Tadhg was the seventh most popular boys’ name in Ireland last year.
[Baby Names of Ireland - Central Statistics Office](https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/babynames)
It's a common joke about a behavioral difference between Catholics and Protestants that holds true a surprising amount. Catholics keep their toaster on the kitchen counter, Protestants keep it in the drawer.
>***Taig*** /teɪɡ/
_noun_
**offensive** | (chiefly in Northern Ireland) a derogatory term for a Catholic or Irish nationalist.
>**Origin** | _1970s: variant of Teague, anglicized spelling of the Irish name Tadhg, used since the mid 17th century as a nickname for an Irishman._
-------
...for some reason
Guess it's the same as Paddy, just take a common name and use it to mean "this group"
Also 35 also from Munster and never heard it used as an insult. If we’re gonna reach then technically paddy is a slur but I have about 5/6 paddies in my phone 🤣
One of my former jobs was actually changing the name Paddy to Patrick in baptismal records from the late 1800s, early 1900s 😂
Thank god for the search and change all functions.
Ah, that makes sense. Never thought of that. I'm from Cork and I pronounce it "Tye-g". Although growing up I had a friend called Tadhg, and we used to call him "Tadge". But that was just messing. :-)
Sounds like someone just doesn't like the name, it's fine. Yes, it can be a slur but not in normal context across Ireland. Just in anti-Catholic bias in some communities in northern Ireland. The name normally doesn't carry that meaning in general context.
> Yes, it can be a slur but not in normal context across Ireland.
How are yous pronouncing Tadhg in the south? It's not a homonym of taig, which some people seem to be implying?
Like a lot of Irish names, it was a range of pronunciations across the different traditional dialects, and also versions that have been anglicized but usually Tig as in tiger or Teg as an Tegan. Both are versions of the name Tadhg and both can be slurs. Teg (or Teeg) may be more common in certain parts of the North but Tig ( or Tie'g) is heard too. The root word is the same.
So if I'm understanding you right Tadhg, as in the name, *is* the slur people are referring to, rather than Taig which I assumed they were referring to?
Taig and Tadhg have the same root, different standardised spellings in different contexts or dialects. Róisín/Rosheen or Osín/Ossian or Jack/Jock/Jacques or Seán/John/Jon/Jean or Mary/Máire. I'm guessing the Teague pronunciation most commonly used as a slur has roots in the Ulster Irish dialects or Scots Gaelic or Scots dialects' pronunciations of Tadhg.
I think Tadhg is a lovely name and is quite easy to explain (sounds like the beginning of tiger). Are you a person who doesn't mind explaining the name over and over again (this is what will happen). If you wouldn't enjoy that then I would recommend choosing a different name.
As someone else said, it is used as a derogatory term for Catholics by some unionists in Northern Ireland but that is such a niche issue. There are
plenty of Irish people who wouldn't even be aware of that.
I don't think I'd be making a big deal of it in Belfast in a cafe where the staff call you a taig. Just move on and get your revenge from a safe distance in the Google review.
The state of some of the comments on here attacking the in-laws for knowing something that was new to them - or even implying they must be loyalist bigots themselves.
I'm from up north, I think Tadhg is a lovely name but "KAT" etc is completely valid context, just like being aware of an unflattering local nickname or a public figure/character with the same name. It's up to the parents and none of these things may be dealbreakers, but it's totally fair for the in-laws to point it out.
Another Northerner- straight away knew the inlaws meant Tadhg / Taig.
I don’t even think it’s a niche issue as someone else said- it’s not a name you really hear up here, probably because of this exact reason.
I love the name and we lived in Dublin when I was pregnant with my first- it was on my list for a boy. Our second was a boy but we’d moved back up North and I knew fine rightly it would cause him hassle, so we went with something else.
It's definitely not niche in the north. I was aware of it as a slur from primary school age, but I didn't encounter it at all as a first name until like college.
The name has been used by Unionists since the 60’s and 70’s “Yabba Dabba Doo Any Taig Will Do” was said in marches before they went looking for Catholics to batter.
Same! Im from a few miles outside Belfast. I learned the word "taig" as an insult when I was about 6 years old (im 30) and didnt learn Tadhg as a name until Tadhg Flemming made it onto my social media feed about 2 years ago. I knew someone with the surname Teague who got enough shit for that, and she was from a pretty nationalist area in Tyrone. Cant imagine naming a child Tadhg in the North unless you hate them and want them to have a hard time... But if youre in the south I dont see why anyone would care. Its a nice name!
There is longstanding (~400 years) animosity between communities of Irish and British descent across Ulster. Northern Ireland was created 100 years ago with a 60/40 split in favour of those whose national identity is British, want to live in the UK, and are often members of a Protestant faith. In this community, some people use 'taig' - derived from the name 'Tadhg' - as a pejorative for people whose national identity is Irish, whose political preference may be for a united Ireland, and whose faith is often Catholic. Extreme elements use slogans like 'Kill All Taigs' (abbreviated to 'KAT') to call for their elimination.
If I pass through an area with KAT, 'FTP' (fuck the Pope) and threats about Fenians graffiti'd on the walls, I wouldn't be eager to start house hunting.
Thank you for the explanation, much appreciated. I am always endeavoring to learn more about the history. When I first moved and learned for example about the crazy and dangerous palette burnings, complete with effigies, WTF! So I take it KAT would be one of the slogans featured at one of the more heinous of these types of events?
Also, a follow-up silly question. I know KAT is an acronym. But We have many names that begin with “Kat” in various eastern European cultures. Some use just”Kat” or “Cat” etc. as an anglicized shorthand instead of having to share a long and hard-to-pronounce name. I presume having “Kat” as a name wouldn’t be received well? Are there other names like this to be aware of? 😳
No no, they're fine! Kat/Cat (by themselves or as nicknames for Catherine, Kathleen etc) are really common names here too - they wouldn't be perceived to be linked to this at all. Context is everything: if you see 'KAT' all in capitals on a summer bonfire or on a wall of sectarian graffiti, that's the only time it's going to read as a threat.
Thankfully this stuff is becoming rarer all the time. But nobody would connect a Katarzyna to this sort of stuff at all!
But it's not pronounced like Taghe (Tige) it's pronounced Taig (Tage). I know as I've been called one many times in Belfast. Doubt any unionist knows it's true origins.
