronunciation properly and don't anglicize the spelling to make it "easier." That's the part that lands wrong.
Browse Celtic names in the library.