Eilidh Helen

Sorry, I also read this as "Helen Helen" (am Scottish, but have very little knowledge of gaelic). FalachFead has made some lovely suggestions - I really like Catriona, Mairead (the Scottish rather than the Irish pronounication, though) and Sorcha.

Mah-li. Similar emphasis as in Mairi

Another one who clicked on the thread thinking "Helen Helen". I think Eilidh would be a lovely name to honour your mum and you (& all important others) will know it means Helen. But I am a bit biased as I too have an Eilidh!

So excited to see DD's name on a baby name thread

What about Naomh (Nave), I think there is an island called this, though easily mixed up with Naimh.

FalachFead - how is Mailli pronounced (stupid question?) had always thought lovely in writing, but have never had it spoken by gaelic speaker.

Really like the name Eilidh, we were considering it after DH mum aswell. How about Morven or Annabella?

That's a lovely story :)

I love it when I hear/read stories of how a name came to be..

We had planned to call our Eilidh Fiona. But when she was born, she didn't look like a Fiona. So she had no name for days (I was in hospital as was ill afterwards). She was an angel baby even then and the midwives loved to take her for a feed or hold her.

There was an Irish midwife there one day who came to see her and said, 'Well, if you ask me, she looks a wee Eilidh.'

And that was that.

Her name really suits. Her face, build and bearing are every bit a Scottish Helen.

Woohoo, I was going to have a Fergus as a DS2 but had DD1 and am having DD2 instead (although DS tells me that the girl triplet in Shrek 4 is named Fergus, so perhaps... but no).

You can't call a child Eilidh Helen. Either use Eilidh or Helen -- either is fine for naming after a Helen IMO.

Hi
I have an Eilidh and love it. Have to say I was about to reply to say you do know that's Helen Helen don't you until I read your post. I guess middle names are so rarely used no-one would know?

Eilidh is lovely. If you really want to use Helen as a middle name, why not use Eilish as a first name.

Yes, it's like saying Helen Helen. I have an Eilidh but if you want to use Helen as a middle name then chose another forename.

I would call her Eilidh as a first name and choose a different middle name.

As you know Eilidh means Helen, then you know that you are naming her after your mum.

Eilidh's a beautiful name - my middle name's helen too. :)

I'm not a gaelic speaker but know that it's Helen Helen. I really wouldn't do it. Just choose one. If you have another daughter I think it would be fine to have the other one as a middle name so DD1 Eilidh Mairi for example and DD2 Catriona Helen.
I know of brothers called James and Seamus. Just. Wrong.

I popped on to say "you know thats Helen Helen" too... I have a cousin called Eilidh, lovely name, much prefer it to Helen :)

Sorry but another who hopped on the the thread to say "but that's Helen Helen".

The first thing I thought of before I clicked was Helen Helen.

It's like Elizabeth Isabel.

MAYBE only Celts would feel that so instantly though?

My mum is a Helen and we live in Scotland too. I wanted eilidh for our girl who turned out to be a fergus. Hate to say it but when I read thread title I just thought 'but doesn't she know that's Helen Helen?' sorry. Eilidh lovely though in my view. I was going to tell my mum that it meant Helen so in a way our fergus would have been named after her if he wasn't a blue one IYSWIM.

I'm another who read the title and though 'but that's Helen Helen'.

I like Eilidh as a name though.

What about Mhairi? (said Vha-ri).

I know of twins called Sean and Jack so effectively they are both called John.

However, the Helen wouldn't be used all the time so you would probably be ok .

I think its fine - Eilidh is a lovely name, and you never use your second name, except for form filling. I think its lovely that you want to use your mum's name for second name.

I'm Irish and it would sound like a crazy combination in Ireland. A bit like an English person calling a child Amelie Emily or something.

reasons (doh)

I wouldn't use the two names together for the reason's you've given.

Sor-a-cha..said quickly....as in no fada/grave to elongate any vowels... I say Maathi...kind of an r/th combo...others just stick to Mah-ree...they are gorg names.

Eilidh is a lovely name. I am a strong believer in using the name you love, so if you really love Eilidh Helen and other things are just second best then use it! I think they sound nice together and like ragged said few people will be using her full name, and I had no idea that Eilidh was the Gaelic name for Helen despite being Scottish!

Others than come to mind are:
Eilish
Mairi
Mhairi
Mara (thinking of Celtic meaning 'sea' rather than Hebrew meaning 'bitter'!!)
Katrin (like Loch Katrin)

Or you could add in a second middle name to break Eilidh and Helen up if it bothers you?

Ditto
Tristan Thomas
Maisie Margaret
Ian John
etc.

Just use it if you like it,OP; very few people in the scheme of things will ever even learn what her middle name is.