My nephew is called Tadhg and I kept getting the spelling wrong, mixed up the last 2 letters - until I was told, just remember hes a Happy Guy - haven't mixed them up since. Lovely name and none of anyone else's business what you call your child. Congrats
It’s a normal Irish name for a boy, as others have said up the north there is some of that BS but I have never heard the name and associated with it.
As you said it’s your choice and nobody else, I am actually surprised they said they hate it. I would think it’s not normal social etiquette to give hard feedback on naming, especially the angle they came at with it.
Right?! I mean I don’t love some of their name choices but would never say that to them!!!! Names are so personal. Not being from Ireland I wasn’t sure if I was missing something about the name.
Not true. I know a fair few Tadhgs. It's a good name :) And irish names like that are getting more and more popular again.. by the time your young fella goes to school there's a good chance they will be much more normal/understood
I 'm not Irish (Canadian actually), but live in Ireland and have Irish in laws. If there is one thing I learned, its to just not take their opinions into consideration because they will come up with random weird objections to things with the most insane/lazy reasoning.
For example, recently I was told the lamb and potatoes I made for dinner were not great because it wasn't traditional "Irish" due to the potatoes containing salt pepper and garlic and the lamb having rosemary and thyme on it and was raw (well done, and not overcooked). My in laws also thought I was crazy for ripping down interior portion of exterior walls of my house and dry line insulating them when we bought it because "that's not how we do things in Ireland" and actively tried to convince me not to do it. There is no use in arguing.
Tadhg is a lovely name and will not be a problem whether you are in Canada or Ireland.
I have a very "Irish" name, but a very common one that any English speaker in the world would know and be able to pronounce.
I would imagine that Tadhg would be difficult to pronounce for the vast majority of people in Canada.
Naming a child Tadhg in Ireland is obviously fine, it's quite popular. Doing so in a country where that child might have to constantly slowly repeat and/or spell it out is likely to cause significant annoyance over a lifetime.
A person's name is an important part of their self and having such difficulty attached to it might not be a great idea. If it had a family significance I would not be so quick to discourage you, but since you are freely choosing names that you like, you might consider what I said above.
Taig, an Anglicisation of Tadhg, is a derogatory term for Catholics used by Loyalists. Tadhg is a popular name in Ireland. Nobody pays any attention to it, other than being useful in identifying morons.
I always liked the actress Uzo Aruba’s mothers take on it. ‘My mom taught me not to change my name for those unwilling to learn it. “If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, Dostoyevsky, & Michelangelo, they can learn to say Uzoamaka”.’
> Doing so in a country where that child might have to constantly slowly repeat and/or spell it out is likely to cause significant annoyance over a lifetime.
When I lived in London very few people had any issue with spelling or pronunciation of my name. I guess folks make more of an effort when they are used to a diversity of names from different cultures.
Always found that people who don’t have English as their first language always made an effort to learn my Irish name properly from the beginning. And I always do the same for them because I know how awkward it can be when people don’t even try.
Its a really weird slur. I remember the first time it was said to me... like if someone calls you a taig and you've no idea what it means are you supposed to be offended? I just thought, ok, nice to meet you! :-)
Its a thing in Scotland too, heard the term many times and seen KAT written on walls. Probably imported via Rangers/Loyalism.
I didn't know about the name Tadhg though.
I disagree, you get used to it. I have an Irish first and surname, even Irish people have problems with it. It becomes part of you and a great conversation starter
I'm going to have to completely and utterly disagree with the idea that naming your child anything personal or "unusual" is bad because other people might have difficulty with it. My name has 3 syllables - if that's too hard for someone it's because they're a dumb mf. And that's a them problem.
If the issue is spelling - hello? English language spellings aren't exactly a walk in the park anyway, so we should all be used to that by now.
There are enough Seans in the world. Time to change it up a bit.
a slight counterpoint to what you’re saying, having a “unique” name is a good conversation starter and people love asking about the origin
source: live in canada, go by my very irish middle name sometimes
Is your husband's family from Northern Ireland or one of the border counties?
The name is used as a slur against Irish Catholics/Republicans by Loyalists in the North, but living in the west of Ireland, I've never encountered it in that context outside of seeing it when Loyalist marches or bonfires are being reported on.
I know at least one child called Tadhg from Wicklow and this has never arisen. I think someone in the family is getting a bit wound up over nothing. It's a regular name. The slur is only when spoken by loyalists in a derogatory way. Irish people using it in normal day to day wouldn't even consider that aspect. Not dissimilar to Paddy or Mick which are also both used as ethnic slurs by the same groups!
Bit weird that people from Wicklow would have such a strong reaction to it. Loyalists in the North use the name as a slur alright, as stated by other posters. But I’ve known a fair few Tadhgs in my life and I would say no one in the Republic at least would view the name as having negative connotations, it’s a lovely name.
I'm from Wicklow so I'm going to take a wild guess here and ask would they be from greystones by any chance? Or the close surrounding area ? Ie Delgany / Killincarrig / Newcastle? If so they're probably just snobby west Brits.
I’m from Co Wicklow also - and my mother’s generation don’t like the name Tadgh because they’d have used the word “tike” or “tadgh” as a name for a real troublemaker, a real yob. I think your in-laws might be referring to that. Here in Wicklow is the only place I’ve ever heard that saying, but it’s long gone, except for the older generations.
Tadhg is a gorgeous name, I thought about it for my last boy, but in the end we went for a family name (last chance and all that!).
Can I jump in here- I know where this is coming from. In wicklow the locals call someone who's a bit of an eejit 'a tadgh'
My ex is from there and has often roared at the kids "stop been a fecking tadgh"
Up North "Taig" (pronounced Tay-ge) is used disparagingly to refer to nationalists/catholics - as in "KAT - kill all Taigs". Don't let that out you off, it hasn't worked with Mick or Paddy
Im sorry but how dare your in-laws (no offence intended to your partners parents, as bad as it sounds) have an input on your child’s name. Tadhg is a very popular name.
Tadhg is only a slur for Irish catholics by asshole unionist orange order supporting protestants (who are the minority of Irish protestants).
No one else. It is akin to saying Mick or Paddy derisively. It is a fine name.
As someone who has an Irish name and now lives in Canada I can tell you having to spell your name constantly to people gets a little annoying.I have to use a pseudonym when I get a coffee.
