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Baby names

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

Original poster

Angus and Innes -too similar?

59 replies

Thinkingof4 · 02/03/2013 21:46

hi
I have 3 ds and am pg with dc4. Don't know if this is also a boy but suspect it may be! All our boys have scottish names (we are Scottish) and we need another similar type of name. Ds2 is Angus and one boys name we really like is Innes. Just wondering if people think this is too similar sounding? Thanks in advance for any opinions Smile

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BabsAndTheRu · 04/03/2013 15:15

Thanks Glaikitfizzog

itsallyourownfault · 04/03/2013 14:49

Both lovely. I love Scottish names. Great choices!

GlaikitFizzog · 04/03/2013 14:45

OhBugger, I understand what you are saying, but in realiity how many people actually know that? I really don't think it's a reason to not use both names.

GlaikitFizzog · 04/03/2013 14:43

I think you might be over thinking.

Think of it like 3 sisters all ending in a Clara, alicia, Amelia? Or Lisa Laura Paula.

Hamish Angus and Innes all end differently, ish us, es.

Babs, love mairi! Good choice!

OhBuggerandArse · 04/03/2013 14:35

No, island is 'Inis'. Innes is taken from the genitive case of Aonghas, which you can see in the 'surname' form, MacAonghais, or 'MacInnes' in English.

BabsAndTheRu · 04/03/2013 14:21

Love the name Innes, definitely a boys name here in Scotland. We have a Ruairidh, a Ross and a Mairi. If Mairi had been a boy she would have been Rhoddy.

Gilbertwasthebestcat · 04/03/2013 14:20

I think Innes is Gaelic for Angus. I have an Angus and was told this by an old lady from the Highlands. What about Gregor or Douglas?

FellNel · 04/03/2013 14:18

Similar, yes, but not too much so. I have heard much clumsier pairings! I give you Ewan and Owen, and Melanie and Emily. Confused

They are both lovely names by the way.

Original poster
Thinkingof4 · 04/03/2013 14:15

ohbugger I think Innes is from gaelic for island so not the same name, but I may be wrong!
We do already have a Hamish, which is now making me think we have too many ''s" sounds with angus/hamish/Innes?
Maybe I'm overthinking things!! Confused

I know Innes/Inez is Spanish girls name, and can be a girls name in scotland is is definitely predominantly a boys name here so I'm not too worried about that.

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echidnakid · 04/03/2013 01:44

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MidnightMasquerader · 04/03/2013 00:57

That's interesting, OhBugger.

Ines/Inez is a Spanish girls' name.

INeverSaidThat · 04/03/2013 00:49

Blush. I thought it was a girls name as I know an Inez.

I think Innes and Angus are quite similar, but I am not sure it matters.

My two boys names start with the same sound and I still trip over their names sometimes (and they are almost adults)

BonnieWeeJeannieMcCall · 03/03/2013 23:56

I think they're fine. Go for it! I've never heard of a female Innes; it's a male name as far as I'm concerned (I'm Scottish).

OhBuggerandArse · 03/03/2013 23:51

They are actually the same name - Innes and Angus are both Anglicisations of Gaelic Aonghas. So probably not a good idea to use both...

1805 · 03/03/2013 23:45

I would presume Innes is female (we're not in scotland though). Only know one and thats a girl.

My5boysandme · 03/03/2013 22:22

We have 5 boys, 4 have Scottish names Kyle, Cameron, Innes and Harris. I think Angus and Innes are both lovely names and wouldn't say they sounded anymore similar than Innes and Harris do.

MidnightMasquerader · 03/03/2013 22:11

I'm going to go against the grain, as think they do sound a bit too similar.

Hamish is a great name (my grandfather's name). Angus is my DB's name. :)

sleepyhead · 03/03/2013 20:32

Calling a girl Innes in Scotland would be like calling her Jamie. Nice name, the sound works for both sexes but anyone seeing it written down would assume she's a boy.

I can see it would be different in other places though. Apparently Jamie is almost exclusively a girls name in the US.

nurse · 03/03/2013 20:19

My ds is Innes, Fabulous name and always get compliments on his name.
(I'm in Scotland)

GlaikitFizzog · 03/03/2013 18:39

Innes in Scotland is definitely a boys name first. Traditionally the second born son would be give the maiden name of his mother, hence why many Scottish names are also surnames.

In 2011 (figures not available yet for 2012) there were 46 boy Innes' and one girl ines.

List of all first given names for 2012 are out on the 14th march.

sw11mumofone · 03/03/2013 18:28

I know two Innes's too and they are both girls. Pronounced in-is.

GlaikitFizzog · 03/03/2013 17:42

Ruairidh (pron. rooree) was on our list too! I think similar to me would mean if they could be shortened to the same name, so Angus and Fergus could both be gus so I wouldn't use them both.

Offcolour · 03/03/2013 17:32

Should say I like Innes.

Offcolour · 03/03/2013 17:32

I would never have thought of Angus and Innes being similar. Like Innes. Ruiridh is one of my all time faves but we are down south and no-one would be able to spell it.

GlaikitFizzog · 03/03/2013 17:20

Go for it, Innes was on our short list for ds. We went with Blair instead.

What are your other DCs names (looking for inspiration for imaginary dc2!)

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