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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Girls shortlist...is Eilidh a bit unrealistic for living in England??

105 replies

marmitecheesetoast · 13/02/2017 13:22

So we don't know what we're having but approaching 32 weeks and feel like we should really probably start to sort out our names shortlist! No idea about boys (that's a whole other thread for another day ) but we have a few ideas for girls.

I've always loved Isla, for years I thought if I ever have a girl I'll call her Isla, but it's got so popular now that once I knew I was pregnant I discounted it. As approaching due date it does keep popping back into my head though..but really I feel like realistically she would end up being one of four Islas in her class? I suggested Eilidh as an alternative which I think I actually love as much/more than Isla now and DH loves it too - yay! However, is it a bit of a burden giving that name when we live in England? Would she be forever spelling her name/people saying her name wrong?? We have a long-ish surname which while not particularly complicated we do have to spell quite a lot....

I'm Scottish and while a Scottish name isn't a must, (we have some other names on shortlist too) I am quite keen to have a Scottish name. We hope to move back to Scotland in a few years too but nothing definite.

So shortlist is

Eilidh (love it but is it unrealistic giving this name in England?)
Isla (pretty sure we are going to discount this as too popular?)
Ailsa - I suggested as easier alternative to spell than Eilidh but DH not so keen)
Also like Alice and Evelyn...

Would welcome thoughts/opinions on the above generally and particularly on whether Eilidh would be a bit of a burden living in England?! Thanks!

OP posts:

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FarFromBeingGruntled · 18/02/2017 20:32

And if we had an easier surname we'd have probably gone with Eilidh too

FarFromBeingGruntled · 18/02/2017 20:30

I love the name Eilidh and it was a strong contender for my DD (I'm English but DH is Scottish). Our surname is really difficult to pronounce and spell though, and because we live in England, I just felt I couldn't burden her with a surname and a first name she was going to have spell and explain how to pronounce all her life! So it's her middle name. It's also the Scottish equivalent of Helen, which worked for us as a reminder of a beloved aunt my DH lost a few years ago. She has another lovely Scottish name that was my DH's favourite and I also love.

However, if we were living in Scotland (or I thought we were likely to be) we may well have gone with Eilidh as her first name, as spelling etc wouldn't be an issue then.

MrsJayy · 15/02/2017 15:24

Irish and Scottish gaelic is differnt languages scottish Elidh has an Ay sound not E

tabulahrasa · 15/02/2017 15:02

"If the name Eilidh is pronounced Eye-lee"

It's not, it's been posted several times how it's pronounced on this thread. It's like Hayley without the h, so ailie or ayley phonetically.

And yes Irish is a different language.

Terri26 · 15/02/2017 15:00

If the name Eilidh is pronounced Eye-lee then Eily is the modern spelling of it. As I said earlier this is in regard to Irish gaelic perhaps Scottish gaelic is different.

TheFlis12345 · 15/02/2017 14:57

I live in London and know 2 people (both in their 30's) called Eilidh.

tabulahrasa · 15/02/2017 14:55

"It is an acceptable more modern spelling of it"

How is it? it doesn't spell Eilidh...

eightytwenty · 15/02/2017 14:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Terri26 · 15/02/2017 14:54

Eily is pronounced eye-Lee which is who I'd pronounce Eilidh also. Maybe it's different in Scottish garlic.

Terri26 · 15/02/2017 14:53

Eily is not butchering the name. It is an acceptable more modern spelling of it and I say that as an Irish teacher.

MrsHathaway · 15/02/2017 13:58

And it wouldn't solve the spelling issue because it's made up not intuitive.

tabulahrasa · 15/02/2017 13:57

Eily?

Why? It wouldn't be pronounced like Eilidh, you'd get eely or eyely...so they'd have made up the spelling for no reason anyway.

probablygrumpy · 15/02/2017 13:43

I love it..lovely name. I know a grown up Eilidh with a high powered Jobs meeting lots of people and she manages. She will have to spell it but I wouldn't let that put you off a fabulous name. I far prefer it to the millions of Islas

MrsJayy · 15/02/2017 11:20

Dd had a million Elidhs in her year at school i fancied it but dh didnt like it it is a lovely name though and as you are a Scot living in England why not keeps your heritage going I wouldn't worry about the spelling lots of names are hard to spell teachers will manage

Youwillnotseeme · 15/02/2017 11:15

You can't spell it Eily!

anonbecauseiwanna · 15/02/2017 10:48

What about Eily for spelling?

because that's not how it's spelt.

I love love love Eilidh, unfortunately our friends wee girl is called Eilidh so we can't use it.

muminthecity · 14/02/2017 21:24

For what it's worth, I'm a nursery teacher in London and have worked in primary schools and nurseries for many years - I've never met and Isla or an Eilidh. I think they're both beautiful names.

I do currently have an Aila, Iona and Aileen in my school, all lovely girls and I love their names.

beatricequimby · 14/02/2017 21:17

Eilidh and Isla are very popular where I live (Scotland). I probably know more young Eilidh than girls with any other name.

Ailsa was more a popular amongst our generation. Don't know any young ones.

What about Iona. Still pretty popular but less so than Eilidh or Isla.

BaymaxismyHero · 14/02/2017 21:11

Prefer Alice.

lalaland1985 · 14/02/2017 13:40

Eilidh is a beautiful name. I may be bias as I'm from Scotland. It's quite popular up here but not overly so.

Original poster

marmitecheesetoast · 14/02/2017 12:07

Thanks AlwaysSpellingMyName

Hhmm User makes a potentially valid point though given we are currently in the Manchester area

OP posts:

DianaMemorialJam · 14/02/2017 11:45

I used to nanny for a little girl called eilidh, she was awesome! So is the name

Mrsknackered · 14/02/2017 11:43

I know an Eilidh in England. We met her before seeing the spelling so it was never a pronunciation problem. people cope with Sian, Siobhan, Aoife, Aisling etc so they'll learn!
It's a very pretty name.

hearyoume · 14/02/2017 10:47

What about Eily for spelling?

Please don't do this. Eilidh is a gorgeous name, don't butcher it.

Crunchyside · 14/02/2017 10:44

AlwaysSpellingMyName My friend got called Eilidh Pailey by her family, sounds so sweet

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