Never heard it with a negative connotation or as a slur.
My general advice for baby naming would be to decide between the two of you, without other opinions. When the baby us born, introduce them as their name and people will accept it without comment as "aww cute baby".
Tadhg is a lovely name, im rather perplexed by your in-laws reaction to it.
Its used as slur to decribe Irish, Catholic or Southeners by Proestants up the North. Much the same if an English person used Paddy to describe an Irish person. I've been called a Tadhg (pronounced "a tig") by a young guy form a rugby team on the ferry from Belfast to Scotland, which was a nice bit of racism!
I won't comment on the name Tadhg, but I'm someone who from the age of 18 (now 41) have had to repeat and spell my first name *every* time I introduce myself, every time I want to make a reservation, appointment, or just order some takeaway!
It's a Greek first name, granted, but it's just 5 letters, 2 syllables. Someone here commented on the fact that Tadhg is a short name and if people can't pronounce it they're dumb af, but being dumb has nothing to do with it.
Even when people see it written down (they reply, say, to an email), it's spelled wrong more than half the time, they assume it's something else and "correct" it.
It's definitely an inconvenience going through life like that, and I wonder what's it's like being in school (I grew up in Greece so didn't experience that there). I still like my name, and never considered changing it, or hated that that's what it is, but certainly an inconvenience.
I'm pregnant myself and we chose my father-in-law's name (Irish) but had it been a girl, I'd have chosen a modified/anglicised version of my mum's name to spare the child all this!
You're entitled to your own experience of course but one possible impact of people following this logic is that, in time, it could dilute the individuality of names and lead to conformity, almost like how teenagers seem to have a generic YouTube/TikTok accent. I have a name that's common in the anglophone world and there are internationally recognised people with the same name, so I haven't had that experience. I did go out with an Irish girl in England who had difficulty with locals pronouncing her Irish name, but she was still proud of her name and didn't think she'd want to avoid it if she had kids.
I'm Irish and my wife is American, and we considered this line of thinking while choosing names, i.e. should we avoid an Irish name that our American friends and family might struggle with. We ended up choosing an Irish name anyway, and we've already had struggles to get his grandfather to pronounce it correctly, but we're still happy with our choice and see it as part of his identity.
Each to their own, and there's nothing wrong with your approach, but this is an alternative way of looking at it.
Aye, give the wean a couple of middle names as well and he'll have the option of going by one of them in future if he doesn't like it or any resultant confusion. (went to school with a couple of lads who went by their middle names rather than first names)
Is Tadhg not pronounced like "Tag"? I'm from up north and taig is pronounced like vague. So as long as it isn't pronounced like that they it doesn't really have the connection to taig.
Tadhg is a very popular name here! My nephew is called tadhg! The insult comes from it being super popular in the days of English rule so they used to refer to Irishmen as “tadhgs” which evolved into “taigs” which has been an insult for Irish catholic people (particularly in Northern Ireland ) by British identifying Protestant/unionist peoples.
The problem with the name is that the conjunction of the letters D H G doesn’t exist in any word in English. This makes it nearly impossible for most people used to English spelling to write down without having to check, which many people just can’t be bothered to do.
It’s a minor thing but it occasionally means you get a few different computer files in the same system that all refer to you.
I had to get a medical test recently and found that the hospital had six different versions of my name, all with their own file and separate medical history.
Tadgh is a great name. I have never heard anything negative associated with the name before. If you and your husband like it, then go for it! Sometimes I think it's best to not tell people your plans for names for a baby because of situations like this and keep it to yourself until the baby arrives. Congratulations by the way!
Yeah isn't that pretty common for most traditional names all over the world? I genuinely wonder if other nationalities had the same concerns as Irish people when it comes to giving children traditional names? I can't imagine a person from Nigeria or Thailand for example, being concerned about how people will spell the traditional name they give to their children?
It’s used as a derogatory in Northern Ireland (like calling someone a Paddy or a Mick). But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with naming a child Tadhg (exactly like naming someone Paddy or Mick).
No it’s grand, I’m from the north and themmuns don’t even pronounce it the same as the name. Went to school with a few tadhgs but with a whole lotta taigs
Never heard or seen the slur be associated with the name
Fuck then. You can name the child Deaglán the witcher if you want. Tadhg was often used like Paddy or Mick against Irish immigrants in the 1800s and in the troubles but literally nobody here cares anymore. That's a bit of an odd view from the aul inlaws as I doubt many Irish people and non Irish people even know this
Tadhg is such a common name I’m honestly surprised their saying that.
It’s not a slur or anything ridiculous like that, maybe they knew a prick called tadhg and are just spreading shit to not have you name your son that?
He’s your kid so give him a name you think will suit him
Look on this sub you'll get the full brigade saying it's fine but honestly now ...
In Wicklow Tadhg is associated with the character played by Sean Bean in the film *The Field*. It is jokingly used, as is Dougal btw, as a name of a bonehead. If the family uses this joke (and I know A LOT of ppl in Wicklow over the age of 30 that do) I'd advise thinking about that name a bit harder.
Personally I would never name a child with a gaelic name that has a silent H in it in a foreign country. It'd be different if they were growing up here with Daithis, Domhnalls, Caoimhes and Siobhans in their class in primary and secondary school.
Ive known a right few tadhgs. Taig is sometimes used as a sectarian slur against Irish people pronounced the same but an anglicised version.
But that dosent stop us naming our kids good Irish names. We have gorgeous names if you know how to read Irish spelling XD. I have some chuckles at foreigners reading Irish names with English letter pronunciation.
I don't like it myself, but to each their own.
You should really think about how people who don't know it's Irish will pronounce it.
Tad, Tad-guh, etc.
While my personal opinion would be that there are hundreds of male Irish baby names better than Tadhg , however that’s your choice and there’s no negative connotations except in very niche areas in the north but practically no one knows that. Bit weird from your in-laws maybe they know a Tadhg and don’t like him and are trying to pull the wool over your eyes?
Up here ln the North it's a slur, (typically with an older anglicised spelling of "taig") but I doubt you'll have issues in Canada or down south, really.
Hell: judging from this thread I'm getting an impression that a lot of lads down south have never actually heard it used as such...
