Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Scottish girls names!

102 replies

bunhead34 · 07/02/2021 11:21

DH and I would both like a Scottish name for our baby girl, but can't agree on one!

I really like Eilidh but we live in England and also have a not super straightforward (European) surname, so will she be in for a lifetime of spelling out her full name and mispronunciation? Regardless, DH isn't super keen on Eilidh anyway.

What are your favourite Scottish girls names?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
sailormoo92 · 19/02/2021 16:55

I'm a Mhairi (prounounced Ma-ree) and you end up correcting people all the time; no not mary, marie, vah-ree.

I like Blair, Bonnie or Alba for a girl.

812mumof3 · 18/02/2021 20:11

My daughter is called Mary.
Everyone we meet absolutely love 💘

HotDogHotDiggityDog · 18/02/2021 17:06

@bunhead34 lovely choice, we have had nothing but compliments on our little Aila Grin

SeanChailleach · 18/02/2021 16:21

Smile @bunhead34

Mummyofmandb · 18/02/2021 12:26

@bunhead34 lovely choice 🥰

Original poster
bunhead34 · 18/02/2021 10:56

We are going with Aila 🥰 it may or may
Not actually be Scottish but that's good enough for me!
We almost went with Eilidh but realised that also means Helen which is our chosen middle Name!

OP posts:
RaraRachael · 18/02/2021 10:42

We had a Sine in our town and I had no idea that it was pronounced Sheena. I thought it was like in the mathematical term Blush

Edenember · 18/02/2021 03:05

Eila, Esme, Iona, Ishbel, Flora, Peigi.

midsomermurderess · 17/02/2021 22:33

Marsali.

SeanChailleach · 17/02/2021 21:39

@bunhead34

Any opinions on Aila?
"Aila" is a Scandi name that means "holy", same as "Helga". www.nordicnames.de

It's therefore possibly an Old Norse name - could be a thousand years of use. Norse was spoken in Scotland and other Norse names are used and confused with Gaelic names.

In Scots Gaelic it is
a little like "Àille" which means "beauty" and is pronounced "Ahlya".
a little like Eala which means swan. That's pronounced "Alla".
"Èalaidh" would rhyme with "daily" but means escape, elope, etc.

Bananablondie · 17/02/2021 20:42

@Isawthathaggis

Fiona, Shona and Heather are all very popular if you look at 40 something’s. In my high school I was one of several Fiona’s, Shona’s and Heathers. The Scottish version of Jane I’ve always felt. Loads of 40 something Kirsty’s too.

Love Greer, Mhairi , Elspeth, Ishbel.

I know you didn’t mean literally the Scottish version of Jane, but that reminds me of Sine or Sheena, which is the Gaelic version of Jane.
SeanChailleach · 17/02/2021 18:08

"hron" means "whale" in Old Norse. In Modern Irish "rón" means "seal".

mathanxiety · 17/02/2021 17:31

(even if Americans are insisting on using it for girls!!)

The Blair (f) I knew was Irish, in school in Ireland.

florascotia2 · 17/02/2021 17:28

More haste, less speed: should be "change in just a few"

florascotia2 · 17/02/2021 17:28

ruruvision:
This site is a very useful introduction to grammar - English has cases, too, but the spellings of words chane just a few. It explains:

www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/case.htm

This is an excellent site for learning more about Scottish Gaelic; it starts with basics.
learngaelic.scot/

As RaRaRachel says, Rhona is quite a popular spelling for the female name. (Not vocative case, nominative.)

Rona is the usual spelling for the Scottish Island; it is Norse in origin but is used (with spelling Ronaigh) in Gaelic.

I suspect - but I do not know for certain - that the modern spelling of the name Rhona might have been influenced by the rhotic (rolled) prononciation of the letter 'R' used by many, many people in Scotland (and northern England). So not short, crisp 'Rona' but longer, softer 'Rrrrowhna'.

Rhona is old-fashioned but perhaps coming back. I once met a delightful 5-year old with the name.

ruruvision · 16/02/2021 23:07

I loved learning about the vocative case, thank you @florascotia2 - any other language lessons? Smile

Laeta · 16/02/2021 23:00

Can't believe no one has said Bonnie.

Marcipex · 16/02/2021 22:58

Christina

MaybesAyeMaybesNo · 16/02/2021 22:55

I know a lady called Shuna - like Shona but with a U from Gaelic which I’ve always thought was nice.

Uiseag · 16/02/2021 22:54

Kirsteen

RaraRachael · 16/02/2021 22:40

Rhona is the more common spelling in my experience and sounds just the same as Rona.
Mirren is becoming more popular. I've also seen Murron which I don't like so much.

Mummyofmandb · 16/02/2021 18:20

I like Mairi and Mirren. I’m Scottish. My own daughter has a similar sounding, but not Scottish name. She’s called Marin.

Unfucked · 16/02/2021 18:11

I love Fiona.

Mary must be due back in fashion any day now.

Rassy · 16/02/2021 15:27

Iona
Kirsten

tuttifuckinfruity · 16/02/2021 15:21

@florascotia2

Is Rhona a correct spelling of Rona? Or does the h make that vocative, same as Mhairi?

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.

Swipe left for the next trending thread