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Baby names

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

Original poster

Caitrìona, Ùna and Mhàiri

212 replies

dunkydunker · 15/11/2011 00:58

What do you think?

I want something Scottish but not very very obvious (DH is very very far away from Scottish)

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JennyPiccolo · 15/11/2011 22:45

aren't there other vocative names? Isn't Hamish one?

suzikettles · 15/11/2011 22:45

AberdeenAngusina - I'd make a guess at Ealasaid, which (I think) translates into English as Elizabeth, but I guess could sound sort of like Lucy or Louisa?

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 22:38

no, it doesn't alter the fact that it was your granny's name, of course, but it might have made you pause in responding that 'the gaelic grammar thing won't be a big thing in southern england', ie responding in precisely the dismissive manner she outlined in her post.

anyway, mistake or no, Mhairi is very very obviously scottish, so as per your OP is probably out.

macsaid · 15/11/2011 22:38

thanks for that, have heard of lallans, off to google it and might learn some!

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 22:35

the chap i am thinking of calls it lallans, yep.

JennyPiccolo · 15/11/2011 22:33

no, it's okay, aitch. im sure you guys understand the need for refuge on mn sometimes. And i've enjoyed debating about it. and im pretty sure yous are thinking of one of his mates and not him. Grin

macsaid- i think it's just called lallans. i dont think it's more irish, no, just maybe with more scots words? i might be wrong. it was spoken in campsie type area. I think the boys and girls names are the same as in standardised Gaelic.

Original poster
dunkydunker · 15/11/2011 22:32

I have read it I do understand - take it up with my Great grandparents, because it still doesnt alter the fact it was my Granny's name.

OP posts:
ifitsnotanarse · 15/11/2011 22:31

My (Irish) name is pronounced differently to the way it is spelt and causes me no end of trouble with people who see my name written down before meeting me or on my name badge at work. It is a complete pain in the arse and I wish my parents had chosen my second name instead.

However, that said, we gave our DC Irish names.

AberdeenAngusina · 15/11/2011 22:30

The other problem with Gaelic names, historically, is that people had to use the English form on birth/marriage/death certificates and census returns. So a baby was known as Sine, and on her birth cert, her parents translated it as Janet. But when she got married, she couldn't remember how it was translated before, so it's translated as Jessie on her marriage cert.

I've an ancestress whose name appears variously as Louisa, Lucy and once as Elizabeth. Any guesses, oh you clever Gaelic speakers, as to which Gaelic name she was actually known as? I've no idea.

macsaid · 15/11/2011 22:29

dunkydunker, re the spelling, you should read ohbugger's post of 21:29:13! please!
Then you will understand why we have discussed this all day long!

Original poster
dunkydunker · 15/11/2011 22:26

Aitch I did - and I knew some of it (in my memory of school lessons at least) But that doesn't really change the fact that it was my Granny's name

OP posts:
macsaid · 15/11/2011 22:26

A lowland Gaelic dialect? Interesting, I don't think I have ever heard of this. Does it have a name?
Is it more influenced by Irish than Scottish Gaelic?
Is it confined to a particular geographical area or a specific population sector/group?
Does it have names for boys and girls?

Hope you don't mind all these questions.

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 22:21

can get them deleted if you like?

OhBuggerandArse · 15/11/2011 22:19

Understood - all suggestions withdrawn and forgotten!

JennyPiccolo · 15/11/2011 22:13

i feel ive said too much! Dont mind being outed on here but not in real life, iyswim.

McQueasy · 15/11/2011 22:05

What about caera/Ciara Niamh Eilidh or Afton??

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 22:03

but did you read ohbugger's post, dunky?

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 22:02

oooohnoooo are we talking about the same person? metal bands? i am thinking of someone with sideys. are you thinking of a long-haired chap?

Original poster
dunkydunker · 15/11/2011 22:02

I know about the whole Mhàiri thing (and no not a gaelic speaker) but it was my Granny's name. And I don't really expect the gaelic grammar to be a big thing in sourthern england.

OP posts:
OhBuggerandArse · 15/11/2011 22:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JennyPiccolo · 15/11/2011 21:59

p.s. I am aware that my name is a different one in Gaelic. I'm not really sure how to articulate how i reconcile this in my head. I just think lots of things get warped over time, and using the pretty-sounding vocative of a name isn't really the worst thing you could inflict on your wean.

JennyPiccolo · 15/11/2011 21:57

i know they are, Gaelic is much more popular now even from when i was a wean.
Yeah, im a weegie, wide as the clyde as well.

Don't really want to out myself (probably will) but my brother speaks and teaches a lowland Gaelic dialect (there are very few speakers of it) which apparently makes allowances for the glottal stop and other weegie nuances. Maybe he fibs to his pals about his sister's wrong name, who knows.

AitchTwoOh · 15/11/2011 21:49

they are happening, though, jenny, slowly but surely...
i do find the gaels a completely completely forrin culture, i must say. i do my best but i am far too weegie (as in gobshitey) to ever be well-liked i think.

JennyPiccolo · 15/11/2011 21:44

Well, most mis-spellings and variations of names came from a time when literacy wasn't great. Researching my own family tree, ive found different spellings by the same person, of their own name in census forms, marriage certificates and stuff like that. so if that can change within a lifetime, accepted spellings can change between generations.

Another point, is it bad for the promotion of the Gaelic language, for Gaelic names (even wrong ones) to be popular? I think a lot of non-Gaelic speakers see it as a tribute to their heritage to give a child a Gaelic name. Yes, it would be a greater tribute to learn and speak Gaelic, but these things will not happen overnight.

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