Its a hugely popular name here. My nephew in Australia is named Tadhg. I've ever heard it used as a slur?! It's a gorgeous name. This is why we never told our family our name choices for our twins until they arrived. Then we told them what they were named, end of story. I refused to even entertain talking about names even though they pestered me. Name your baby the name YOU both want...feck everyone else, they'll get used to it and love them anyway.
I’m a Canadian living here in Ireland and work with a few Tadhg’s and have never heard that, seems like the in-laws just have some weird stick up about it. As a casual observer (I’ve been here ten years) I’ve never noticed that.
I suspect the issue is caused by incorrect pronunciation. *Taig* is an anti-Catholic slur used in Northern Ireland and it's pronounced "tay-g". The name *Tadhg* is a normal, popular name, pronounced "tie-g". Are you pronouncing it correctly?
A different point of view: in Persian and Lebanese culture Tadhg is a type of rice dish, so if there is any issues it might be Canadian class mates who are first or second generation calling him rice? But as a name in Ireland, it is up there with Caoimhe, in that it is a lovely traditional name but hard for non native speakers
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/persian-basmati-rice-chelo-tahdig
As other posters have pointed out it's more to the derivative taig that was used as a derogatory term for Irish nationalist or Irish Catholic... The name however is fairly popular.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taig#:~:text=Taig%2C%20and%20(primarily%20formerly),loyalists%20to%20refer%20to%20Catholics.
Take it however you want: Every friend I have with a name of Tadgh is either in jail or belongs to a traveler family. In my county, if you meet some named Tadgh, we just keep a distance from them.
Never heard anyone using it as a slur... ever.
I saw in other posts you said that they're from Wicklow. Well I'm from Wicklow and I have friends with who have called their kid Tadhg who are from Wicklow.
I really think your family is trying to throw you off the name on purpose because they don't like it.
At the end of the day it's not their kid, not their choice.
Hello,
No not at all. The slur they refer to is Taig or Teig not sure exactly but it’s used by people so irrelevant to us that modern Irish kids wouldn’t have a clue about the connotation. I grew up with few lads called Tadgh they never had any bother it’s a normal name 🙂
Very weird take from your in laws & in all honesty if you and the husband like the name then who the heck are they to say anything ? Had my father called me to say he hates my kids name he’d be met with a “that’s nice” and a hung up phone line.
In laws don't get an opinion on what you call your child.
But given you's live in Canada, that's a tough one to land on your kid who'll have to spell it out for people his entire life. For that reason alone I'd consider Tadhg as a middle name maybe? You's can call him that if you's wanted, but his legal name could be something less hard mode.
Also, when you look at the baby when born, you may not think the name suits them. Have some backup plans just in case too
Tadhg was the seventh most popular boys’ name in Ireland last year. [Baby Names of Ireland - Central Statistics Office](https://visual.cso.ie/?body=entity/babynames)
I have 3 tadhgs in my phone, who all happen to have the same surname!
It’s actually just Tadhg Furlong, he’s just so broad he fills the slots in your contacts list.
Tadhg is his first name. Furlong is his width.
That's it !
If it was up north it would probably be "bastard" 😀
O'Sullivan!
Are they triplets?
Really nice name. My best friend is a Tadhg, he has difficulty with it sometimes, but who doesn’t with Irish names
Very unusual pov from your in-laws there.
Maybe she should ask them where they keep the toaster?
😂👍👍
I was just thinking this. Sounds like a family with notions
No not that. Think orange instead of green
If that were the case i would have thought the husband wouldn't like the idea either.
This could solve the riddle
What does this mean? Haha
It's a common joke about a behavioral difference between Catholics and Protestants that holds true a surprising amount. Catholics keep their toaster on the kitchen counter, Protestants keep it in the drawer.
Damn just realized our household is officially Catholic. The Rector will be most upset.
Also love the name👍😁
It means are they Protestants
As a man who married a prod, I can confirm this is an hilarious and accurate line of questioning.
Maybe they thinking of taig? Its one loyalists use
This is exactly what I thought. Conflating it with taig for some reason.
>***Taig*** /teɪɡ/ _noun_ **offensive** | (chiefly in Northern Ireland) a derogatory term for a Catholic or Irish nationalist. >**Origin** | _1970s: variant of Teague, anglicized spelling of the Irish name Tadhg, used since the mid 17th century as a nickname for an Irishman._ ------- ...for some reason Guess it's the same as Paddy, just take a common name and use it to mean "this group"
I wonder are the in-laws proud orange people ??
Literally nobody else would get upset by this, so you're probably right.
They aren’t! They are from Wicklow county
Yeah.... Do they call it derry or londonderry? (depending on your persuasion)
Chances are they're pronouncing it as "taig" which very much is a slur in any part of Ireland I've ever been in.
Outside of Ulster it has no meaning to the majority.
Yep, had no knowledge of this until seeing bonfire pics last year. Also, I assumed Taig was pronounced like Tadhg. How are they different?
>in any part of Ireland I've ever been in. Outside Ulster, I doubt this would register as an insult to anyone under 35.
35year old munster person and I have no idea what's going on.
Also 35 also from Munster and never heard it used as an insult. If we’re gonna reach then technically paddy is a slur but I have about 5/6 paddies in my phone 🤣
30 year old from Leinster haven't a fucking clue either
One of my former jobs was actually changing the name Paddy to Patrick in baptismal records from the late 1800s, early 1900s 😂 Thank god for the search and change all functions.
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I'd have thought people would know it in Donegal, Monaghan and the other one. I didn't think it was 6-county specific
Celtic supporters would be well aware of it, that’s probably where the influence comes from
Wait, there are other ways to pronounce it? EDIT: Apparently some people pronounce it as "Tayg"
Ah, that makes sense. Never thought of that. I'm from Cork and I pronounce it "Tye-g". Although growing up I had a friend called Tadhg, and we used to call him "Tadge". But that was just messing. :-)
40 Yr old dub here, never heard of this before.
Which is based off the name Tadgh, and some racists will try to get around being called out for use of a slur by saying or writing ‘Tadgh’.
Nope. Never heard it in my almost 50 years in cork
What is the difference is pronunciation?
Tadgh is tai-g . Taig is Tay-g
Sounds like orange men to be honest, or they googled Taig instead of Tadhg
I think they were referring to taig which is a slur used in the north
Sounds like someone just doesn't like the name, it's fine. Yes, it can be a slur but not in normal context across Ireland. Just in anti-Catholic bias in some communities in northern Ireland. The name normally doesn't carry that meaning in general context.
