Grainne / Irish names

[Liberty Belle]

I love the name Grainne and was wondering if anyone knew if it were a popular name in Ireland right now or if it were considered dated or old fashioned.

I know we have a poster here named Grainne, but I can't remember her user name.

For those who don't know, it's pronounced "GRAWN-yuh".

 

[Anne34]

Never heard of the name. It is pretty, but be prepared for lots of people saying "grain". I think that would bother me. It is really hard picking out names that our not overused, but still nice.

 

[Disney Ella]

I would be one of those people pronouncing it "Grain."

 

[mickeywho?]

You found me! I guess I'm the diser-Gráinne (unless there's another one out there!!)

I've only run into 2 or 3 of the same name growing up. And yes - it was mispronounced by everyone!! I always hated the first day of school or the sight of a supply teacher because I never know what they would call me. Of course, I went to school with a lot of Mary, John, Barb, Carol, Lisa type names so I really was the only one in those days. I think it's a lot more common now to have an uncommon or even just uniquely spelled name. I know I sometimes have a hard time with pronounciations when I volunteer with kids.
As far as how common/uncommon it is in Ireland...
It depends on where you live - it's definitely very popular in the South West. On my last trip there I visited the area it originated for the first time and everyone knew how to pronounce it - and said it so musically!
I have a lot of family on facebook (we're from the North of Ireland) and all my cousins seem to have at least a few friends with the name. Some with slight changes to the spelling - and their ages range from early twenties to late thirties - so it doesn't seem out of date there.

And the many ways I have to endure how it is pronounced....
grain, grainy, granny, grown, growny, grawn, grawny, .... I could go on and on.....

It can be annoying...but everyone remembers me! And when someone does pronounce it correctly they usually say - "I knew a Gráinne in highschool, dance class, church......"

 

[dawson5]

I've seen it spelled Grania. I assumed it had to be some form of it. I read a book by that name years ago:

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/l/morgan-llywelyn/grania.htm

Google searching both variations, seems like they are pronounced the same.

*edit different meanings with the spellings though.

 

[happygirl]

I would be one of those people pronouncing it "Grain."

Me to LOL

 

[Liberty Belle]

You found me! I guess I'm the diser-Gráinne (unless there's another one out there!!)

I've only run into 2 or 3 of the same name growing up. And yes - it was mispronounced by everyone!! I always hated the first day of school or the sight of a supply teacher because I never know what they would call me. Of course, I went to school with a lot of Mary, John, Barb, Carol, Lisa type names so I really was the only one in those days. I think it's a lot more common now to have an uncommon or even just uniquely spelled name. I know I sometimes have a hard time with pronounciations when I volunteer with kids.
As far as how common/uncommon it is in Ireland...
It depends on where you live - it's definitely very popular in the South West. On my last trip there I visited the area it originated for the first time and everyone knew how to pronounce it - and said it so musically!
I have a lot of family on facebook (we're from the North of Ireland) and all my cousins seem to have at least a few friends with the name. Some with slight changes to the spelling - and their ages range from early twenties to late thirties - so it doesn't seem out of date there.

And the many ways I have to endure how it is pronounced....
grain, grainy, granny, grown, growny, grawn, grawny, .... I could go on and on.....

It can be annoying...but everyone remembers me! And when someone does pronounce it correctly they usually say - "I knew a Gráinne in highschool, dance class, church......"

Thank you! Very interesting.

I think we're probably done having children (though I would love a girl ), but I've always just loved your name so much. Maybe if I get a girl kitty she can be called Grainne!

 

[bumbershoot]

After giving DS an Irish name, and wondering if it was popular, I found that google was helpful. I found that there's a singer with his name (spelled correctly, unlike the way DH strongly requested we spell it), and others. So it's nearly unheard of in America, but it's still alive and well in Ireland. (though along with leaving off the second N, I'm so afraid that when we visit Ireland we'll find out we've been saying it wrong)

So googling Grainne, after the wiki and baby name site that talk about an Irish legend involving a woman of that name, you can see some Grainnes that are online. Hey, there's a gorgeous Irish TV presenter with that first name, for instance.

 

[mickeywho?]

Thank you! Very interesting.

I think we're probably done having children (though I would love a girl ), but I've always just loved your name so much. Maybe if I get a girl kitty she can be called Grainne!

Well it would be an honour to share it with your cat! LOL

We couldn't agree on any girls names when I was pregnant - good thing we had 2 boys.
My mom really liked the idea of naming me after a pirate - enemy of Queen Elizabeth - a bit of a rebel in her family. Of course, my 2 brothers and sister all have irish names too....just a bit easier to spell and pronounce. Kevin, Conor & Fiona never had problems in school!

