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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Eilidh (pron. A-lee) or Anna

30 replies

happyeverafterhome · 30/01/2011 22:06

Hi
Currently torn between Eilidh Katharine, or Anna May.
Anna is easy to say, nice, if a little run of the mill and girlie.

Eilidh (prounounced A-lee) is fairly common up here in Scotland, so people should know how to spell and pronounce it, but posts from fellow Eilidhs around the world say that although they love their name, most people get it wrong. Does this matter?

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midnightexpress · 02/02/2011 11:39

Eilidh is lovely and you certainly won't need to worry about pronunciation in Scotland. It's fairly common round here.

Carrotsandcelery · 02/02/2011 11:35

I have an Eilidh in Scotland and she LOVES her name. It is the right balance between uncommon but not unheard of. Everyone knows what name you mean but there is only one other in the school.
She has been able to spell it since she was in her Ante Pre-School year and all her teachers have spelt it no problem.
We do get a few bizarre spellings on birthday cards but my dd finds these amusing rather than annoying, like she is a member of special club with a special name.
Eilidh means "bright light or shining star" and suits our dd perfectly.
Anna is pretty but there are several in my ds class so you would have to accept it would be Anna and your surname ALL the time.
Obviously I am biased but I think your dd will enjoy being an Eilidh.

Katz · 02/02/2011 11:29

i'm biased but my vote would go for Anna, although mine is an Annalise. Not keen on Anna May but Anna Kathryn works as does Anna with a number of middle names.

LabMonkey · 02/02/2011 11:25

I love the name Eilidh and I don't think it'll be a problem in Scotland. I'm a Scot living in East Anglia and I really really want to use Eilidh if DC turns out to be a DD.

JojoMags · 01/02/2011 17:37

Anna Katharine.

mascarpone · 01/02/2011 15:01

Anna for me...but then dd2 is Anna so I am biased! In my whole life I have only come across three other people called Anna so it's not that common

Hulababy · 01/02/2011 14:59

Anna

freshmint · 01/02/2011 14:57

Anna is lovely, works in any country in the world and is classless. Great name.

LaTristesse · 01/02/2011 14:56

Anna for me.

I'm in England and, heathen that I am, assumed Eilidh was pronounced 'eye-lid' for years... Blush

fifi25 · 01/02/2011 12:39

My daughters Niamh and she hates it as she gets called Ni-am, Neeamh. I like it but i dont have to live with it. I would go with Anna.

evamummy · 01/02/2011 09:58

I have an Anna so love it. But I love diversity in names and as you're Scottish Eilidh is a lovely choice. Eilidh Katenerine is gorgeous Smile.

DandyDan · 01/02/2011 09:16

Eilidh - if you're having to explain in your thread title how to pronounce it, there's an issue that's not going to go away.

Anna - not many of them around, classic and easy to say and spell. Also Anna Katherine goes well.

Janni · 31/01/2011 22:38

Why not Anna Katharine?

OldishMotherHubbard · 31/01/2011 22:32

Anna for me - classic, beautiful, easy to say and easy to spell!

Not many baby Annas around here at all!

Eilidh nice but personally I would go for Anna.

Congratulations and good luck! x

Littlefish · 31/01/2011 09:57

Eilidh is gorgeous.

MmeLindt · 31/01/2011 09:56

Eilidh Katherine is lovely.

Since you live in Scotland, and it is becoming more popular, then spelling/pronunciation should be ok.

booandbump · 31/01/2011 09:45

I love Eilidh, it's gorgeous.

eviscerateyourmemory · 31/01/2011 09:45

If you are in Scotland then I would expect most people to cope with Eilidh.

Both names are nice, but I prefer Eilidh.

Hatterbox · 31/01/2011 09:43

Eilidh for me, it's beautiful, I much prefer it to Anna.

ValiumSandwichTime · 31/01/2011 09:03

I prefer Anna, especially now somebody has said like Ceilidh without the C. I don't dislike Eilidh though. Just like the simplicity of Anna. I also like Ellen, which has a bit of both about it.

Chocolocolate · 31/01/2011 08:56

I much prefer Eilidh Katharine - it's lovely.

Anna is good but please don't have Anna May - it sounds like animé

celticlassie · 30/01/2011 22:47

Eilidh's a lovely name. Becoming more common slowly ...

BilboBloggins · 30/01/2011 22:45

I have an Eilidh Catherine. I love her name but she hates it at the minute, but only cos she can't get personalised tat in the shops!

PlanetLizard · 30/01/2011 22:35

Both lovely names :)

scottishmummy · 30/01/2011 22:28

dont discount a name on basis of some cant pronounce- thats their difficulty.not yourd

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