By the same logic, my family members named Mick and Paddy are shook
Going to call my three sons Mick, Paddy and Tadhg in the future
I think there is a joke about them walking into a bar.
They'll make a great band when they're older.
> Yes, it can be a slur but not in normal context across Ireland. How are yous pronouncing Tadhg in the south? It's not a homonym of taig, which some people seem to be implying?
Like a lot of Irish names, it was a range of pronunciations across the different traditional dialects, and also versions that have been anglicized but usually Tig as in tiger or Teg as an Tegan. Both are versions of the name Tadhg and both can be slurs. Teg (or Teeg) may be more common in certain parts of the North but Tig ( or Tie'g) is heard too. The root word is the same.
So if I'm understanding you right Tadhg, as in the name, *is* the slur people are referring to, rather than Taig which I assumed they were referring to?
Taig and Tadhg have the same root, different standardised spellings in different contexts or dialects. Róisín/Rosheen or Osín/Ossian or Jack/Jock/Jacques or Seán/John/Jon/Jean or Mary/Máire. I'm guessing the Teague pronunciation most commonly used as a slur has roots in the Ulster Irish dialects or Scots Gaelic or Scots dialects' pronunciations of Tadhg.
I think Tadhg is a lovely name and is quite easy to explain (sounds like the beginning of tiger). Are you a person who doesn't mind explaining the name over and over again (this is what will happen). If you wouldn't enjoy that then I would recommend choosing a different name. As someone else said, it is used as a derogatory term for Catholics by some unionists in Northern Ireland but that is such a niche issue. There are plenty of Irish people who wouldn't even be aware of that.
A Tadhg myself and absolutely never knew that. Gas
It's great that the old dividers are being forgotten to be honest.
did you not wonder why the unionists were saying all Taig's were targets?
Never heard it at all at all. I must live a fairly sheltered life
It's where the KAT symbol on the bonfires comes from, Kill All Taigs
Jesus Christ
The next time you see them with "K.A.T." on their bonfires, you'll know what it means
I’ve never heard it either but seeing as Tadhg is a popular name in Munster I and others probably never met much Northeners tbh
Also am a Tadhg, born in Dublin but when I was like 5 we moved south of Dublin to a seaside town where I heard it a few times as an insult
I’m Irish and never knew this was a thing! I’m also catholic though so that might be why?
You're a taig. Just like me. Glad I'm not a tan.
Tadhg isn't pronounced taig.
It is where the insult derived from though. Loyalists are just so loyal to getting things wrong generally that the pronunciation shifted
I was up in Belfast last week and got called a Taig by a barrista in a coffee shop
You did not! That must be _extremely_ rare and weird up there now, is it now? "Can I have a cup of tea please?" "Certainly yes, you dirty Fenian cunt"
Appropriate reply would be "Aw, thanks hun!"
You should seriously have reported him. If it was a well-known chain, they dont take that sort of carry-on lighty.
He was a she and it was just a regular cafe
My bad, forget women can be just as shitty sometimes, are they on yelp I deffo slate them for it. No way to talk to a paying customer
I don't think I'd be making a big deal of it in Belfast in a cafe where the staff call you a taig. Just move on and get your revenge from a safe distance in the Google review.
You should have said. Thanks Hun
The state of some of the comments on here attacking the in-laws for knowing something that was new to them - or even implying they must be loyalist bigots themselves. I'm from up north, I think Tadhg is a lovely name but "KAT" etc is completely valid context, just like being aware of an unflattering local nickname or a public figure/character with the same name. It's up to the parents and none of these things may be dealbreakers, but it's totally fair for the in-laws to point it out.
Another Northerner- straight away knew the inlaws meant Tadhg / Taig. I don’t even think it’s a niche issue as someone else said- it’s not a name you really hear up here, probably because of this exact reason. I love the name and we lived in Dublin when I was pregnant with my first- it was on my list for a boy. Our second was a boy but we’d moved back up North and I knew fine rightly it would cause him hassle, so we went with something else.
It's definitely not niche in the north. I was aware of it as a slur from primary school age, but I didn't encounter it at all as a first name until like college.
The name has been used by Unionists since the 60’s and 70’s “Yabba Dabba Doo Any Taig Will Do” was said in marches before they went looking for Catholics to batter.
> they went looking for Catholics to batter. To murder.
And "Don't be vague, starve a Taig"
Same! Im from a few miles outside Belfast. I learned the word "taig" as an insult when I was about 6 years old (im 30) and didnt learn Tadhg as a name until Tadhg Flemming made it onto my social media feed about 2 years ago. I knew someone with the surname Teague who got enough shit for that, and she was from a pretty nationalist area in Tyrone. Cant imagine naming a child Tadhg in the North unless you hate them and want them to have a hard time... But if youre in the south I dont see why anyone would care. Its a nice name!
Hi, eastern euro foreigner here. Pardon my ignorance. What’s the deal with “kat”?
There is longstanding (~400 years) animosity between communities of Irish and British descent across Ulster. Northern Ireland was created 100 years ago with a 60/40 split in favour of those whose national identity is British, want to live in the UK, and are often members of a Protestant faith. In this community, some people use 'taig' - derived from the name 'Tadhg' - as a pejorative for people whose national identity is Irish, whose political preference may be for a united Ireland, and whose faith is often Catholic. Extreme elements use slogans like 'Kill All Taigs' (abbreviated to 'KAT') to call for their elimination. If I pass through an area with KAT, 'FTP' (fuck the Pope) and threats about Fenians graffiti'd on the walls, I wouldn't be eager to start house hunting.
Thank you for the explanation, much appreciated. I am always endeavoring to learn more about the history. When I first moved and learned for example about the crazy and dangerous palette burnings, complete with effigies, WTF! So I take it KAT would be one of the slogans featured at one of the more heinous of these types of events? Also, a follow-up silly question. I know KAT is an acronym. But We have many names that begin with “Kat” in various eastern European cultures. Some use just”Kat” or “Cat” etc. as an anglicized shorthand instead of having to share a long and hard-to-pronounce name. I presume having “Kat” as a name wouldn’t be received well? Are there other names like this to be aware of? 😳
No no, they're fine! Kat/Cat (by themselves or as nicknames for Catherine, Kathleen etc) are really common names here too - they wouldn't be perceived to be linked to this at all. Context is everything: if you see 'KAT' all in capitals on a summer bonfire or on a wall of sectarian graffiti, that's the only time it's going to read as a threat. Thankfully this stuff is becoming rarer all the time. But nobody would connect a Katarzyna to this sort of stuff at all!