I wanted irish names for my kids - but I did try to make it easier for them. My eldest is Ciarán (we've met a couple in recent years and teachers seem to be fine with it) and Declan (seems more unique than his brother's but you can't really mess it up)

Oh ...and the doggie is Molly!


off to google...!

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

Igrainne was on my list of names for my DD. I love it, but went with something else.

 

[nephthys43]

I love Irish names. My favs are Aoife and Orla. My next puppy may be Aoife.

 

[Sparx]

I'd pronounce it as "grain." sorry.

 

[SaraJayne]

I love Irish names. My favs are Aoife and Orla. My next puppy may be Aoife.

That's my doctor's name! She's Irish.

 

[Mermaid02]

When I worked in a pediatric office a couple came in with a new baby- Siobhan. They came to the window and I said, "This must be Siobhan (Sha-Von)" and the parents were ECSTATIC!

I think it's a lovely name- might be hard to find pencils with her name on them- but it's a pretty name!

 

[harleyquinn]

When I worked in a pediatric office a couple came in with a new baby- Siobhan. They came to the window and I said, "This must be Siobhan (Sha-Von)" and the parents were ECSTATIC!

I think it's a lovely name- might be hard to find pencils with her name on them- but it's a pretty name!

I have a co-worker with that name. I rarely see her, and I always have to think really hard to remember how it's pronounced.

The other night American Idol was on and DH said something about this "chick with a normal name who spells it totally weird." It was Siobhan!

I think Irish names are beautiful when spoken by someone Irish (or who at least knows how to say them), but seeing them in print throws me for a loop. I just can't wrap my mind around how bh=v. I can deal with Si=Sh, but Sio should be Sho not Sha.

But I'm an English grammar nerd.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

English grammar has nothing to do with Irish.

Teaching people to properly say one's name is not such a bad thing. Yes, they'll get it wrong (and they often do mine) but I usually just say, "close!" and correct them.

Often, people ask... "how do you pronounce/say your name?"

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I love Irish and Celtic names, as well. My last name is very Irish, and I wanted to use Irish names for my boys, but chickened out b/c of my family and their opinions. They already told me that they dislike the name we picked out for a girl (assuming we have more kids, and that we have a girl). I had picked out Eleanor with a nickname of Ella... but they all hated it...

I love both Siobhan and Grainne!

 

[harleyquinn]

English grammar has nothing to do with Irish.

Obviously!!

I just mean, I look at it from that perspective and it's hard for me to make those letters make those sounds.

 

[walden]

I love both those names, but having a hard to pronounce and frequently miss-spelled first name myself wonder whether you know the years of misery your child will experience with an *odd* name. I have to spell my Gaelic name out countless times, endure so many mispronounciations, and that does not even acknowlege the computer *corrections* of my name and the countless mail addressed to Mr. *name.* It all takes time to correct. Especially when a credit card is issued in the phonetic or computer corrected name.

And my real name is not Walden! My advice to parents is to go for Jane, John, Mary, Peter, David or Elizabeth! Pity your child and spare him or her the hours.

Just as a matter of interest from other victims (friends):
Grainne -- I mostly hear that pronounced as *Gronya*
Siobhan -- My very *born in Ireland* friend pronounces it as *Shivawn*
Sinead -- pronounced *Shinade*
Saraca-- pronounced *Sorcha*
Catriona -- pronounced *Katrinka*

And the list goes on . . .

Ian: Eeyan or Eyeon
Sean: Seeon or Shawn.
Sian (welsh): Shan or Seeanne.

It is a curse. Just saying . . .

 

[Imzadi]

For those who don't know, it's pronounced "GRAWN-yuh".

The very fact that YOU know you have to post the pronunciation should be a sign it's a difficult name.

I had to call someone's cell phone today. A guy I was meeting with today had his wife pick me up at the train station. He emailed me her name, which was very unusual, with no pronunciation for it. To say I was peeved at trying to guess how to say her name when I called her, is an understatement. She paused in answering when she heard her name being massacred, wondering if I was really calling her.

My advice to parents is to go for Jane, John, Mary, Peter, David or Elizabeth! Pity your child and spare him or her the hours.

It is a curse. Just saying . . .

I don't have an unusual name in real life, but I have to spell it every time I say it. I can't imagine the aggravation people who have been cursed with a hard to pronounce & spell name go though, having their names always butchered one way or the other.