Hello Swistle,
I had the names picked out for our first two children before my husband and I were even engaged. Our oldest, Francis Theodore (known as Frankie) was named after his paternal grandfather and my grandfather. Theodore came from a beloved uncle who had passed away around the time I became pregnant. Our second, Cormac Peter is named after an author we both adore and Peter comes from my father. Our surname is McHugh and these names blend nicely with the Irish last name. My husband’s first name is very traditional Irish and coincidentally so is mine and together we sound like a cast of characters from a Frank McCourt novel.
But now, baby three comes along and it’s a girl and we are flummoxed. My background is Scandinavian and often times names are taken from nature. My great-grandmother was named Aurora and the aurora borealis is one of my favorite things in nature, but my husband is less than enthusiastic. I am also drawn to memorable literary characters such as Regan (too popular?), Brett (from Hemingway) and even Austen after Jane.
Or should we pick an Irish name to keep it cohesive? My husband is drawn to the Irish names: Sinaed, Tristan, Aelish. Together we like: Saoirse, Brigid, Nora and Delaney. We live in a town where Irish names are popular and very common, but I worry this will make her name blend rather than be unique.
I also like the sound of masculine/androgynous names for girls such as Aidan and Roan/Ronan.
For a middle name we will likely use Elizabeth or Anne after our sisters.
We have time, baby doesn’t arrive until May. Oh May, that’s another great name!
Please help!
I’m going to browse in the Celtic section of The Baby Name Wizard, so it is likely I will be mentioning Welsh and Scottish names as well as Irish, but perhaps that would do. Or perhaps it would be a startling clash, and I would be cheerfully oblivious. Well! Won’t it be fun to find out!
Before checking this section, I’d thought of Carys—but perhaps that is too close to Cormac, or too many hard-C/K sounds in the sibling group. Frankie, Cormac, and Carys. No, I kind of like it, especially with the hard-C sound in your surname. Carys McHugh.
I like Brigid/Bridget a lot. I have a Bridget in my circle and I find her name so fun to say.
I think Delaney is great, too, and that’s another one I’ve been able to test out because of having a Delaney in my circle.
Until recently I would have been more nervous about names such as Saoirse, but then my daughter had an Aoife in her class and it seemed to work out fine. I’m sure she has to spell/pronounce it for people pretty regularly, but in an area with heavy Irish name-usage it may not be as difficult.
I think Nora is so good, especially with your surname, but I think you would be disappointed by its popularity (#36 in 2016), especially since it is also used as a nickname for the relatively popular Eleanor (#41 in 2016).
I would add to the list:
Emlyn; Emlyn McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Emlyn
Fiona; Fiona McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Fiona (possible initial issues: FAM or FEM)
Gwendolyn McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Gwennie (possible initial issues: GAM or GEM)
Maeve McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Maeve (similar to May)
Merrigan McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Merrigan
Rory McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Rory (similar to Nora) (possible initial issues: RAM or REM)
Teagan McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Teagan (similar to Tristan)
But I also like the idea of turning to the Scandinavian heritage this time; it seems as if the Irish has been well-represented. And it’s fairly common to have style differences between the boy names in the family and the girl names, and Francis/Frankie doesn’t hit my ear as Irish, so I don’t think it would seem as if she were the odd one out. I’m looking at Nameberry for some Scandinavian options, but I don’t know how to pronounce most of them and that’s making it difficult. Well, here are a few I thought might work:
Birgitta McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Birgitta (similar to Brigid) (possible initial issue: BAM)
Bridgette McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Bridgette (similar to Brigid) (possible initial issue: BAM)
Dahlia McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Dahlia (possible initial issue: DAM)
Jensen McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Jensen (possible initial issues: JAM or JEM)
Kallan McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Kallan (similar to Celtic name Callan)
Malin McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Malin
Nessa McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Nessa (possible initial issue: NAM)
Viveca McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Viveca
I like even better the idea of finding a nature name from your Scandinavian family tree: if Aurora isn’t quite right, then another name like it.
I like Bridgette for you from Swistle’s list, it seems to have a lot of the boxes checked.
What about another nature name? I like Wren for you, as it seems to fit nicely with your kids names, but you could have the idea (if anyone ever questions it) that you went with Irish names for boys and nature names for girls.)
I think any Bridget variant (I do like Brigid!) would be perfect! You’ve got saints by that name from both Ireland and Sweden, for example :) I’ve heard the nickname Bridie for it which I think is adorable!
Kristin also has some Scandi cachet and also has the hard c/k sound. Frankie, Cormac, and Kristin.