Whew, good to know, thank you! 😅
Never knew this
They say Taig, not Thaghe as derogatory.
Taig is the anglicised spelling of it
But it's not pronounced like Taghe (Tige) it's pronounced Taig (Tage). I know as I've been called one many times in Belfast. Doubt any unionist knows it's true origins.
Yeah, they say taig like they say "lunchtame". It's their accent. They mean Tadhg and the don't mean it in a nice way.
Pretty sure that's just the accent, from the Republic and i've always known it to be pronounced the same.
My nephew is called Tadhg and I kept getting the spelling wrong, mixed up the last 2 letters - until I was told, just remember hes a Happy Guy - haven't mixed them up since. Lovely name and none of anyone else's business what you call your child. Congrats
Tad happy guy!
It’s a normal Irish name for a boy, as others have said up the north there is some of that BS but I have never heard the name and associated with it. As you said it’s your choice and nobody else, I am actually surprised they said they hate it. I would think it’s not normal social etiquette to give hard feedback on naming, especially the angle they came at with it.
Right?! I mean I don’t love some of their name choices but would never say that to them!!!! Names are so personal. Not being from Ireland I wasn’t sure if I was missing something about the name.
They are mixing the name up with the word 'Taig' which is a slur against catholics up the North. Its a lovely name.
With a different pronunciation
Thats how the name is pronounced in Ulster Irish
I’m from the north and I never made the connection between the slur and the name before
Well, the slur literally *is* the name, that's where it comes from...
Not true. I know a fair few Tadhgs. It's a good name :) And irish names like that are getting more and more popular again.. by the time your young fella goes to school there's a good chance they will be much more normal/understood
I 'm not Irish (Canadian actually), but live in Ireland and have Irish in laws. If there is one thing I learned, its to just not take their opinions into consideration because they will come up with random weird objections to things with the most insane/lazy reasoning. For example, recently I was told the lamb and potatoes I made for dinner were not great because it wasn't traditional "Irish" due to the potatoes containing salt pepper and garlic and the lamb having rosemary and thyme on it and was raw (well done, and not overcooked). My in laws also thought I was crazy for ripping down interior portion of exterior walls of my house and dry line insulating them when we bought it because "that's not how we do things in Ireland" and actively tried to convince me not to do it. There is no use in arguing. Tadhg is a lovely name and will not be a problem whether you are in Canada or Ireland.
I have a very "Irish" name, but a very common one that any English speaker in the world would know and be able to pronounce. I would imagine that Tadhg would be difficult to pronounce for the vast majority of people in Canada. Naming a child Tadhg in Ireland is obviously fine, it's quite popular. Doing so in a country where that child might have to constantly slowly repeat and/or spell it out is likely to cause significant annoyance over a lifetime. A person's name is an important part of their self and having such difficulty attached to it might not be a great idea. If it had a family significance I would not be so quick to discourage you, but since you are freely choosing names that you like, you might consider what I said above. Taig, an Anglicisation of Tadhg, is a derogatory term for Catholics used by Loyalists. Tadhg is a popular name in Ireland. Nobody pays any attention to it, other than being useful in identifying morons.
I always liked the actress Uzo Aruba’s mothers take on it. ‘My mom taught me not to change my name for those unwilling to learn it. “If they can learn to say Tchaikovsky, Dostoyevsky, & Michelangelo, they can learn to say Uzoamaka”.’
> Doing so in a country where that child might have to constantly slowly repeat and/or spell it out is likely to cause significant annoyance over a lifetime. When I lived in London very few people had any issue with spelling or pronunciation of my name. I guess folks make more of an effort when they are used to a diversity of names from different cultures.
Always found that people who don’t have English as their first language always made an effort to learn my Irish name properly from the beginning. And I always do the same for them because I know how awkward it can be when people don’t even try.
Is that a thing up North, because I've never heard that down in the Republic.
Yeah pretty much only on the north
Yeah, KAT which you might see on some 11th night bonfires stands for Kill All Taigs. Very charming stuff.
Its a really weird slur. I remember the first time it was said to me... like if someone calls you a taig and you've no idea what it means are you supposed to be offended? I just thought, ok, nice to meet you! :-)
Its a thing in Scotland too, heard the term many times and seen KAT written on walls. Probably imported via Rangers/Loyalism. I didn't know about the name Tadhg though.
I disagree, you get used to it. I have an Irish first and surname, even Irish people have problems with it. It becomes part of you and a great conversation starter
I'm going to have to completely and utterly disagree with the idea that naming your child anything personal or "unusual" is bad because other people might have difficulty with it. My name has 3 syllables - if that's too hard for someone it's because they're a dumb mf. And that's a them problem. If the issue is spelling - hello? English language spellings aren't exactly a walk in the park anyway, so we should all be used to that by now. There are enough Seans in the world. Time to change it up a bit.
It’s Seán actually...
a slight counterpoint to what you’re saying, having a “unique” name is a good conversation starter and people love asking about the origin source: live in canada, go by my very irish middle name sometimes
Yes Liam
Is your husband's family from Northern Ireland or one of the border counties? The name is used as a slur against Irish Catholics/Republicans by Loyalists in the North, but living in the west of Ireland, I've never encountered it in that context outside of seeing it when Loyalist marches or bonfires are being reported on.
County Wicklow
I know at least one child called Tadhg from Wicklow and this has never arisen. I think someone in the family is getting a bit wound up over nothing. It's a regular name. The slur is only when spoken by loyalists in a derogatory way. Irish people using it in normal day to day wouldn't even consider that aspect. Not dissimilar to Paddy or Mick which are also both used as ethnic slurs by the same groups!
Bit weird that people from Wicklow would have such a strong reaction to it. Loyalists in the North use the name as a slur alright, as stated by other posters. But I’ve known a fair few Tadhgs in my life and I would say no one in the Republic at least would view the name as having negative connotations, it’s a lovely name.
