Well, congratulations!

That's where middle names come in. Certainly don't rush. Let it incubate, and let it be something tasteful -- you've heard of idiot parents who name their girl Robin Banks and the like; bad news if Robin picks a career in finance, no? And it looks like you're steering clear of the Cleopatra Apostrophe Jones sort of thing, which is good. Home Grown Country names (usually perpetrated by city folk, huh) may be euphonious, but that's all they have to recommend them. I'm expecting some little black girl to show up toting the given name of Apostrophe any lustrum now... at least it's actually Greek...

congrats, radar! you strike me as someone who will be a great daddy.

I didn't know your last name was Ireland.

I've always loved the name Shannon though. Maybe I'll name a cat that someday. :p

How 'bout Ava?

Don't name her Shillelagh. Wolf, you are hinting naughtily! Or is that knottily...?

I went to elementary school with a girl named Shelagh. It's pronounced Sheila, and means you have more pretentious parents than the other three girls in your class named Sheila.

Unless your parents are actually Irish or of recent Irish descent. My Mum's parents (Doyles) specifically chose the English spelling to separate her from the other Shelaghs in the family! Personally I would have chosen another name....?

Funnily enough, Nan (English) liked the name because it couldn't be abbreviated. Famous last words of any parent I think. Granddad still calls her She or Sheel when he's not calling her gel.

The one that still rankles with me is Caitlin pronounced Kate-Lynn. I was at school with a coshleen and I can't hear it any other way in my head if I read it.

(feeling small and scared)

How are you supposed to say Caitlin?

One of my favorite names is Jennifer.

And congratulations, Radar! That's very exciting news!

I'm not being scary am I?
Don't worry - it's the after effect of the stroke if you think I am.

Caitlin was originally pronounced as I wrote it above - Coshleen. Real Gaelic speakers (of whom this girl's father was one) will pronounce it with a wetter sound in the middle, like they know consonants the rest of us haven't mastered yet, but Coshleen is close enough.

I know I'm in the minority now, and it's accepted as Kate-Lynn. It just doesn't sit right is all. Like finding out the American town of Cairo is pronounced Kay-Ro - it takes a twist of the brain to read it with that pronounciation in mind.

No, not scary. I just feel dense for not knowing! I went to school with a girl named Siobbohan (spelling?) and we pronounded it Sha-vohn. Is that right?

I love the Irish names...strange since I am a curious mix of Swiss and Native American et al.


Just...NO Soap Opera names (you know, the ones that all of a sudden everyone is naming their kid and they grow up in a classroom full of Tristans or Stones or Hedges or something.)

I do try not to be too strident about it, because there's no reason people should know Gaelic pronunciation of course....

It would have been Siobhan, and yes, Sha-vohn is exactly right. Although there probably are some Syob-hanns out there somewhere :worried:

I thought it was Chiffon...when you think it's butter, but it's not.

Congrats Radar. The vowell <> vowell rule is a general rule. I'd avoid names ending in A (as in Say) or Uh since moving from that sound to pronounce Ireland is sort of difficult. Names that end in EE are ok since that's an easy one.

My pick is Stephanie. Like Ireland, it has 3 syllables, its kind of regal (to me, anyway).

Coming in 2nd is Lee Ann - or, as a nod to your wife's heritage, Li An.

What a joy for you two. I'm happy for you guys.

Go through books and lists as a couple, its good fun and eventually something will grab you both. Nina is a great name for a pretty little girl.

I think you'd like my girls' names. :)