How to say Saoirse
- In Ireland: SEER-sha.
- What it means: “freedom” in Irish.
- Famous Saoirse: the actor Saoirse Ronan, four-time Oscar nominee, born in New York and raised in Ireland.
- Common mistakes: “Sore-see”, “Sa-oyr-see”, “Sersha” with a hard “s”… she’s heard them all.
It’s one of the most beautiful names in Ireland, and one of the most mispronounced in the world. So who better to explain how to say it than Saoirse Ronan herself?
So how do you pronounce Saoirse?
In Ireland, Saoirse is pronounced SEER-sha. The first part rhymes with “beer”, and the second part sounds like the end of “inertia”.
The spelling throws people because Irish uses different spelling rules from English. In Irish, the letters “aoi” together make an “ee” sound, and an “s” next to an “e” or “i” usually sounds like “sh”. So “Saoi-rse” becomes “SEER-sha”.
Saoirse Ronan has said that she sometimes says it slightly differently, closer to “SUR-sha”, when talking to American audiences, and that both are fine. In Ireland, though, you’ll hear “SEER-sha” almost every time.
What does Saoirse mean?
Saoirse is the Irish word for “freedom”. It is a fairly modern name, used as a girl’s name since the 20th century, and it has been one of Ireland’s favourite names for girls for decades.
Who is Saoirse Ronan?
Saoirse Ronan was born in The Bronx, New York, in 1994, to Irish parents, and moved back to Ireland with her family when she was three. She grew up in Dublin and, for a while, in Co. Carlow.
She has been nominated for four Oscars: for Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women. Along the way she has patiently taught talk show hosts, journalists and fans around the world how to say her name, and in doing so she has probably done more for Irish names abroad than anyone. Don’t miss Saoirse Ronan singing Fairytale of New York.
More Irish names people get wrong
- Niamh: NEEV.
- Siobhán: shiv-AWN.
- Aoife: EE-fa.
- Caoimhe: KEE-va.
- Oisín: uh-SHEEN.
- Tadhg: TIGE (rhymes with “tiger” without the “r”).
For many more, see our guides to Irish girl names and how to pronounce them and Irish boy names and how to pronounce them.
Saoirse FAQ
How do you pronounce Saoirse?
SEER-sha.
What does Saoirse mean?
Freedom, in Irish.
Is Saoirse Ronan Irish?
Yes. She was born in New York to Irish parents and grew up in Ireland.
How many Oscar nominations does Saoirse Ronan have?
Four: for Atonement, Brooklyn, Lady Bird and Little Women.
Featured photo: Saoirse Ronan at the How I Live Now premiere, by Ross, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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