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Baby names

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Original poster

Scottish boys names

65 replies

Frida9 · 27/09/2022 09:18

Hi, me and my husband are trying to think of a good Scottish boys name for our baby due at the start of next year but we're struggling.

Callum, Cameron, Malcolm, Gregor and Ruairidh/Rory are all out for various reasons.

I like Fraser but my husband isn't keen. Only name we agree on is Ian but I'm worried it's a bit middle aged

Neither of us is keen on "new"/trendy names such as Struan or Lachlan.

Anyone got any suggestions?

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midsomermurderess · 29/09/2022 19:40

I think Torquil, for good or Ill, might be too associated with lamfart (red trousers, land rovers, the New Town) types. It would be a bold choice.

Notasyoungasiwas · 29/09/2022 05:39

I have a Stuart

BeachStripes · 29/09/2022 04:40

More unusual:

Tormod
Corran

More Gaelic:

Fionnlach
Ruairidh

Presume Logan will fall into your “too modern” category.

Brodie, Keir,
James/Jamie/Jimmy
Gregor
Moray/Murray

LostInTheColonies · 29/09/2022 03:37

Duncan
Angus
Blair
Fergus
Hamish
Euan
Hector
I love Scottish boys' names 😁

AmandaMirandaPanda · 29/09/2022 02:33

Dinoteeth · 28/09/2022 23:11

Brendan, Cormac, & Evander all sound Irish to me.

Hugh, Gavin, & Neil are all OK

Ringan I've never heard of sound made up.

Torquil, I've never came across a Torquil of any age.

Yes, Brendan and Cormac are Irish in origin ... as I said at the beginning of my post "(some of these aren't Scottish in origin, but have a history of use in Scotland):"

Evander (Iomhar) and Torquil (Torcall) are Scottish, although both are anglicised versions of the Gaelic names that I've noted (OP said that she preferred not to use Gaelic forms as she and her husband don;t have direct connections to Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland.)

Ringan is a Scottish form of Ninian.

mathanxiety · 29/09/2022 02:20

Evander is 100% not Irish.

Dinoteeth · 28/09/2022 23:11

Brendan, Cormac, & Evander all sound Irish to me.

Hugh, Gavin, & Neil are all OK

Ringan I've never heard of sound made up.

Torquil, I've never came across a Torquil of any age.

AmandaMirandaPanda · 28/09/2022 20:52

Just adding a few that I think have not been mentioned (some of these aren't Scottish in origin, but have a history of use in Scotland):

Brendan
Cormac
Evander
Gavan/Gavin
Hugh
Neil/Niall
Ringan
Torquil

Dinoteeth · 28/09/2022 11:05

I do prefer it with the Iain spelling rather than just Ian.

Dinoteeth · 28/09/2022 11:04

Iain is a classic name, Gaelic for John so I don't really think it will appear dated.

pitterypattery00 · 27/09/2022 23:16

I like lots of Scottish boys names, including Fraser. Iain is ok but dated to me (much prefer that spelling to Ian). Ideas...

Roderick (Roddy)
Ross
Euan
Nairn
Sholto
Murdo
Alexander (Sandy)
Arran
Innes
Kenneth
Jamie
Findlay
Hector
Lorne

CharlotteByrde · 27/09/2022 23:03

I like Ian. Or Iain if you fancy an extra letter. And Nicol and Jamie are both easy names to live with.

Luredbyapomegranate · 27/09/2022 22:39

Kester - Scottish form of Christopher
Innes
Gillies
Lorne
Robert
Duncan
Donald
Douglas

Ian is middle aged, bit early to revive. Ewan?

waltzingparrot · 27/09/2022 21:00

Finbar
Caelan

midsomermurderess · 27/09/2022 20:39

I think Ian is having a bit of a lull. I find it hard to believe it is on the road to extinction, it's such an embedded Scottish name. Soonish, it will fell fresh.

Puffalicious · 27/09/2022 20:30

Struan and Lachlan are trendy? Cough, cough!

I have a teen Struan (West coast) no-one has his name in his entire, large secondary school (or primary). I teach secondary and in 28 years have taught one (who is 16). It's still my favourite name ever. It's very old- it's the name of a place!

I also have a Lauchlan (not Lachlan) . Not trendy at all- again we know none and no-one in his primary with his name. It's a very old name- it means man of the loch- as it has it's roots in the Vikings (which my family line goes back to).

I know they're not for you, but don't dismiss them as trendy, therefore lesser.

Ian is really, really middle-aged, sorry. The youngest one I know is 40 (cousins x2).

Friends of my 3 boys include:

Innes
Murdo
Archie
Nairn
Fraser
Arran
Angus
Fergus

Just don't do Lewis/ Ewan/ Calum/ Owen like EVERY other teenager I know.

mathanxiety · 27/09/2022 20:19

Brice/ Bryce
Athol
Kester
Lennox
Maxwell
Ragnall
Ranald
Grant
Ramsay
Alec
Diarmad
Keir
Rab
Alban
Elliott
Kelvin
Sholto
Graham

AuldReekie1905 · 27/09/2022 19:16

Another vote for Euan. I love that name.
Scott
Alec

Katela18 · 27/09/2022 19:12

I have a baby Hamish

Cece92 · 27/09/2022 19:09

Harris?

AlwaysFoldingWashing · 27/09/2022 19:07

Harris

applesandpears33 · 27/09/2022 19:02

Murdo
James - plenty of Kings had that name

KnittingNurse · 27/09/2022 19:00

Irvine

barneymcgroo · 27/09/2022 18:58

I'm expecting dc3 - was put off Donald for my last two boys, but it's high on the list for this one. I see it as claiming back a perfectly good name!

Blackberrybunnet · 27/09/2022 18:55

Jamie
Robin (Robert Burns' nickname, apparently)

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