Anika/Annika is cute and could serve as an honor for Anne if they wanted to go that route! Same with Hanna.
I like their style! I think they have chosen cute, distinguished, timeless names thus far and I’m sure their daughter will be no exception :)
Okay well this isn’t exactly unbiased considering this is MY name, but Annie is SO Irish and Annika is SO Scandinavian, and Annika nicknamed Annie/Anni (happens often anyway) could be a good hybrid!
Lennox
Rowan
Elowen
Elm
Willow
Linden
Linnea
Lark
Thora
Ylva (I have no idea how to pronounce this, but it means she-wolf in Old Norse)
Aveline
Keelin
Killian
Liadan
Niamh
Riordan
Ooh yes Linnea – perfect!!
Aurora called Rory! Your hubby gets the Irish nickname, you get to honor grandma and a gender neutral nick name to boot!
Carys is a perennial favorite for me. I also love Brigitte, and I think Brett could be a legit nickname.
But Aurora Elizabeth! Frankie, Cormac and Rory!
Exactly what I thought too!
Aurora nn Rory is perfect, satisfies both
You have many great suggestions, and if your boys are any indication, you’ll choose another wonderful name for your daughter. A few other suggestions that may (loosely) fit into one of your “boxes”:
Maren (I live in a Scandinavian area and only hear this pronounced like the “ar” in “arm”, but some people say it differently)
Amalia
Anneliese (Annie)
Clara/Klara
Esther/Ester
Natalie/Natalia
Winifred
Jordana
Marian/Marion
Irene
Skye
Cedar
Opal
Coral
Oh I love Irish names! I have a niece named Saoirse in a very NON Irish part of the U.S.! It caused a stir in the family at first, (one of the grandparents bemoaned it very loudly and rudely) but overall it’s a beautiful name and well worth a little spelling annoyance. Besides, her (and your) last names are fairly easy to say and spell, which helps cut down on the annoyance.
Other suggestions:
Rosalie – it has a bit of a lilt to it that would go well with the Irish names
Linden
Greer
A beautiful Irish name that is rare but established, relatively easy to spell and say, and feels androgynous (but technically isn’t):
Liadan
Pronounced LEE-a-din (some places say LEE-din, but this is incorrect). I think it’s wonderful with your boys’ names and your surname. It’s the name of a poet in Irish myth.
I think Aurora with the nickname Rory would be a wonderful compromise. You’d get a meaningful name that you like, and your husband would get the Irish vibe he wants.
I also like Swistle’s suggestions of Fiona and Maeve. I also love her suggestion of Carys and agree that the hard C/K sounds sound quite nice together.
Lilias is the Scottish form of Lillian & offers Lily as a nickname. The nature inspired nickname would be a nice nod to the Scandinavian nature name tradition & Lilias will continue a general Celtic (if not specifically Irish) theme.
I met a family with all Irish-named kids. The boy was Cormac, and his sisters were Regan (ree-gan, not ray-gan), Larkin, and Kinsale (a place name).
For you, I like Larkin, because Lark is a bird/nature, and the name is Irish. It also has the c/k sound like Swistle mentioned.
Frankie, Cormac, and Larkin.
Or, on Irish place names, Charley Boorman (from Long Way Round with Ewan McGregor) has a daughter called Kinvara.
Frankie, Cormac, and Kinvara.
I also second @Jd’s suggestion of Aurora, nn Rory. It makes a lot of sense.
Oh, and I also liked Swistle’s suggestion of Merrigan.
Some nature names:
Clementine
Daphne
Coral
Dove
Fern
Fleur / Flor
Flora
Hazel
Ivy
Jasmin / Yasmin
Iris
Snow
Lilium
Magnolia (Meg, Maggie, Nola, Mia)
Laurel / Laura
Opal
Pearl
Luna
Primrose
Robin
Rosemary
Sage
Sol*
Stella
Swan
Rosethorn
Topaz
Willow
Winter
Rowan
*Sol: literally “sun” in Portuguese and Spanish; Sol (mythology), a Roman sun god; Sól (sun), a Norse sun goddess.
Freya or Thora
Like the Annika/Annie suggestion, I suggest Unn/Una/Oona. My family is a Scandinavian and Irish blend, and this name really works for us for our daughter.
Luna Elizabeth.
So many great options above, so I’ll just share the ones I thought were best!
From Swistle:
“Gwendolyn McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Gwennie (possible initial issues: GAM or GEM)”
– Gwennie McHugh?!?!? *HEART EYES*
“Maeve McHugh; Frankie, Cormac, and Maeve (similar to May)”
– Genius! Fits month of birth, Irish name and fits with siblings
From WhalesAndAnchors:
“Larkin” – yes! I think this sounds SO good with sibling names, and has the nature tie-in, and cute nickname Lark. It seems like this should be too much K sound, but it sounds just right to me, I think because all the names are still distinct from each other. Frankie, Cormac, and Larkin.
