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Baby names

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Original poster

If you're not Scottish, what do you think of...

87 replies

soundsystem · 21/10/2014 10:30

Eilidh?

We're in London and trying to gauge how easy (or not!) this will be for people to pronounce/spell.

Double-barrelled surname which needs spelling out so torn between choosing a really easy first name, or thinking actually if she already has to spell out two names spelling out another name isn't that big a deal!

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mathanxiety · 22/10/2014 03:31

I love the name and know how to spell and pronounce it, but I am Irish.

nooka · 22/10/2014 03:10

In my mind it's eh-li-da. Aylee is not what comes to mind at all! I would imagine that both spelling and pronunciation will be an issue. Not necessarily enough not to use it, but in England I would expect your dd to have a lifetime of correcting/explaining both on a frequent basis. If she loves the name then she probably won't mind too much (I always have to spell out my name and then talk about it afterward) but if she's not so keen then it will annoy her I expect.

squeak2392 · 22/10/2014 02:01

I think I know how to pn it, but only because I've been on name forums so long.
It's a perfectly normal name in Scotland though, as far as I know, so as long as you're fine with having to say 'Oh, it's Scottish, it's pn *' a lot, then it's fine.

Owllady · 21/10/2014 22:09

It depends on your accent Groovee :o I know it's more ay though, but I have a west Midlands accent, no one would than me my AY !

whitechocolatestars · 21/10/2014 21:50

My family are Scottish although I've mostly lived in England, but I've no idea whether it's a boys or girls name, let alone how to pronounce it. Sorry, I think it's one if those you just have to know to love.

espa · 21/10/2014 21:46

I should know this as did learn a bit of Gaelic in primary school but I'm not sure if Scottish Gaelic has fadas?

BikeRunSki · 21/10/2014 21:18

My friend Jayne still has to spell out her name....

NuggetofPurestGreen · 21/10/2014 21:15

I'd pronounce it Eye-lee rather than Aylee. Like Eileen. Céilidh has a fada (accent) on the 'e' so different pronunciation.

I'm irish though not Scottish!

TheWhispersOfTheGods · 21/10/2014 21:05

I like it - people will get it wrong, be corrected and then that is the end of it! I am a londoner, and know how to pronounce it, as i met one, and she told me. And now i know...

I have a rather tricky, slightly less common Irish name, and as such am used to spelling my name, 90% of the time i meet people but i don't care - once again, once i tell people how to say it, and then they do.

Don't discount a name you love just because you have to explain it to people, you'd have to explain or spell Jane to some numpty or other.

DraaaaghmaAlpacaaaagh · 21/10/2014 21:04

I'm English living in Ireland & I know how to pronounce Eilidh. I love the name.

In my area of Ireland, based on people I know, Eilish/Eilís is pronounced Eye-LEESH, and Ailish/Ailis is pronounced AY-lish. They are quite different names.

espa · 21/10/2014 20:54

Eilish/Ailish is generally pronounced Ay-lish in Scotland or Ay-leesh in Ireland (based on my experience).

littlejohnnydory · 21/10/2014 20:46

I think it's lovely and thanks to this thread I now know how to pronounceit - for some reason I ffirst thought eye-leesh - is that an Irish name?

susiedaisy · 21/10/2014 20:31

I don't even know how to spell it or pronounce it. Sorry

espa · 21/10/2014 20:28

Grovee most of those aren't legit spellings!

Groovee · 21/10/2014 20:15

I work with children and have had Ailidh, Ailie, Aili, Eilidh, Eileigh, Eiligh over the years. But hadn't had an Eilidh before I had my dd.

Groovee · 21/10/2014 20:12

I'm not Scottish but know it's hayley

Owl, my dd who is 14 says "Its not Hayley, it's AYLEE!"

TreeMugger · 21/10/2014 20:01

It's my name too Smile it's pretty common in Scotland now, when I was wee no one knew how to spell or pronounce it but now there are millions of little Eilidh's everywhere!

It isn't actually difficult to pronounce so that isn't really an issue but the spelling confuses people that aren't familliar with the name. Spelling my name out occasionally doesn't really bother me personally.

espa · 21/10/2014 19:31

It's my name. I love it. Scottish living in Scotland though, but until I started work I didn't really have much difficulty with it - the odd misspelling but nothing major. Now I deal with colleagues all over the world (incl England!) I do get various misspellings and mispronouciations. Frustrating on occasions people can't read their email properly but it's not a big deal. I also much prefer when people just ask how to pronounce it as once they are told they can say it perfectly fine. I usually explain it as "the 'dh' is silent so it's a bit like Hayley without the H".

I'd use it if it wasn't already my name!

For those not in the know, it's Gaelic for Helen, and means 'light'.

PS: I'm not frumpy.

Owllady · 21/10/2014 16:59

I'm not Scottish but know it's hayley
both me and my son have Scottish names (easy ones :o)

unlucky83 · 21/10/2014 16:58

I've come across two Dcs called Niamh - (see it written down rather than in person) and I still forget how to pronounce it Blush
The same with Siobhan ...
DD was at school with a Ruaridh - who up to being in P2 he and his parents/school spelt it Rory...

BikeRunSki · 21/10/2014 16:54

Obviously, wrt to Niamh, I know that it is an Irish name, but you get my gist from my previous post.

BikeRunSki · 21/10/2014 16:52

I like it. I think it is becoming like Niamh, in that it is used enough that non-Scots are becoming familiar with it.

Only1scoop · 21/10/2014 16:49

Oh Blush

blibblibs · 21/10/2014 16:47

No, not eyelid Grin
Most like Hayley without the H

Only1scoop · 21/10/2014 15:24

Is it pronounced Eyelid Blush

Don't know one to
Be honest

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