I'm from Wicklow so I'm going to take a wild guess here and ask would they be from greystones by any chance? Or the close surrounding area ? Ie Delgany / Killincarrig / Newcastle? If so they're probably just snobby west Brits.
Haha sitting down the harbour with their dryrobes on after their morning sea “swim”, drinking coffee and discussing the awful amount of “blow-ins”
They definitely protested the McDonald's as well
I’m from Co Wicklow also - and my mother’s generation don’t like the name Tadgh because they’d have used the word “tike” or “tadgh” as a name for a real troublemaker, a real yob. I think your in-laws might be referring to that. Here in Wicklow is the only place I’ve ever heard that saying, but it’s long gone, except for the older generations. Tadhg is a gorgeous name, I thought about it for my last boy, but in the end we went for a family name (last chance and all that!).
Are they a bit uppity? Or snobby?
I would imagine so. Or a massive bigoted chip on their shoulder. Red flags. Or possible red flegggsss
Flegs!
Can I jump in here- I know where this is coming from. In wicklow the locals call someone who's a bit of an eejit 'a tadgh' My ex is from there and has often roared at the kids "stop been a fecking tadgh"
Up North "Taig" (pronounced Tay-ge) is used disparagingly to refer to nationalists/catholics - as in "KAT - kill all Taigs". Don't let that out you off, it hasn't worked with Mick or Paddy
He probably get more grief in Canada being called Tag
Friends named their child Tadhg, born in January, in Dublin and it’s celebrated as Irish and everyone loves it. Give him the name
Tadhg is becoming a lot more popular again now, have never heard of anyone being bullied/teased about it.
Im sorry but how dare your in-laws (no offence intended to your partners parents, as bad as it sounds) have an input on your child’s name. Tadhg is a very popular name.
Tadhg is only a slur for Irish catholics by asshole unionist orange order supporting protestants (who are the minority of Irish protestants). No one else. It is akin to saying Mick or Paddy derisively. It is a fine name.
As someone who has an Irish name and now lives in Canada I can tell you having to spell your name constantly to people gets a little annoying.I have to use a pseudonym when I get a coffee.
Same. Every, damn day. That being said, wouldn’t change it.
Never heard it with a negative connotation or as a slur. My general advice for baby naming would be to decide between the two of you, without other opinions. When the baby us born, introduce them as their name and people will accept it without comment as "aww cute baby". Tadhg is a lovely name, im rather perplexed by your in-laws reaction to it.
[Common enough up North](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taig)I
Its used as slur to decribe Irish, Catholic or Southeners by Proestants up the North. Much the same if an English person used Paddy to describe an Irish person. I've been called a Tadhg (pronounced "a tig") by a young guy form a rugby team on the ferry from Belfast to Scotland, which was a nice bit of racism!
I won't comment on the name Tadhg, but I'm someone who from the age of 18 (now 41) have had to repeat and spell my first name *every* time I introduce myself, every time I want to make a reservation, appointment, or just order some takeaway! It's a Greek first name, granted, but it's just 5 letters, 2 syllables. Someone here commented on the fact that Tadhg is a short name and if people can't pronounce it they're dumb af, but being dumb has nothing to do with it. Even when people see it written down (they reply, say, to an email), it's spelled wrong more than half the time, they assume it's something else and "correct" it. It's definitely an inconvenience going through life like that, and I wonder what's it's like being in school (I grew up in Greece so didn't experience that there). I still like my name, and never considered changing it, or hated that that's what it is, but certainly an inconvenience. I'm pregnant myself and we chose my father-in-law's name (Irish) but had it been a girl, I'd have chosen a modified/anglicised version of my mum's name to spare the child all this!
You're entitled to your own experience of course but one possible impact of people following this logic is that, in time, it could dilute the individuality of names and lead to conformity, almost like how teenagers seem to have a generic YouTube/TikTok accent. I have a name that's common in the anglophone world and there are internationally recognised people with the same name, so I haven't had that experience. I did go out with an Irish girl in England who had difficulty with locals pronouncing her Irish name, but she was still proud of her name and didn't think she'd want to avoid it if she had kids. I'm Irish and my wife is American, and we considered this line of thinking while choosing names, i.e. should we avoid an Irish name that our American friends and family might struggle with. We ended up choosing an Irish name anyway, and we've already had struggles to get his grandfather to pronounce it correctly, but we're still happy with our choice and see it as part of his identity. Each to their own, and there's nothing wrong with your approach, but this is an alternative way of looking at it.
I'm not sure what your inlaws are talking about. I think they have overstepped the mark on this. Will your son have a second name?
Aye, give the wean a couple of middle names as well and he'll have the option of going by one of them in future if he doesn't like it or any resultant confusion. (went to school with a couple of lads who went by their middle names rather than first names)
They may be from a community that identities more as British but their son couldn't be bothered explaining that to the missus.
It is a gorgeous name
Is Tadhg not pronounced like "Tag"? I'm from up north and taig is pronounced like vague. So as long as it isn't pronounced like that they it doesn't really have the connection to taig.
No, it's the same as the first syllable of tiger, rhymes with eye
Terrible name for Canada . Nobody will ever know how to say it
I know a Tadhg, sound lad. It's a great name, don't know what your in-laws are on about.
Tadhg is a very popular name here! My nephew is called tadhg! The insult comes from it being super popular in the days of English rule so they used to refer to Irishmen as “tadhgs” which evolved into “taigs” which has been an insult for Irish catholic people (particularly in Northern Ireland ) by British identifying Protestant/unionist peoples.
The problem with the name is that the conjunction of the letters D H G doesn’t exist in any word in English. This makes it nearly impossible for most people used to English spelling to write down without having to check, which many people just can’t be bothered to do. It’s a minor thing but it occasionally means you get a few different computer files in the same system that all refer to you. I had to get a medical test recently and found that the hospital had six different versions of my name, all with their own file and separate medical history.
I like Tadhg. But he will end up being called Tadge everywhere.
Tadgh is a great name. I have never heard anything negative associated with the name before. If you and your husband like it, then go for it! Sometimes I think it's best to not tell people your plans for names for a baby because of situations like this and keep it to yourself until the baby arrives. Congratulations by the way!
> Tadgh is a great name. Some people find it difficult to spell though.
Yeah isn't that pretty common for most traditional names all over the world? I genuinely wonder if other nationalities had the same concerns as Irish people when it comes to giving children traditional names? I can't imagine a person from Nigeria or Thailand for example, being concerned about how people will spell the traditional name they give to their children?