I love Brigid.
I also like the suggestion of Annie/Annika. My daughter is named Ann, and it’s one of those decisions that just repeatedly makes me happy every time I think about it. (My other daughter’s name is May…which also makes me happy on a fairly regular basis and you should totally keep in consideration – are you a fan of Louisa May Alcott by any chance?).
Or maybe you’d like Idony? That’s one of my all time favorite names, which is slightly Scandinavian but not so Scandinavian it doesn’t fit with Francis and Cormac.
But I’ll also point out that in describing both of your son’s names, what seems to matter to you is not the Irishness but the significance of using either family names or names of authors you admire….so I think you should probably take that into account going forward too. If the next family member or author you want to honor leads you to a Scandinavian, vanilla English, or surnamy name, any one of those is going to fit in just fine with your family.
I don’t think there’s any need to choose an Irish name this time around, although I really like Brigid. I recently heard the name Maren and thought it was pretty – turns out it’s Danish, so might that work for you? It sounds sort of last-name/androgynous to my American ears. I like Maren McHugh very much! (Pronounced either rhyming with Erin or with the first syllable in Margaret.)
What about Brynn? It’s Welsh, and again not overly feminine.
For my babies by the time I got to number three I was happy to embrace a theme because it made it soooo much easier to narrow down names. However, I don’t think that Francis and Cormac locks you in to Irish names. To my ear the association between Francis Theodore and Cormac Peter is not Irishness but ‘Popular Saint/Religious/probably Catholic’. With the next name you can either lock that in or change it so that would be up to you and your personal affiliation.
I assumed Saint is what you were going for (purely because amongst my children I have used two of these names exactly for that association). If so a search of popular Scandinavian Saints turns up Bridget and Helena. Bridgid/Bridget is both Irish and Scandinavian and a particularly wonderful name (where I live the nn would be Bridie. The irish form of Helen is Eileen but I prefer Helen or Ellen.
Francis, Cormac, Bridgid…. Frankie, Cormac, Bridie
Francis, Cormac, Helen…
Francis, Cormac, Ellen
Or May called Maisie (is that too scottish?)
Francis, Cormac, Maisie
If you really want to embrace the Irish then of course there is Mary
Francis, Theodore and Mary McHugh (nickname May/Maisie)
Actually, since we share two boys’ names I’ll suggest one of my daughter’s names: Wyn
Frankie, Cormac and Wyn McHugh
I just came across the name Clancy and it made me think of this thread, it’s an Irish name and I think could work well for a little girl, Frankie, Cormac & Clancy!
I also love the suggestions of Aurora with the nn Rory, and Carys.
My favorite Skandinavian girl names are probably Linnea and Sunniva (“gift of the sun”). I also vote for a name from our lineage/heritage this time around!
What about the name Cara/Kara? It would be the perfect blend for those of Irish/Scandanavian heritage!
Cara is considered an Irish name as it is the Gaelic word for friend.
And
In Norse mythology Kara is a valkyrie who chooses the warriors who will enter Valhalla.
Kara Elizabeth perhaps?
Kara McHugh is a great name!
Good luck!
From your list I really like Brigid. I know a Brigid with the nickname Biddy. Biddy McHugh! Cute!
Bridget (Bridie) is nice too. In fact, I really like the sound of Bridie McHugh.
What about Orla? 😊
I like the suggestions of using Rory with Aurora (love Aurora), Annika, and Rowan. I also wanted to suggest Astrid. Not sure the actual origins but I consider it in the same vein as Annika. I love Irish names but I understand the desire your to honour your heritage. Are you tied to Elizabeth or Anne as the middle? Perhaps one of the names could be Irish and one could be Scandinavian? You can’t go wrong, really. Good luck!
Concurring with many posters that Aurora/Rory would be so perfect and lovely.
I also like all the variations of Brigid, and I think Delaney would fit well also.
I love Swistle’s suggestion of Maeve.
I would like to add Matilde (or even Marta) and Anneliese (or second Anne/Annie/Anna).
Or maybe Tove would work? Unique, Scandinavian and not super feminine sounding. Tove Elizabeth.
Francis/Frankie, Cormac and Tove.
I love, love, love Tove (Toe-vuh). Marte/Marta was actually my camp name! Maren (I prefer Mar like Margaret) and Marit are also beautiful and very scandi.
– Love Aurora nn Rory. My mouth has trouble making the ror sound, but that’s just me.
