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Original poster

Alasdhair - have you come across the spelling?

57 replies

purpleliza · 07/08/2011 19:42

We are struggling to find a name for DC3. We both like Alasdhair but I rejected it for DS1 because I knew the spelling was unusual and would be constantly written wrong. We have to use this spelling because it is passed down in DH's family. We have a traditional and fairly common Scottish surname but live in the south of England. Since this first argument, DD1 has been named Isobel which is constantly spelt wrong so I guess I am used to it now but I still have some reservations because no children seemed to have been named recently with this spelling at all.

Is this spelling common/regarded as normal in Scotland?
If you saw this name written down would you know how to pronounce it?
Do you think I am committing my child to a lifetime of name-spelling grief?

If you google it the only person alive with this name seems to be Stella Macartney's husband!

Thanks for your thoughts Smile

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pointydog · 08/08/2011 10:00

aha! A gaelic speaker. Thanks prime

AitchTwoOh · 08/08/2011 01:09

ooooh i like it with the h. as a jock, i'd spell it alasdair automatically, rather than with the t. but i have seen it with the dh, not least stella mccartney's husband alasdhair willis.

InMyPrime · 08/08/2011 00:59

There's nothing incorrect about the Alasdhair spelling - while 'dh' is often silent or aspirated in Gaelic (not pronounced as a 'v' as someone up the thread said) as in 'Ruairidh', in this case, it just softens the 'd' a bit, taking it closer to the proper Gaelic pronunciation of the name. Sounds to me like people choosing this spelling were Gaelic speakers trying to spell the name in a way that would make sure it was pronounced the Gaelic way, not with an anglicised hard 'd' or 't'.

I've seen Alistair/Alisdair/etc spelt a lot of different ways, including with the 'dh' as in your case. I don't think it matters. It's still recognisable.

pointydog · 07/08/2011 22:49

Isabel.

deste · 07/08/2011 22:43

I have never seen it with the h in the spelling. You do realise it is just pronounced Alister.

suzikettles · 07/08/2011 22:26

I know 2 Isobels (albeit women my age rather than children) and they're both English. Confused

lollystix · 07/08/2011 22:19

I live in Scotland and am now also wondering how else you would spell Isobel? Is it really Isabelle in England?

WhereYouLeftIt · 07/08/2011 22:13

I'm from Paisley Grin but am now in Warwickshire. Haven't come across any Isobels down here (one of my best mates in school btw) or even any mis-spelled variants.

thesurgeonsmate · 07/08/2011 21:54

Sounds like you are Scottish WhereYouLeftIt! Apparently that isn't how they spell it down south. Who knew?

WhereYouLeftIt · 07/08/2011 21:51

"DD1 has been named Isobel which is constantly spelt wrong"
Confused How else can it be spelled?

I was at school with an Alistair and dated an Alasdair, it is a lovely name. But if your husband won't shift on the 'dh' (which I've never seen) how about Andrew? Angus? Alexander?

nearlytherenow · 07/08/2011 21:40

PS although I am not a Gaelic speaker myself, "Alasdair" as a name has been passed down through generations of my family who were Gaelic speakers, so I assume that this is the Gaelic spelling.

nearlytherenow · 07/08/2011 21:38

I am Scottish and agree with the general consenus. I have never seen Alasdhair as a spelling. It looks all wrong / made up to me. DS2 has Alasdair as a middle name, which I always view as the traditional Scottish spelling (it's a family name for us and this is the way everyone spells it), but Alastair / Alistair are also accepted spellings (although I personally think that Alasdair is nicer).

Isobel is definitely the correct spelling to my mind! The "Isabelle" spelling seems very anglicised / modern.

Whyriskit · 07/08/2011 21:16

I have an Alasdair, which I believe is the Gaelic spelling. As you know, it is one of those names which has a myriad of different spellings and even close family have problems with it! DS1 has a very simple name and while I love DS2's name, I jokingly blame the drugs I was on during childbirth for it! I've never seen Alasdhair.

Original poster
purpleliza · 07/08/2011 20:18

Suzik - thanks for this. So there is one other little Alasdhair out there but I think this definitely backs up the too unusual argument...

OP posts:
PacificDogwood · 07/08/2011 20:16

It is very common for names to change in the course of decades/centuries. So if you want to stick with a family name, there is really no compelling reason why you cannot bring it up to date Wink.

I like Alasdhair, but would hesitate to use that particular spelling. The first three in suzikettles' list look 'right' to me.

Disclaimer: I am not Scottish and live in Scotland's Central Belt.

We need some Gaelic speakers on this thread.

pointydog · 07/08/2011 20:15

I thought mh was v, as in Mhairi?

fluffles · 07/08/2011 20:13

the spelling with the h is very odd as in gaelic the dh is pronounced as a v (like in siobhan).

i would use alasdair first choice, alastair second choice... i'm scottish.

suzikettles · 07/08/2011 20:11

Going by the Scottish General Registrar's lists for last year, Alastair is one of those names with multiple spellings floating about. In order of popularity in 2010:

Alistair (37)
Alasdair (24)
Alastair (22)
Alisdair (4)
Alister (2)
Alistar (1)
Alasdhair (1)
Aleister (1)
Allister (1)

I think it's lovely name however it's spelled. Probably would draw the line at Aleister though, but can see that it might attract those with esoteric interests..

Original poster
purpleliza · 07/08/2011 20:05

Thanks so much for your help. This is really useful. I do love the name but don't think I can persuade DH to drop the h Sad.

OP posts:
pointydog · 07/08/2011 20:01

Ruairidh - roo-aree

Alasdhair looks all wrong.

thesurgeonsmate · 07/08/2011 20:00

On Ruairidh, I'd pronounce this like "Rory" but with an "oo" sound where the roar is. Roorie

Original poster
purpleliza · 07/08/2011 20:00

Dh insisted on the spelling of Isobel for DD1 which I understand is the Scottish version. I was not really bothered, but knew this spelling was common enough to be recognised. Not sure that Alasdhair is the same though. I don't want anyone to think I have tried to spell it differently for some kind of effect. I would use Alasdair or Alistair instead if I could.

DS1 ended up with Oscar which is not Scottish as all (partly as a result of the Alasdhair argument).

OP posts:
IslaValargeone · 07/08/2011 19:59

Absolutely what lemon says.

LemonDifficult · 07/08/2011 19:58

Don't do it. If you like the name, pick a version that others will know how to spell. You are wasting your son's valuable time in the future, as he spends - and he will spend - actual hours of his life correcting this.

thesurgeonsmate · 07/08/2011 19:57

Yes, I would perceive Alasdair to be the "Scottish" spelling.

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