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Baby names

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

Original poster

Scottish boys names which English family don't find weird/can pronounce!

90 replies

twiglet · 15/12/2018 02:22

Myself and DH are English but lived in Scotland over 10 years. We want a Scottish/celtic name but that English families can spell and nothing too used so Alexander is out, James is also out and DH doesn't want any royal ref names!
We can't agree on what our favourite is!
And due in 8 weeks....

So far we have:
Tristan (my fav using the Scottish Saint ref)
Finlay (DH fav)
Logan
Arran (DH not so sure)
Cameron (my worry is family will think Tory ref....)

Not Scottish but on the maybe pile is Rueben.

Any suggestions/help Blush

OP posts:
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midsomermurderess · 16/12/2018 22:58

Iain.

CupsAndPentacles · 16/12/2018 22:54

I find the Irish 'Lorcan' much easier than Lachlan.

Not keen on Cayden, nothing wrong with Aidan but Cayden is like a mash of two names. I think Caedhlan means thin.

Divgirl2 · 16/12/2018 22:47

Cayden is a modern "invented" name, but I think its roots are Irish rather than Scottish.

Lara53 · 16/12/2018 20:45

My son is Cayden James. We have only ever met one other Cayden who is a year older. We live in South East of UK

museumum · 16/12/2018 18:30

Yep Tristan would have been assumed very upper class English where I grew up (Central belt).

festivedogbone · 16/12/2018 17:54

CormoranStrike no, I had no idea it was apparently a Scottish name either.

festivedogbone · 16/12/2018 17:54

Rory
Magnus
Harris
Angus

CormoranStrike · 16/12/2018 00:14

Am I the only Scot who thinks Tristan sounds like a posh upper class name, rather than a Scots name?

MrsBungle · 15/12/2018 23:24

I have a Cameron (I’m Scottish but live in England) and have never had the Tory reference. It’s also quite uncommon down here. I also loved Fraser and Keir (didn’t go with Keir as English dh was not pronouncing it properly Hmm Grin )

FairyFantastic · 15/12/2018 23:19

OP I feel your pain. Me and DP are English living in Scotland. I was desperate for a Scottish name for DD (eventually got a Scottish middle name woo!) but gutted as no one was keen/could pronounce my proper Gaelic/Scots names.
Out of your picks I like Tristan. A bit different nowadays.
Fraser is my top pick - one of those names that screams Scotland and whilst popular, is nicely dispersed if you get me? There was a baby Fraser on the ward when DD was born.
Also quite like the suggestions of Andrew and Malcolm.

bellsonthesleigh · 15/12/2018 17:41

I have an Arran. No real issues with the spelling; just tell people it's spelled the same as the island. Seems to be becoming a slightly more popular spelling these days.

Willow1992 · 15/12/2018 17:10

IME pronouncing the ch in Lachlan like the ch in Zachary is a common and accepted pronunciation outside of Scotland, so if you hate it and will be around English relatives a lot then I wouldn't choose it.

TeacupDrama · 15/12/2018 16:11

I'm English living in Scotland and can't pronounce the "CH" sound like in loch I say lock and would say lacklan I have tried and tried I can't do the ch in lachlan etc so saying they can't do that sound is reasonable enough, however, that would not apply to many other Scottish names

BlueUggs · 15/12/2018 16:09

Are your family stupid or just rude?
Surely you tell them the name, how to pronounce it and the spelling???
What names do you like that you're concerned they won't be able to pronounce?
I think Arran is a nightmare. Is is Arran/Aran/Aaron/Aarron......

BikeRunSki · 15/12/2018 16:04

Angus
Fergus
Fraser
Alistair/Alastair

OlennasWimple · 15/12/2018 16:02

James
Andrew
Struan
Murdo
Malcolm
Frazer
Iain

TatianaLarina · 15/12/2018 15:56

Hector.

GrannyHaddock · 15/12/2018 15:13

Finn.

AnnaMagnani · 15/12/2018 13:18

Really don't discuss it with them.

I have family who failed to learn how to spell my name after 20 years. Seriously, after that long, it's just rudeness.

Whenever we have new staff at work with 'foreign' names Nigerian, South Asian there will be someone saying they are soooo hard to pronounce and what are they known for short. Really? They are our new colleagues, just practice!!!

If your family love you and love their grandchild they can learn to say Lachlan or Ruairidh.

ElfOnTheShelfAteMyJoy · 15/12/2018 13:00

Carrick
Glen
Also like Murdoch

CormoranStrike · 15/12/2018 12:57

Struan
Cameron
Calum
Kyle
Fraser
Logan
Torin

MikeUniformMike · 15/12/2018 12:46

Gordon
Douglas

MikeUniformMike · 15/12/2018 12:40

Duncan
Angus
Donald
Iain
Andrew
Mungo
Kyle
Craig

Original poster
twiglet · 15/12/2018 11:05

Thanks all yes first baby and yes definitely made the mistake of discussing names!

OP posts:
Nonibaloni · 15/12/2018 10:53

I liked Fergus, Angus, Innes and Blair but went with Lachlan. Which the man himself say Lacklan, hard ck soft lan. Drives me potty. He’s never heard anyone say it that way but that’s how he introduces himself. Now his friends call him Lack.
What I’m saying is chose a name you like because you have no idea what’s going to happen to it anyway.

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