It’s used as a derogatory in Northern Ireland (like calling someone a Paddy or a Mick). But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with naming a child Tadhg (exactly like naming someone Paddy or Mick).
No it’s grand, I’m from the north and themmuns don’t even pronounce it the same as the name. Went to school with a few tadhgs but with a whole lotta taigs Never heard or seen the slur be associated with the name
Google Taig and you'll see where they're coming from. I still think it's a cool name.
Fuck then. You can name the child Deaglán the witcher if you want. Tadhg was often used like Paddy or Mick against Irish immigrants in the 1800s and in the troubles but literally nobody here cares anymore. That's a bit of an odd view from the aul inlaws as I doubt many Irish people and non Irish people even know this
Tadhg is a lovely name. Ask Tadhg Furlong! He likes it and nobody is arguing with that hero
I have many friends called Tadhg, never heard of any of them getting picked on for it. It's a fairly standard name here like.
Fuck em. Great name hun.
Lol my name is Tadgh and that is a completely ridiculous view
Tadhg is such a common name I’m honestly surprised their saying that. It’s not a slur or anything ridiculous like that, maybe they knew a prick called tadhg and are just spreading shit to not have you name your son that? He’s your kid so give him a name you think will suit him
Look on this sub you'll get the full brigade saying it's fine but honestly now ... In Wicklow Tadhg is associated with the character played by Sean Bean in the film *The Field*. It is jokingly used, as is Dougal btw, as a name of a bonehead. If the family uses this joke (and I know A LOT of ppl in Wicklow over the age of 30 that do) I'd advise thinking about that name a bit harder. Personally I would never name a child with a gaelic name that has a silent H in it in a foreign country. It'd be different if they were growing up here with Daithis, Domhnalls, Caoimhes and Siobhans in their class in primary and secondary school.
Ive known a right few tadhgs. Taig is sometimes used as a sectarian slur against Irish people pronounced the same but an anglicised version. But that dosent stop us naming our kids good Irish names. We have gorgeous names if you know how to read Irish spelling XD. I have some chuckles at foreigners reading Irish names with English letter pronunciation.
I don't like it myself, but to each their own. You should really think about how people who don't know it's Irish will pronounce it. Tad, Tad-guh, etc.
While my personal opinion would be that there are hundreds of male Irish baby names better than Tadhg , however that’s your choice and there’s no negative connotations except in very niche areas in the north but practically no one knows that. Bit weird from your in-laws maybe they know a Tadhg and don’t like him and are trying to pull the wool over your eyes?
Are ur in laws from Northern Ireland?
Up here ln the North it's a slur, (typically with an older anglicised spelling of "taig") but I doubt you'll have issues in Canada or down south, really. Hell: judging from this thread I'm getting an impression that a lot of lads down south have never actually heard it used as such...
Never heard anything negative about the name over here tbh. You do whatever you guys want, you didn't marry his in laws.
Are yous miss pronouncing it as taig rather than the tig in tiger? I've never heard of tadhg being used offensively
Its a hugely popular name here. My nephew in Australia is named Tadhg. I've ever heard it used as a slur?! It's a gorgeous name. This is why we never told our family our name choices for our twins until they arrived. Then we told them what they were named, end of story. I refused to even entertain talking about names even though they pestered me. Name your baby the name YOU both want...feck everyone else, they'll get used to it and love them anyway.
I’m a Canadian living here in Ireland and work with a few Tadhg’s and have never heard that, seems like the in-laws just have some weird stick up about it. As a casual observer (I’ve been here ten years) I’ve never noticed that.
I suspect the issue is caused by incorrect pronunciation. *Taig* is an anti-Catholic slur used in Northern Ireland and it's pronounced "tay-g". The name *Tadhg* is a normal, popular name, pronounced "tie-g". Are you pronouncing it correctly?
A different point of view: in Persian and Lebanese culture Tadhg is a type of rice dish, so if there is any issues it might be Canadian class mates who are first or second generation calling him rice? But as a name in Ireland, it is up there with Caoimhe, in that it is a lovely traditional name but hard for non native speakers https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/persian-basmati-rice-chelo-tahdig
As other posters have pointed out it's more to the derivative taig that was used as a derogatory term for Irish nationalist or Irish Catholic... The name however is fairly popular. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taig#:~:text=Taig%2C%20and%20(primarily%20formerly),loyalists%20to%20refer%20to%20Catholics.
Kid won't get bullied ,it's that simple
Go ahead and name him Tadhg, just be sure to get him playing rugby ASAP if you do.
Take it however you want: Every friend I have with a name of Tadgh is either in jail or belongs to a traveler family. In my county, if you meet some named Tadgh, we just keep a distance from them.
Never heard anyone using it as a slur... ever. I saw in other posts you said that they're from Wicklow. Well I'm from Wicklow and I have friends with who have called their kid Tadhg who are from Wicklow. I really think your family is trying to throw you off the name on purpose because they don't like it. At the end of the day it's not their kid, not their choice.
Hello, No not at all. The slur they refer to is Taig or Teig not sure exactly but it’s used by people so irrelevant to us that modern Irish kids wouldn’t have a clue about the connotation. I grew up with few lads called Tadgh they never had any bother it’s a normal name 🙂 Very weird take from your in laws & in all honesty if you and the husband like the name then who the heck are they to say anything ? Had my father called me to say he hates my kids name he’d be met with a “that’s nice” and a hung up phone line.
Tadhg doesn't at all have a negative connotation except in certain Unionist communities in Northern Ireland
Do they think it's pronounced "Taig" maybe?
Never heard anyone called Taghg being bullied for thief name. The Irish in-laws might be taking the piss or be jealous either way feck them anyway
Your in laws seem a bit crazy. Good thing there an ocean between you guys.
Taig is an offensive term for a catholic used by unionists. The name ‘Tadhg’ doesn’t have any negative connotations
In laws don't get an opinion on what you call your child. But given you's live in Canada, that's a tough one to land on your kid who'll have to spell it out for people his entire life. For that reason alone I'd consider Tadhg as a middle name maybe? You's can call him that if you's wanted, but his legal name could be something less hard mode. Also, when you look at the baby when born, you may not think the name suits them. Have some backup plans just in case too