Cormac

[Namingbaba]

Thoughts on this name?

I’m Irish and where I live it’s pronounced Cor Muk. It definitely won’t work with an English accent.

If English people can insert an intrusive ‘r’ into drawing, making it ‘drawring’, they can manage Cormac.

Sounds like a tarmac company.

You'd think so but while they can say Ellaranne they can't say Orla.

Really nice name, but much better pronounced with an Irish accent.

If I’d had a boy he would have been Cormac!

I like it but I'm a Scot.

They could, but they probably won’t as it’s not their usual pronunciation.

The intrusive r occurs between vowel sounds, doesn’t it?
It wouldn’t happen naturally with Cormac.

Where do you live OP?

Thought that was the name of a road surfacing company.

My first thought too! Like the name though

But they won't, because the rules of the non rhotic accent are rigidly applied. If any non rhotic speakers try to pronounce the R as it should be pronounced it will come across as an exaggerated 'rolling' or the sort of R sound they make when doing an American accent very badly.

I'd still choose Cormac as it's a gorgeous name.

Like Cormac Mc Carthy, what's not to like ?

Found out recently that he was originally Charles.

A really impressive rain coat.

Sure, but better than Cawmac and Awla.

I'm Scottish so not to worry the r will be pronounced 😂even if it's not exactly the same as the Irish pronunciation. I can see some people emphasising the mac part but also could see some pronouncing it more like how it is in Ireland.

Thanks for all the replies. I don't mind the associations people have brought up such as chocolate or the name of a business as they don't seem that obvious and strong to me.

I think I also first came across the name with the author Cormac McCarthy as there aren't really any men with that name where I live. Also, through searching about the name I found out his actual name is Charles but he has Irish ancestry hence why he chose the pen name. I don't mind that association either as he's a good writer.

I recently came across a child with the name at my son's nursery and thought for the first time that it's a really nice name.

Someone said it's popular in Scotland but that might just be the impression you get where you live as looking at the national records there were was no Cormac born from 1974 to 1997 then 2005 had the highest number born with 18 baby boys named Cormac. That's just with this spelling there might be variations.

Hurray for rhotic pronunciations of Cormac!

Cormac McCarthy (whose work I find a horrendous gloomfest, personally) is supposed to have adopted Cormac so as not to be confused with a famous ventriloquist’s dummy called Charlie McCarthy,😃

Reminds me of a waterproof coat brand.

Many many moons ago I went to school with a boy called Cormac McCormack!

I’ve just tried a load of times and I can’t pronounce an r in Cormac without it sounding really forced and ridiculous like I’m trying to do a pirate impression. I think it’s better to pronounce it naturally than sound like I’m mocking the name. I don’t say drawring either though.

What about ‘lawrandorder’ or ‘AfricarandIndia’? I am fascinated by the intrusive r in non-rhotic accents.

I like it

Yes I say it in both of those. It’s similar to liaison in French I guess.

That’s memorable to say the least. I’ve heard worse name combos.

Know of one & like it.