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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help with Scots and Irish-inspired shortlist please

33 replies

PurpleSharpie · 01/10/2014 09:25

DC1 is due in 3 weeks and we're still deciding about names.

We have some Irish and Scottish heritage between us so keen on names from those. Nothing ending in -ara (like Cara or Tara) as that would rhyme with my name. And we don't want anything v fiddly to spell or pronounce (like Aiofe or Eilidh).

Here's our current shortlist. Please tell me what you think and suggest others we might like? Hoping to hear some gems we've not thought of!

For a girl:
Orla
Morgan
Kirsten
Fiona

For a boy:
Fraser
Finn
Neil
Ross
Rowan

Thank you!

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florascotia · 06/10/2014 20:58

RE post above - correct spelling of 'Ailie' is Eilidh. It's the Scottish Gaelic version of Helen.

bridgetsmum · 06/10/2014 18:12

Bridget for a girl

Declan or Rory for a boy Smile

ThreeAndDone · 04/10/2014 18:12

Callum
Diarmuid
Cathal
Fionn
Sean
Eoin

Aine
Alannah
Muireann
Eilish/Ailish

Love Orla and Finn from your list

bouncingbelle · 04/10/2014 18:02

I love sorcha and Aidan!! What about:

Shona
Mirrin
Ailie

Gregor
Lachlan
Brodie

NancyJones · 04/10/2014 16:54

DH is Scottish. My favs that we didn't use are Rory, Euan and Lachlan (Lachie) unfortunately, DH didn't like any and preferred traditional English names Hmm

cleanasawhistle · 04/10/2014 16:17

Ian
Fraser
Drew
Declan

Castlemilk · 04/10/2014 11:59

Iain is due a revival I reckon. For a girl, Flora.

SweetPeaPods · 04/10/2014 10:19

Similar criteria for us and names included Caitlin, Isla, Skye and Niamh for girl.
Finlay, Ruaridh, Lachlan or Lewis for a boy.

Squtternutbaush · 04/10/2014 09:19

From your list my favourites are Orla and Rowan.

We had the same criteria and had a similar shortlist but picked the girl name that won't go with your surname and Liam for our two.

Our others were Arwyn, Murren and Naimh for a girl and Brodie or Ruari for a boy :)

fsadler · 04/10/2014 09:06

Liam
Niall

Erin
Enya
Alana/Alanna/Alannah
Clodagh
Niamh
Maeve
Nuala
Keela
Fianna
Brianna

I love Orla and Finn!

mathanxiety · 02/10/2014 18:52

I like all your girl names. From your boys' list I would drop Ross, which imo has a 90s air to it.

how about (mainly Irish) ---
Cormac
Darragh
Patrick
Killian
Colm/Colum
Brendan
Declan
Lorcan
Owen
Fergus
Fintan
Angus

Clodagh
Nola
Nessa
Finola/Fionnuala
Enya/Eithne
Enda (a unisex name)
Darina
Dervla
Una
Esme
Eily (short for Eileen, sometimes used as a stand alone name)
Lorna

LittleBairn · 02/10/2014 14:54

All the Sholto's I know lived in London or the Home Counties, and most Scots I know think WTF when they hear the name.

TheresLotsOfFarmyardAnimals · 02/10/2014 13:05

If you like the way you thought it sounds then it would be Saoirse (Seer Sha) but then that doesn't work with your spelling criteria. Names are a minefield I tell you.

mineallmine · 02/10/2014 12:08

It's sur-u-ka. 3 syllables. Very important. To me, at least!

PinkyAndTheBump · 02/10/2014 11:30

mineallmine what is the correct pronunciation of Sorcha?

RegTheMonkey1 · 02/10/2014 11:21

Boy - Sholto
Girl - Iona

Original poster
PurpleSharpie · 02/10/2014 09:52

I'd forgotten about all the pronunciation issues. I don't like the "correct" pronunciation I must confess. Hmm.

OP posts:
mineallmine · 01/10/2014 23:37

But please make sure you pronounce Sorcha correctly, there's nothing worse than hearing it pronounced Sore-sha. Hurts my ears.

Original poster
PurpleSharpie · 01/10/2014 23:31

Thanks so much for all your suggestions. Some lovely ideas, much appreciated.

I really like Iona and Skye, and I LOVE Sorcha - which just hadn't occurred, thank you! Morven is nice but I prefer Morgan. I like Elspeth too but am less keen on likely shortenings. Catriona is gorgeous but just won't work with our surname.

I love Aidan as well. Had kind of skipped past it for some reason but it's lovely. DH has vetoed Struan and Ewan damn him.

I think the frontrunners are currently Orla, Sorcha, Aidan and Rowan. But may change my mind repeatedly.

OP posts:
Innermagic · 01/10/2014 22:08

Islay. Arran
Isla. Barra
Iona. Jura
Tiree. Lewis
Skye. Harris

Inkspellme · 01/10/2014 21:59

My Irish contributions...

girl

Niamh
Aine
Aisling
Meabhe (meave)

boy

Liam
Conor
Neill
Rory
Colm
Ciaran

BlueChampagne · 01/10/2014 21:37

Like your list. How about Ailsa and Aidan?

Irishkez · 01/10/2014 19:23

Love Orla and Finn

Skye
Una
Emer
Maeve
Mirren
Nuala

Niall
Ronan
Patrick
Brodie

florascotia · 01/10/2014 18:43

Alasdair is the most usual Scots Gaelic spelling.

In some parts of Scotland, Struan is pronouced Strowhwhan. Elsewhere, it can be said said 'Strawn'.

PinkyAndTheBump · 01/10/2014 13:37

Struan rhymes with Euan so like Stroo'an