Orla Obrien - too irish

[vickyob]

DS has choosen Daisy as a middle name so it would be Orla Daisy O'brien. We arent Irish so no accents to deal with. This is the only name DH has suggested that I dont hate or is too popular (Olivia, Emily etc)

[moondog]

Yes-sounds like an alcoholic flower seller in Angela's Ashes.
So it does.

[tartyhighheels]

Yes far far far too Irish - also the O and O is a bit much too

[LynetteScavo]

It's lovely!

My friend as a DD called Orla, and their surname is Irish, even though they are not really Irish.

Orla is a beatiful and underused name, IMO.

[padraig]

Didn't know there was such a thing as sounding too Irish

I'm more or less ambivilent on Orla. I like it but not massively.

[sobloodystupid]

"far far far too Irish", what does that mean?

[debaronz]

I think people will always be asking you "so what's the Irish connection?"

[mathanxiety]

Not a bit too Irish (whatever that means). And sorry, if your surname is O'Brien, then you're probably Irish somewhere.

Orla is nice. It's not a bit Angela's Ashes -- names like Orla, Niamh, etc. became popular in Ireland only in the 60s during a time of Irish pride/cultural revival. Back in the Angela's Ashes days it was all Biddy this and Ita that (and Angela).

[5DollarShake]

Love the name Orla.

Don't think that + O'Brien is 'too' Irish, whatever that means...

[vickyob]

Obrien is my married name and the irish conection is about 8 generations back so not irish really. Infact my GP are Irish so Iam more than him iykwim.
I didnt mean too irish in a negative way I didnt mean to offend {blush} its just when I said I liked Patrick for DS a few people said it was too irish and made them think of a lepraucuan (?)

[chipmonkey]

Very few leprechauns are actually called Patrick though.

Is being Irish a bad thing? Better get my coat, so.

[vickyob]

Not a bad thing at all just more than 1 person said this so I wondered if other people had preconceptions about a name. Ive seen OP where they said not to use the h=name Heidi unless she was going to be blonde and stunning

[APassionateWoman]

What on earth is 'too Irish'?

It is an Irish name, yes, O'Brien is an Irish surname. Orla (or Orlaith) is Irish.

[caen]

If you've got an Irish connection (which you have) go with it. It's a lovely name. Very Irish but not in comedy way you're fearing.

[vicbar]

Thank you caen its the comedy connection I fear. I was unsure when I posted this but Im liking it more and more.

[chipmonkey]

But Heidi, the book character wasn't blonde!She had dark curly hair.

[Takver]

I think its a great name. And I think its fantastic that it is just fine these days to have an Irish name in Britain in a way that sadly it wasn't when I was a baby (my parents rejected names that were distinctly Irish because they were worried about anti Irish racism).

[vicbar]

I know !! - I thought I'd just remembered it wrong. but the Blonde thing keeps coming up. weird.

[DecorHate]

I love Orla but am not keen on names ending with a vowel with an "O" surname. That does rule out a lot of Irish girls names though...

[padraig]

OMG THAT IS WHAT CONFUSES ME

Ok so my actual name is patrick. HOW is that super super Irish? I mean I know Saint Patrick etc but I mean come on, it's not like Padraig or Darragh or Finbarr or Tiernan or Teague or Eamonn!!

OP - sorry, am coming accross from another thread with this (was off topic but I mentioned that when people hear my name is Patrick they immediately assume I'm Irish, despite most Patricks I know having nothing to do with Ireland)!

[scottishmummy]

like orla but not combined with daisy

[MaisietheMorningsideCat]

There's another Daisy there for you too, Padraig

It sounds as if you have Irish heritage, but wth? Orla is a gorgeous name - would have loved it for DD, but DH vetoed it

[scoutliam]

Gorgeous name.

[shivster1980]

I have an Irish first name and two Irish parents but my Dad had a very disappointing surname (in terms of it not being 'Irish enough' ) I always dreamt I would marry a man with an 'obvious' Irish name...and I didn't I married a Devonian. (but he is bloody lovely though so I will let him off!)

Orla is a lovely name IMO.

[Rockbird]

Lovely name, love Orla/Orlaith. It does sound Irish and people may ask but so what.

[vicbar]

Padraig - I love the name patrick, great nn's and a real classic name which Id used it. I dont know what the irish thing with it is othe than St Patrick (was he actually irish or adopted as the partron saint ??)