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Baby names

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

Help us name our Irish-Scottish baby!

59 replies

Stroan · 26/04/2015 06:27

We've still got months to decide but feel we need a few more boy options - bit of a baby boom amongst family and friends this year and a bit worried someone uses our favourite name before us! Also turns out we are a lot fussier than I'd first thought.

I'm Scottish, DH is Irish and we live in central Scotland. Surname is Irish but quite rare, it has a soft, vowel-y sound - starts with an "ah" sound and ends with an "ey". This is quite important as a lot of my favourite names sound too singsongy with our surname! Eilidh, my top girls name, sounds silly.

We're looking for something that "works" in both countries (and both of our accents but that's a whole other challenge!), but leaning more towards Irish names. Not too concerned about spelling, but prefer something easily recognised in Scotland.

My personal preference is for softer names having grown up with what I felt was a hard/harsh first & last name.

Middle name will be my maiden name, which carries on a family tradition.

Don't want to use any family names so these are out - Mhairi/Patrick/Mirren/Cara/ Sean/Seamus/Aoife

Boys names
The only one we're sure of just now is Ruairi or Ruaridh (spelling to be agreed!). We love it, but would like a back up in case we go off it or someone uses it.

Girls names
We have a longer girls list, which we seem unable to narrow down. Also happy to add to the list if there's any new suggestions.
Orla/Orlagh
Niamh
Aisling
Ciara
Eilis or Ailis (like both pronunciations)

Well done if you've made it through all that! Any suggestions or thoughts?

OP posts:
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mathanxiety · 26/04/2015 07:11

From what you say about the surname, I think Aisling is the best of the girls' names. Niamh would be nice too. Anything ending with a vowel is going to run into the Ah sound of the surname. I would not use Ailis as the A would be the same first letter as the surname. But Eilis would work.

I also think Ruairi/Ruaridh is going to sound as sing-songy as Eilidh would.

Suggestions:
Fergus
Fintan
Cormac
Eoin/Owen
Eoghan
Ronan

Beibhinn (pr Bevin)
Maeve or Maebh
Muireann
Roisin
Aibhlinn (pr Ev-leen)
Caoilfhionn/Keelin

kiwiscantfly · 26/04/2015 07:07

As soon as I read your title I was going to suggest Eilidh, my daughters name. What about Saoirse? (I think that's how it's spelt.

sneakybollox · 26/04/2015 07:04

For a boy, Caelan, Liam, Conor
Girl, Orlaith/Orla, Saoirse

But I do love Ruairi.

Murphy29 · 26/04/2015 06:58

We considered Orlaith and Ciara if DS had been a girl so I love them from your list (Orlaith top choice) and also liked Erin and Caitlin.

For boys we liked Aiden, Daniel, Finn and Ciaran and used one of them.

BikeRunSki · 26/04/2015 06:43

I was also going to add Aidan and Innes.

For a girl Emer and Erin. I like Ailis best from your original list.

DrownedGirl · 26/04/2015 06:42

Torin

DrownedGirl · 26/04/2015 06:42

Mairead

petrova · 26/04/2015 06:36

We have a Ruairidh, Innes, Alasdair in our family . Girls in the family - Salaidh, Fiona , Flora

Inthesleeplessnightgarden · 26/04/2015 06:30

I have a Ruairidh and other names we considered for him were Aidan, Struan, Alasdair, Duncan.

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