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Baby names

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Original poster

Thoughts on girls name Alba

87 replies

Englishmummy · 10/11/2024 19:33

Me and my DH both love the name Alba, we like the link to the Spanish and a Italian meaning ‘Dawn’ and it’s also growing a lot in popularity in France (DH is French I’m English and we live in England currently). My concern is the Scottish connotations with the world meaning Scotland in Gaelic. Would people find this weird?

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Scrabbelator · 10/11/2024 20:21

Thought of Scotland, and a cassette recorder.
What about the Irish name "Ailbhe"? Pronounced "ail-va".

BlackStrayCat · 10/11/2024 20:21

For me it is Spanish.

Too popular here (Spain).

Newmum110 · 10/11/2024 20:17

I know an Alba who is the most beautiful person in every way, therefore I love the name!!!!!

Echobelly · 10/11/2024 20:15

I think it's a lovely name, and falls into the 'not all over the place popular but not out-there unheard-of' space

jacquettalux · 10/11/2024 20:14

I love it. Simple, strong, easy to spell and easy to pronounce. A refreshing change from the more common girls names around at the moment. I think it’s feminine without being frilly. Go for it, OP!

sunsu · 10/11/2024 20:12

The pronunciation for Alba, meaning Scotland in Gaelic is more like ‘Al-ah-buh’ so I wouldn’t worry about that connection. There are many non Gaelic speakers that pronounce is phonetically but it’s not quite right. If anyone was to question you about that connection, you could explain the difference!

RJnomore1 · 10/11/2024 20:12

I’m Scottish. I’ve always loved it as a name but no way would I use it now in case anyone thought it was any form of support for the political party.

TheWoodpeckerSighed · 10/11/2024 20:11

Know someone who used the name in England recently and assumed they had some sort of Scottish connection. Apparently not. I think perhaps if you're English you don't realise that it's a much more common word in Scotland (used in company names as a pp said) and, well, that it literally means Scotland and the vast majority of Scottish people would know that. If the Scottish link bothers you, I'd think twice before using it.

GingerSquid · 10/11/2024 20:08

I used to like it and my FIL immediately said cheap electronics from Argos. We live in Spain and here it’s a very classic and middle class girls name that you will hear a lot in upscale areas and private schools - along with Alma, Clara, Sofia, Maria and Isabella .. I think in Spanish it has some meaning about “fair” and it’s often used for fair skinned / haired children. It’s very popular here at the moment, loads in my kids school and ditto Alma. The Spanish don’t really use other Spanish names we use like Lola and Luna! They are more nickname / pet names.

MirandaBlu · 10/11/2024 20:08

I think there are enough little Albas around in the UK, and multiple origins/meanings for Alba, that it wouldn't generally be seen as weird. Some people would associate it with Scotland/Scottish independence, but probably not as much outside of Scotland.

Alba electronics use the Bush brand name now, so the association isn't likely to be strong among children in ten years. The Alba (different pronunciation in Gaelic) = Scotland connection is there in the background but I wouldn't consider it offensive in any way. But knowing two teens somewhat irritated at being frequently addressed/referred to as "Kit Kat" and "Dove bar" - relatively pleasant connotations, but constant "jokes" can get tiresome - I'd say it's something to think about.

In your place, I think the other familiar meanings would be a strike against Alba if I were deciding between it and other equally attractive (to me and H) names, but probably not enough to stop me from using it if it were otherwise THE name.

DieStrassensindimmernass · 10/11/2024 20:07

Alba means Scotland.
We have BBC Alba up here.
We have the Alba (political) Party.
We also have numerous companies with the name Alba in them.
It's also associated with cheap radios and cassette players.

WiseOldPusscat · 10/11/2024 20:06

I really like it but I am Scottish so I’d associate it with Scotland. I don’t think I even knew about the Italian/Spanish connection.

anon2022anon · 10/11/2024 20:06

I've know two Alba's, both Spanish, and both absolutely lovely human beings, so I'm on board with it 😊

ladygindiva · 10/11/2024 20:03

Deliberationdivinationdesperation · 10/11/2024 19:38

I like it, I know 3 under the age of about 7 with that name. I personally prefer Alva which I think might be Scandinavian although I'm not 100% sure on the origin

I know one Alva, it's an anglicised spelling of the Irish name (Ailbhe) in her case, and I agree it's really nice.

ladygindiva · 10/11/2024 20:02

Feelingstrange2 · 10/11/2024 19:34

Sounds like the name of a cheap radio

This.

OliviaRodrighost · 10/11/2024 20:00

I’m Scottish and I know two collies called Alba. So I wouldn’t use it for a human.

WowIlikereallyhateyou · 10/11/2024 19:57

Shinyandnew1 · 10/11/2024 19:38

It was the name of the daughter in The Time Traveller’s wife. I don’t think it’s a pretty name, tbh.

This ^^

Gingerkittykat · 10/11/2024 19:56

I like it, I'm Scottish and know a couple of little girls called Alba. I would definitely associate it with Scotland and didn't know it had links to other languages and countries.

Inezz · 10/11/2024 19:46

It literally means Scotland so I wouldn't use it for that reason.

BBC Alba.

And my cheap Alba cassette player when I was a kid!

GreenPaint1 · 10/11/2024 19:45

Also Charlotte Crosby little girl

Thunderpants88 · 10/11/2024 19:42

nope cheap radio

sounds bad too

Bucket07 · 10/11/2024 19:41

I'm in the UK and I know three little Albas, so I'd say it's quite popular now. To me it just reminds me of the electronics brand but the younger generations won't know of this.

crostini · 10/11/2024 19:39

I know a Spanish alba. It suits her very well so I say yes! Use it

BashfulClam · 10/11/2024 19:39

As a Scot I don’t find it weird. It’s not a name I like but the Scottish connection wouldn’t put me off as it’s not really used here as the Gaelic speaking community is fairly small.

Overtheatlantic · 10/11/2024 19:39

I don’t like it at all. It’s frumpy to my ears.