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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

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ReginaPhalange89 · 15/12/2018 10:51

Yeah I agree, just stop discussing names with anyone other than your partner ! Someone will always find a reason to dislike a name. Best just going with what you love !

I have a Phoebe, which I didn't think was very common before we had her (and neither did the midwifes etc when I mentioned it!). my partner mentioned it in front of the in laws before we even knew the sex and they all absolutely hated it. I bit my lip and had a cry later as I already had my heart set on it before we were ttc. We still went with it and just didn't discuss potential names in front of anyone ! Even after she was born I asked if they'd come round and they were still like 'err.....' .

Fuck people lol they'll always have an opinion !

E20mom · 15/12/2018 10:50

Stuart

thereisnorinbath · 15/12/2018 10:46

Geordie

8DaysAWeek · 15/12/2018 10:41

Is this your first baby? I only ask because we made the mistake with our first of telling some friends and family our name ideas and they all went down like a lead balloon, and put me off the names. We quickly realised our error and didn't tell a soul what we ended up naming DS until he was born.

This time round not discussing names with anyone.

People are much more likely to plaster on a smile when you declare your child's name after its born!

FrancisCrawford · 15/12/2018 10:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 15/12/2018 10:07

I'm annoyed that Donald should be on this list but can't be for the time being.

English people dont struggle with Ruairidh although some have a go at saying Rory instead.

They cant always make the ch sound in Lachlan just like I can't make some sounds in Xhosa.
Some sounds you just need exposure to as a baby.

DimProblem · 15/12/2018 10:00

Welsh here and really understand the difficulty of choosing a name which the wider family won’t mangle. We went for ease of pronunciation in the end and we still hear some howlers. If I did it again, I’d just go for what we loved regardless.

Some gorgeous names listed. I love Innes and Cameron. Have an Osian in the family and never knew about its alternative versions.

Original poster
twiglet · 15/12/2018 09:53

@GemmeFatale SadConfused I think you might be right don't know why I hadn't twigged on to that!

We did stop discussing it as they kept pulling faces (both sides not just my DPs) on Skype.

They are by no means geriatrics all under 65 i have a feeling they thought moving from SE England to Scotland was a phase and the not being near GC.
We could not face ever moving back (no offence to anyone in England we just love the space, outdoor life, quietness etc).... Families so complicated!

OP posts:
Procne · 15/12/2018 09:01

Agreed, Gemme.

GemmeFatale · 15/12/2018 08:57

I think the problem is your family don’t like your potential name list so are (not so) subtly discouraging you with this performance around can’t pronounce that one, and this one is like soup.

Pick a name you both like. Grandparents who can’t say or spell it are obviously experiencing early senior moments and probably shouldn’t hold the baby in case they drop him. I’d be amazed if they get it wrong three times.

Procne · 15/12/2018 08:55

But surely, twiglet, once you tell them how Lachlan or Ruairidh is pronounced, they just say ‘Oh, ok!’ and it’s no longer a problem?

sonicshoegazes · 15/12/2018 08:47

Ewan. It's a wonderful name-I'm biased though as ds2 is called it ❤️😂

mrssmooth · 15/12/2018 08:43

Friend's son is called Murdo ... good strong name! Euan/Ewan is also a good scottish name. Agree with Alistair too, not many of those around these days!

Original poster
twiglet · 15/12/2018 08:28

It was names written down then pronounced differently so celtic/Scottish names (we also both have a Welsh connection.)
Lachlan they pronounce Lakelan
Ruairidh they can't say at all when we explained it was you mean Rory which it's notHmm
Ossian was another they couldn't say (which is welsh Scottish and Irish just with different spellings)

I never realised choosing a name was so hard!

OP posts:
Sarahandduck18 · 15/12/2018 08:24

Gordon
Douglas
Kirk
Ross
Argyle
Malcolm
Clyde
Harris
Andrew
Cairn
Nevis
Fraser
Nairn
Stuart
Kelvin
Calvin
Mungo
Magnus
Munro
Irvine
Mackenzie
Bruce
Duncan
Alistair
Struan
Ferguson
Wallace
Xander

museumum · 15/12/2018 08:18

Fraser
Innes
Calum
Callan (not sure if Scottish but I think is)
Iain
Alastair
Sandy
Harris
Lewis

ImportantWater · 15/12/2018 08:16

Not I! Dunno where that came from

ImportantWater · 15/12/2018 08:15

Douglas
Rory
I

Original poster
twiglet · 15/12/2018 08:08

Thats good news about not linking Cameron Smile

Yes I thought Finlay was popular Finn was my DH other suggestion.

I like Campbell but my dad ruined it with by making reference to soup and making fun of it.

I knew about the mainly Welsh part of Tristan I was going by the modern version of St Drostan a Scottish Saint.

I'd not heard of Caelan before, I also like Harris but DH vetoed it.

OP posts:
Procne · 15/12/2018 08:00

I’m having difficulty thinking of any Scottish names which would be difficult for the average English person to pronounce. What kinds of name are you ruling out on pronounceability? Lachlan isn’t hard to say!

ReginaPhalange89 · 15/12/2018 07:57

Is Tristan Scottish? 🤔 I'm Scottish and didn't know that , never come across a Tristan! Really dislike it actually, sounds like a posh twat name . Sorry ! Haha.

Loads of lovely Scottish boys names. I don't think Lachlan is difficult to say. Hamish , Angus , Harris and Murray are my favs . Cameron is lovely too.

Peachbubble · 15/12/2018 07:29

How about

Callum
Gregor
Fraser
Keir
Blair
Duncan

I like Tristan from your list.

Shadow1234 · 15/12/2018 07:15

Finlay is my favourite on your list, but I also love Harris.

LadyGAgain · 15/12/2018 07:14

Alexander
Quinn

flumpybear · 15/12/2018 07:13

I have a Cameron and we never get the Tory reference, ever!

Other names Munro, Forbes, Campbell, Fraser, Blaine, most Scottish clan type surnames and some Scottish islands eg Arran Lewis Harris

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