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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Thoughts on these boys names?

63 replies

coffeewithmilk · 07/08/2021 07:30

Myself and my husband have cut down a long list of boys names that we like, but still not 100% sure. They're a mix of Irish/Scottish
What do you think;

-Ewan
-Caolann (pronounced kay-linn)

Cillian
Connell
Oisin

Please be honest if you don't like the name

Thank you

OP posts:

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Set a reminder

TatianaBis · 11/08/2021 09:27

Well quite.

DacwMamYnDwad · 11/08/2021 09:14

Yawn.

TatianaBis · 11/08/2021 08:58

You’re missing the point - current usage is not proof of ancient derivation - which is not clear cut as you seem to believe.

I can only repeat that Iwan is a given form of Ywain in literature.

The point about Yseult was to illustrate that Y and I can be interchangeable.

You’re missing the point - you seem to be taking current usage as proof of ancient derivation - but name derivation is nothing like as clear cut as you seem to believe.

DacwMamYnDwad · 11/08/2021 08:07

@TatianaBis, the online sites for Welsh names are not to be trusted. Some of them have some very peculiar suggestions for names.

As I said, Iwan is a form of John and not a form of Owain/Ywain/Eoghan.

Your point about Yseult is irrelevant.

TrampolineForMrKite · 10/08/2021 22:57

I think if he’s living in England it’s only fair you give him a name that’s easy for the uninitiated to pronounce/spell. I’ve known some Aines, Niamhs and Aoifies who all have undoubtedly beautiful names but their whole schooling here in England was teachers saying “ooh how do I pronounce that?”

So with that in mind I would say Ewan.

trappistkepler · 10/08/2021 22:48

@Buttercup54321

Upvote Patrick too, never used anymore

Buttercup54321 · 10/08/2021 22:05

Not keen.
Patrick
Michael
Sean
Seamus
Shane
Kevin

trappistkepler · 10/08/2021 21:58

Ewan - is this not like the way the name Mary was used in Ireland decades ago, a bit overdone?
Caolann (pronounced kay-linn) You will always, always be explaining the pronunciation. A difficult name.
Cillian - a bit wet, but that's just personal taste
Connell - if you are Irish - why would you use an anglicised version of Conal which is a far better name
Oisin - It is a nice name but don’t forget the fada … Oisín … which changes the pronunciation from (sounding like poison to someone upthread) to Osheen/Usheen

TatianaBis · 10/08/2021 21:20

The point about Yseult is that the Y and I are interchangeable, as with Ywain.

Iwan is given a version of Ywain in medieval literature.

Equally:

Iwan is a Welsh name that originates from the Gaelic Irish name Eoghan which also is related to the name Owen. It is also thought that Iwan is derived from the name Ifan (that means John).

www.welshboysnames.co.uk/iwan/

DacwMamYnDwad · 10/08/2021 20:48

Yseult isn't welsh and Iwan is a form of John, not a form of Ywain/Owain.

SuperSketchy · 10/08/2021 20:40

Fergus is one of my favourite names! It is both Irish and Scottish (I think), so fits in with your list.

Hamish is also great.

mynameisbrian · 10/08/2021 20:27

I like them except for Oisin.

For me I like

Innes
Fergus
Fraser
Hamish
Aidan
Conor
Bruce

maddy68 · 10/08/2021 20:23

I actually only like Ewan and Connell ( which are lovely) the otwhra are leading to a lifetime of Miss pronouncing and issues at school

TheVanguardSix · 10/08/2021 20:22

Oisin followed by Cillian, OP.
It's time for Naoise to be used more. That's a fine, fine name.

TatianaBis · 10/08/2021 20:20

Ywain is also spelt Iwain and Iwan, as Yseult is also spelt Iseult.

SuperSketchy · 10/08/2021 19:50

Oisín or Cillian. They're both lovely

DacwMamYnDwad · 10/08/2021 19:40

Iwan is a form of John. Nothing to do with Ywain.

TatianaBis · 10/08/2021 19:35

Haven’t mentioned Iwan.

Probably derived from Ywain, friend of Gawain, also referred to as Yvain, Uwain, Ewaine, Owain

TatianaBis · 10/08/2021 19:21

I think that some experts believe Eoghan is actually derived from the Latin form of Eugene

Personally I think it’s more likely that they share common etymological roots as Irish and Scots didn’t have much interface with Romans.

Old fashioned scholarship holds some Celtic words to be derived from Latin and Greek due to the reverence for those cultures and belief in their supremacy. I don’t buy it personally. Celtic cultures are quite distinct linguistically, mythologically and archaeologically from classical culture.

DacwMamYnDwad · 10/08/2021 19:16

Iwan and Owen/Owain are not the same.
Iwan is a form of John, Owain isn't.

LizzieAnt · 10/08/2021 19:05

@TatianaBis
I think that some experts believe Eoghan is actually derived from the Latin form of Eugene though, while others favour a different origin. Anyway, it's definitely not the same name as John/Eoin/Ian, which is what I thought you were saying

TatianaBis · 10/08/2021 18:09

I'm Irish, not Scottish, but here Eoin and Eoghan are different names, though they sound the same. Eoin is cognate with John (as is Seán) and Eoghan with Eugene - they're not equivalents. Ewan isn't really used here.

I actually meant Eógan not Eoin, but as it goes Eoin is equivalent to Ian as well as John. Eoghan is the equivalent of Owain/Owen and Ewan.

Eugene is a French/Russian name from the Latin and Greek and not really either an English name or commonly used here.

LizzieAnt · 10/08/2021 14:21

Sorry, posted too soon. Ewan isn't really used here that much, nor Euan. There have been some baby boys with those names in recent years however.

LizzieAnt · 10/08/2021 14:17

@TatianaBis

Eòin, Eoghan, Ewan, Euan are variants of the same name.

WhiskyIrnBru · 10/08/2021 13:47

Love Oisin!

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