A mum has been criticised online after a run-in with an Irish person made her realise she doesn’t know how to pronounce her own son’s name – as some have called her ‘cruel’
You can pick any name you fancy for your child – but it’s a good idea to be able to pronounce it.
When it comes to selecting a baby name, the options seem limitless. Deciding between traditional or unique names is just the beginning, as you also have to consider if you want to name your child after something or someone meaningful in your life. Some parents choose to give their children a name that holds cultural significance, particularly if they now reside in a different country than where they were raised.
However, one mum has faced backlash on social media after she named her son in an attempt to “embrace his Irish heritage”. The American mum discussed the name with an Irish individual who was in the US for work, and it quickly became apparent she couldn’t pronounce the name she had given her own son.
In a Reddit post, the Irish individual said they were already apprehensive when the American mum mentioned she “has a great affinity for Irish people” and that her husband “was of Irish heritage”. She then revealed she had named her son after a “great mythological Irish warrior”, which the person found “shocking”.
Initially, they thought the mother was referencing Fionn Mac Cumhail, the mythic Irish hero famed for creating the Giant’s Causeway. However, the mum confessed she was clueless about the warrior and pronounced her son’s name aloud as “Choochalin”.
The Irish person, puzzled by the pronunciation, sought clarification and eventually uncovered the boy’s actual name – Cú Chulainn. It emerged that the woman had been mispronouncing her son’s name all along.
The person recounted: “This is where I should have smiled and nodded. But I didn’t. Instead, I tried to correct her pronunciation. (Coo Cullen is a simplified way). She argued, asking what did I know – Irish people don’t even speak Irish, it’s not a real language. This really upset me.
“I told her that I was literally from a Gaeltacht in the west of Ireland, I speak Irish fluently, and if she was going to give her American son an Irish name, she might as well say it properly.”
Despite the explanation, the mum refused to acknowledge her mistake and insisted on her version, claiming, “Irish Americans, so they have their own way of pronouncing Irish words”.
Commenters on the post were left scratching their heads at the mum’s stance, with many highlighting her dismissive claim that “Irish is not a real language” despite choosing an Irish name for her son. Others accused her and other parents of failing to consider the long-term implications for their children.
One user commented: “These parents never think of their kids and what they’ll have to live with. It’s all about making themselves feel special.” Another added: “Bad choice. I’m sorry for the kid having to explain this his whole life.”
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