– Neve. Anglicized spelling of the Gaelic name. Has a nature theme since it means snow.
– Marita. Scandinavian version of Margaret. Love the nn Rita with your boys’ names. I’m also a sucker for alliteration in names.
I have always loved the name Rory but didn’t use it for any of my 3 sons because i too find it difgicult/awkward to say. Ironically I now have a wee grand daughter with the name Rory Grace.
My boys all have Russian first names, after my husband’s heritage, whereas our sole girl has a German first name, after mine. I actually quite like the mix of cultures. Do you prefer Irish or Scandinavian girl names more? I would say that’s the crux of that decision. For me, I couldn’t stand Russian girl names, so going the German name route was a no-brainer.
So many great suggestions! My favorites for you (more or less in order) are:
Una
Bridget/Birgetta–any variant, okay, maybe this is tied for first
Nessa
Kiera/Ciara/Kara/Cara
Fiona
Do you have any family surnames that would work well as a girl’s first name? I like the Aurora/Rory compromise in theory, but I too find Aurora difficult to say. Good luck!
My husband’s Irish aunts are Debra, Moira, and Katrina. Grandma’s named Sarah. I know the storm has made Katrina anathema for a long time but depending on where you are, it might be okay now. (We call her Auntie Trina, by the way)
Aisling (or Aislin, though the -ing is more traditional), pronounced Ash-ling. It is an Irish language word meaning dream or vision. In the 17th and 18th centuries came to be personified in poetry as the spirit woman carrying the future of Irish culture and independence. Starting in the late 19th century it became more popular as a girls’ name in Ireland as the drum beat for independence intensified. It is now a well known and beloved name in Ireland for dreamy but feisty girls, but nearly unheard of in the US…and even though it’s not quite nature, it picks up a similar feel as Aurora to me. (I have a typically highly unusable academic background in the connection between Irish socioeconomic history and the language. I first learned of this name doing thesis research eons ago and had an instantly positive reaction. This suggestion is a rare and exciting moment of relevance for me, lol.)
Piping in to agree on the loveliness of the Aurora/Rory option, and to toss around a few other Irish names:
Finola (with possible nickname Nola, close to Nora) – more traditional spelling is Fionnuala, but both are used in Ireland. The character in Irish mythology is strong and wise, a caring sister who minds her brothers after they have all been turned into swans by wicked stepmother Aoife.
Emer (also spelled Eimear, but again both spellings are used in Ireland): I was told it meant “glint in the granite”, though I’ve never found confirmation of that. The character in mythology was the wife of the hero Cu Chulainn, and was the almost-perfect woman (except for one time when – legimately enough! – she got jealous).
Fiadh / Fia: this name is getting popular for babies born in Ireland in the last five years or so. Means “deer”.
Iseult / Isolda / Isolde: underused and lovely name of the Irish princess with whom the mythical Tristan fell in love.
Síomha (pronounced SHEE-o-va): means “good peace”. Probable pronunciation issues, but I can’t resist suggesting it as it’s one of my own favourites!
I know Hanna has been suggested already, also as an honour to Anne. The Irish suffragette leader Hanna Sheehy Skeffington used this spelling – and makes a great namesake. Hanna Elisabet, maybe, with a Swedish spelling of Elizabeth to reference your family background?
Eily is a short form of Eileen (and could be considered an Irish form of Elizabeth, though it’s more usually thought of as a version of Helen/Ellen) that pairs well with one-syllable names. Eily-Anne McHugh is unique (probably!) and lovely.
Aurora, nn Rory, seems to really fit your needs quite well.
If you can’t commit to that, I like Bridget and Nora from your lists and also wanted to suggest:
Ingrid
Britta (or even Britton)
Ainsley
Bevin
Or Annika or Anya Elizabeth (to honor your sisters and Scandinavian heritage).
I know an Irish family with a daughter named Ciaran – wanted to add that as an option. I’ve always loved the name.
i love the name ceilidh (pronounced kaylee)
Hadley.
The name of Hemmingway’s first wife and means “heather field.”
Cormac, Frankie & Hadley
Just thought I’d chime in because we also have a Cormac and our next will be Francis/es depending on sex. We love Una if we have a third and it’s a girl! Although the Aurora/Rory combo does also sound perfect for you guys. Good luck, can’t wait to see what you pick.
I love Aurora, nicknamed Rory. My oldest daughter is Rory, and I love it so much. As others have said, it works so well with your sibling set and gives you the androgynous sound when going by the nickname.
What about Sloane? It’s of Irish origin but doesn’t scream traditional Irish, and I think Frankie, Cormac and Sloane McHugh sound great together.
Maeve Elizabeth McHugh! I love it