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Baby names

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Original poster

Scottish name wobble for baby in England!

31 replies

CalaLilly · 31/05/2013 15:09

Baby is due any day and I'm having name wobbles! We want a pretty Scottish name if it's a girl and an easy to spell modem Scottish name if it's a boy. The baby will be brought up in England so we don't want a name that's too confusing (for example, I love Struan but OH thinks he'd get called Stuart).

Our name choices are:
Ailsa Rose (for a girl)
Alexander ("Sandy") James (for a boy)

What do you think?

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harverina · 16/06/2013 12:27

Congratulations! And a beautiful name Grin

Original poster
CalaLilly · 16/06/2013 05:14

We had a girl and we went with Ailsa Rose :-)

She's as beautiful as her name and it's been well received. A few people have called get Alica or Isla but its well understood on the whole! I love it!!

OP posts:
MortifiedAdams · 03/06/2013 18:10

Ooh I love Ailsa adds to own list

sleepyhead · 03/06/2013 18:02

What about Alastair? That's the (anglicised) Gaelic version of Alexander.

Ailsa will be pronounced and spelled Elsa all the time, according to my friend Ailsa's experience, but that's not too big a deal - they're both nice names.

AberdeenAngusina · 03/06/2013 17:55

We didn't want ours to be called Sandy, because there's already a Sandy in the family. But he does get Sandy at school sometimes, though never at home.

It's a really good name. Round here it's a very popular middle name, but not that common a first name for school aged boys. Every one can spell it, it never gets mis-heard for anything else, there are a variety of nicknames to choose from, it's regarded as Scottish in Scotland, but is a known name throughout Europe / America, too. It's a name which makes you think "the Great!" when you hear it; it has positive associations such as Alexander Fleming and Alexander Graham Bell - I could go on!

harverina · 03/06/2013 13:04

That's he problem isn't it, Aberdeen - dh and I like Alexander too but I would hate for my baby to end up being called Alec! Although I don't think Alec is so popular now...

AberdeenAngusina · 03/06/2013 12:59

Rose doesn't have to be English - there's the white rose which was a Jacobite symbol. Ailsa Rose is a great name.

Choosing Alexander as a boys name shows that you are clearly parents with good taste and high intelligence. Wink You cannot go wrong with Alexander, though you also can't pre-determine how it will be shortened once he gets to school.

harverina · 01/06/2013 07:12

Ailsa rose is lovely Grin

harverina · 01/06/2013 07:12

I have known male and female sandy's. I'm not too keen but like Alexander.

I think you would be fine with Struan I'm England if you love it go for it.

SwishSwoshSwoosh · 01/06/2013 07:06

I like Struan better than Sandy.

Annakin31 · 01/06/2013 05:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

reelingintheyears · 01/06/2013 00:33

Struan is rubbish.

Stuart is better.

IMUO

reelingintheyears · 01/06/2013 00:31

EWAN

Essexgirlupnorth · 01/06/2013 00:30

Lovely names I am slightly biased as I am a Ailsa I grew up in England with a Scottish mum find people can either pronounce it or spell it not both!

scottishmummy · 01/06/2013 00:24

sandy?no it's a lassies name
ailsa is lovely
I don't reckon folk will struggle with struan

LadyBeagleEyes · 01/06/2013 00:21

How about Fraser for a boy?
And Ishbel is a very pretty Scottish form of Isabel/Isabella.

munchkinmaster · 01/06/2013 00:14

I love sandy. Dd was born in England and no one could pronounce her name. Then we moved back to Scotland and she is ten a penny common as muck!

Seriously, when she was born there was a good chance she would grow up in England and it was very important that she had a Scottish name to help her identify as Scottish.

Go for it

fackinell · 31/05/2013 19:40

Lovely names you have chosen, just chucking a few into the mix.
Eilidh (pronounced Aylay)
Mirren (I love this)
Kirsty
Connor
Hamish

Alisvolatpropiis · 31/05/2013 19:29

Britain is very multicultural now. I wouldn't worry,they're great names. The only people who won't make the effort to pronounce them properly (once told,if they don't already know) are ignorant ones.

JojoMags · 31/05/2013 18:20

Both lovely.

Original poster
CalaLilly · 31/05/2013 18:15

We may already have a Rory :-)

OP posts:
MrsGazza · 31/05/2013 17:18

Love Ailsa.....what about Rory?

badguider · 31/05/2013 17:09

I like Aisla, I think with Sandy you'd have to really work hard to make that his name in England or he's end up called Alex, but I do like Sandy.

Cosydressinggown · 31/05/2013 16:40

I've used three very Scottish/gaelic names for my children and I live in England. People get them wrong once and then they get them right. The important people know them because that's their names if that makes sense! I really don't think you should worry, and Ailsa and Sandy are both gorgeous!

BirdyBedtime · 31/05/2013 15:46

Ailsa is lovely and not much chance for it being got wrong - unlike my DD's name which my English SIL cannot for the life of her get right, saying a very similar English name instead ....ggrrr.

I love Struan too and wish we'd thought of that for DS!