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Baby names

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

Original poster

Marsaili, testing waters

65 replies

wombatsandadoor · 17/10/2021 09:37

After endeavour having mixed responses, I’m curious about marsaili.

Bearing in mind I’m in Scotland. I went to school with a ciorstaidh, and she coped fine, so Gaelic names do not put me off.

You say it MAR sa lee.

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Laloo4 · 17/10/2021 17:52

Very pretty! I too know a Marsailidh, but I prefer your spelling.

LinuxPenguinPCnerd · 17/10/2021 16:27

@merryhouse yeah Leary is the anglicised version :)

AlphabetAerobics · 17/10/2021 15:01

I’m literally reading the black house right now 😁 - in the foreword he says it should be pronounced “marshally” although I’ve got a Gaelic name and interpretations vary.

I’m Scottish and have never met one.

merryhouse · 17/10/2021 14:56

linux Lairy? Leery? - remembering my time with a railway relic collector and the Highland station Dun Laoghaire...

WestToEast · 17/10/2021 14:34

I'm Scottish. I knew a Marsaili at university and a baby with it as the middle name. Plus Outlander of course. And if you've done any Scots Gaelic Duolingo you'll have come across it: Tha Marsaili cho teth!

WaltzingBetty · 17/10/2021 12:58

@HoldingTheDoor

Lovely and quite well known Scottish name

I'll have to hand in my Scottish passport. I'd never heard the name before until about a year or so ago.

Maybe Grin I'm English and been aware of it for years as a character name. Never met one IRL though
honeygriff · 17/10/2021 12:49

I think it's lovely

LinuxPenguinPCnerd · 17/10/2021 12:29

It's lovely.

Yes I know it from outlander but it's perfectly pretty even in English.

Laoghaire for example is not easy to decipher and "leg hair" would be said 😂

BingBongToTheMoon · 17/10/2021 12:27

Gorgeous name.

MyOtherProfile · 17/10/2021 11:29

Kirsty??? Wow! I can kind of see it now but I wouldn't have got there by myself 😁

TwinklyBranch · 17/10/2021 11:12

I love it, one of my favourite names! I'm Scottish but have yet to meet a Marsaili.

Original poster
wombatsandadoor · 17/10/2021 11:09

Yeah the Lewis trilogy is where I know it from. I think the pronunciation difference is just regional differences in the Gaelic.

OP posts:
Original poster
wombatsandadoor · 17/10/2021 11:08

Yeah you say it like Kirsty.

OP posts:
merryhouse · 17/10/2021 11:01

@MyOtherProfile

It's ok, too close to masala for my liking, as someone said.

To be honest I'm more interested in knowing how you pronounce ciorstaidh.

I'm guessing Kirsty Grin
NeverTrustASmilingCat · 17/10/2021 10:39

I just know it from the Peter May Lewis trilogy, so would have said it like in this picture.

Marsaili, testing waters
yikesanotherbooboo · 17/10/2021 10:39

I like it and like a pp know it from the Lewis Trilogy.

Original poster
wombatsandadoor · 17/10/2021 10:34

Thanks guys, at least I’m not going completely left field.

I also really like Wednesday, after the Addams family lol.

OP posts:
Splishsplashimhavingabath · 17/10/2021 10:30

I know of someone with a daughter called Marsaili I love it such a nice name

JamieFrasersSassenach · 17/10/2021 10:30

Love it! Possibly because I love the character in Outlander, but I also think it's a really 'pretty' name. Go for it OP

QueenDanu · 17/10/2021 10:23

I like it, but I'm Irish so I've heard it before (although I know it's Scottish).

MARsalee is lovely.

ThirdElephant · 17/10/2021 10:21

I like it. I was concerned at first because I thought it'd be pronounced mar-sail-ee, but MAR-sa-lee is pretty, provided that sa is like salad, not marsala.

Yellow85 · 17/10/2021 10:15

I know someone called Marsailaidh. Spends her whole life telling people it’s like Parsley with the P.

balernobetty · 17/10/2021 10:11

It's lovely op. Was on my list for my first DC but he was a boy

Mamamia35 · 17/10/2021 10:06

My guess was Mar Sally and I'm Scottish. Are you ok with that pronunciation?

XiCi · 17/10/2021 10:00

I quite like it - only know it from Outlander

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