In Scotland Wales and Ireland (UK bit)

'There is a sub-group of Protestants who are usually Anglican if religious and who might describe themselves as "Irish" or "Anglo-Irish"'

Personally if someone described themselves as being Anglo Irish I'd assume they had a title or a grand crumbling pile somewhere.

'For those unsure of the spread of Gaelic and other Scottish languages'

That would be most Scottish people then?

And to confuse things a bit more, the Irish-identified people in Northern Ireland are not exclusively Catholic. There is a sub-group of Protestants who are usually Anglican if religious and who might describe themselves as "Irish" or "Anglo-Irish" rather than as "British" who will give their children (girls more than boys) names from Irish mythology. Also Protestants working in academia/ culture-related jobs.

JollyHockeyGits

I'm currently working on a website devote to Scottish names, only it keeps getting delayed as the research is so interesting and I keep discovering new (old) names!

For those unsure of the spread of Gaelic and other Scottish languages, this 10-part history is very useful:

newsnet.scot/archive/a-history-of-scottish-languages-parts-1-and-2/

In my experience in N Ireland you tend to get quite a lot of Irish names, with Irish spellings, in families who identify strongly as Irish rather than British. And then lots of very 'English' names in families who feel strongly about their British identity. Although by English, to be honest it is probably more accurate to say 'Biblical'. Biblical names are very popular here.

Obviously all this is a bit of a generalisation but it is often the case in my experience. And there are issues within that, because, to using my own situation as an example, I strongly considered using quite an Irish name for my first child, because it is a beautiful name, but I live in a very loyalist area and I like my windows all in one piece, and my car not being burnt out. And I didn't want my child getting beaten up at school for being 'the wrong sort' so I chose a name that would be socially acceptable instead. Sad but true.

As for the OP and the 'I can never remember which part of Ireland is in the UK'. You have blown my mind. This isn't even politics or history, this is just knowing your own country (assuming you are in within the UK yourself). For example, do you never see the news on TV and notice that they provide a weather forecast for England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland? Or that they report on the football teams of England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland? Or that they report on crimes committed in England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland? Do things like that not give some clue as to the countries that make up the UK?

Horatio your dissertation sounds amazing! I'd love to hear some of the Scots names which are out of use now!

I know a wee girl with middle name James, after her Dad, I think it's lovely.

You are right on both I think

Or is it that Gaelic hasn't been spoken down there in many, many centuries as compared to other parts of Scotland?

I'm not Scottish but was under the impression that Gaelic was never spoken in the lowlands, hence people's resistance to Glasgow train stations being given Gaelic signage?

I didn't say it wasn't valid it just isn't spoken im central scotland where it is probably was a mix of scots and Gaelic

Where are you, MrsJayy? Gaelic has been spoken in most of Scotland at some point, and around about the year 1000, there were five different languages in Scotland: Pictish, Cumbric, Gaelic, Scots and Norn, so accents and names varied hughly. Only Scots and Gaelic remain as spoken languages today but Gaelic is valid almost everywhere.

I'm in Dublin at the minute. Encountered an especially awful and embarrassing English hen party tonight who were roaring in the street at 5pm about how the Irish would be better off "going back to Britain". One asked me if I was returning to "the mainland" tomorrow (I'm not British).

I've been around the world and, as much as I'll be slated for saying it, most of the ignorant things I've heard on my travels have been out of the mouths of the English.

Gaelic isnt native where i am either even though we have a Gaelic medium school and all the train stations have Gaelic on train station signs which is odd

I'm in a part of Scotland (away from the borders) where very few people speak Gaelic. Scots (which is a separate language) is spoken by many but English is the main language. Lots of people speak English with the odd Scots word thrown in and conversations often take place with one person speaking in English and another speaking in broad Scots but both understand the other.

Gaelic names like Eilidh (pronounced 'Ay-lay'), Mhairi (usually pronounced Vah-ree), Ruaridh (Rooa-ree) are often used here, even though the parents don't speak Gaelic. On the mainland, where English is most peoples' mother tongue many of the names become Anglicised, so Mhairi can often be pronounced 'Marry', whereas in a Gaelic conversation it would be 'a'Va-thee' - totally different!

Uhu sqoosh

Jeezo, what a thread for a Saturday night!

The NI/Ireland stuff? How is it possible not to know this? Even if it isn't taught in schools is the conflict just not part of modern consciousness?

The name stuff. We are in Scotland. Scots English. My wee boy's name isn't very popular here (never met another child with same name), but was top 10 for England when the names data was published a couple of weeks ago. Which I thought was interesting. Some people, non family members, call him by the Gaelic version, they usually ask if this is OK first (it is).

I've found Niamh often becomes Neve. And yes lots of island names, Lewis, Harris, Isla etc.

I know a Saorise. When asked how it's pronounced and she said, "Have a go" the other person thought it was pronounced have a go! Some people would call her Freedom quite condescendingly which again makes me wonder how on earth people don't have knowledge of the NI/ROI history.

On a cheery sign off I'd LOVE to meet a baby girl called James, I know a girl Jamie.

Are you just being polite again MrsJayy?

Oh I get it puff

Holland is specifically the reclaimed land.

Oh is that it? But what are the other regions called and how come we don't mix them up with the Netherlands.

I'm going to wait patiently for a Dutch person to arrive and clear it up.

I thought Holland was a region of the Netherlands, like East Anglia is/was a region of England. Is it not that simple?

Not a clue do I have

You're so polite! I'd nod along too and then afterwards think to myself 'nah, still not got a clue!'.

Holland and Netherlands I have a Dutch friend on facebook she has tried to explain it to me im so dim i just said oh yes i get it now I didnt get it ]