Donald or Donalbain

Donal’s Irish tho. Isn’t OP looking for Scottish names?

I am always astonished that people are prepared to risk their child being even slightly unhappy to make a point. Of course Donald is a proud traditional name, but it’s one that is currently off limits. Simple as that. There are lots of Donalds- of course there are-but the name didn’t have the baggage when they were named. It does now.

Exactly. For those reasons I would also not choose those

Ok, and that's great. But if you also had an Uncle MacBeth in every generation it wouldn't make it a common name. Other than in your family. The name Donalbain is unheard of outside of your orbit. The views you're getting on it are because not everyone knows your family. It's "a" name. There are thousands of others, you get to choose. Your child will not remain in your bubble where everyone has an Uncle Donalbain.

I could have an Auntie Frenulum in every generation going back to the Tudors, but it woudln't make it any less unusual in a wider sense. Surely you understand that it's not sneering, but perspective? Which you wanted, and that's why you posted?

Where I live there are so many Donalds that they are mostly known with their middle name eg Donald John, Donald Angus, Donald Douglas.

I didn't realise it was so very rare outside of Scotland. And what about Donny Osmond?!

Yes. People in German-speaking countries understand why men above a certain age might have that name. Below a certain age and people start to draw conclusions about what your family believes. It won’t happen to all names; some are too common or have other strong associations. It may happen to this name in the very near future.

I think it will be shortened to Don or Donny anyway, and in Scotland, I don't think people will assume you're a trump fan. They'll assume you've named him after your dad or grandad and it will just be his name.
I have as much hatred in my heart for Trump as anyone, but I think Donald has more immediate association with Donald Where's your troosers and Donald Duck to me.
It's in no way like using adolf ffs.

How is Donabhain pronounced? Donovan??

I know two toddlers called Theodore and one adult.

Hi OP, the name Donald has been used for centuries in Scotland. Why should one person's name mar a centuries-old tradition? Go with what you like for your baby. I do like Donal (Dòmhnall) as well.

Also by the time your DC is old enough to know about the big wide world and American politics, Donald Trump will have died. He's 79, obese, and not in great nick.

I'm from the Highlands. I know a shitload of Donalds, and never think of the American president when I hear the name, because he's not in my life as much as the Donalds I actually know.

It is in use in the new generation. I know three Donalds under 5 yo.

It's a solid name with a good history and meaning. Use it, OP.

Oh well, let's just call all baby boys Jack, then, just in case we might cause any slight discomfort in the tiny brains of people who can't bring themselves to understand that other parts of the world might be very slightly different to their own.

What a lot of tripe.

A family can choose a name for all sorts of sentimental and personal reasons. Given that the children will usually leave the house at some point and encounter a couple of other people throughout their life, it's not "prejudice against Scottish culture" for people to point out that outsiders from the big bad world might have very different connotations to a name

If the OP didn't want opinions, I suggest they not post threads inviting comment on their choices.

Well, and also that there is a huge amount of pretty ignorant unexamined prejudice against Scottish culture, and unwillingness to think about what names might represent beyond a superficial level of fashion and personal taste.

It is a bit like naming your child Adolf in 1939…

I went to school with a Bain. He was nice.

I think the learning from this thread is that people in Scotland don't link it to Trump, but lots and lots of people outside Scotland will.

Both names are not nice…even without the Trump association (which will be the first thing people will think of!)

There are SO many lovely names…why would you pick two such ugly sounding ones??

My 31yo son's middle name is Andrew. I'd better get that erased from his birth certificate and start calling my grandson by his middle name- until some association comes along with it too 🙄

Thing is, there are enough nice traditional Scottish names without having to go around calling babies Donald. It’s an old manny name, and not a trendy old manny name.

😂

Plenty pride in my Scottish roots and my children have authentically Scottish names.

You've picked stinkers. You can name your kid Hamish Dougal McScottishface for all anyone cares but you don't need to start a thread about it and feign outrage when everyone tells you the truth 🙄

Donald on birth certificate but nicknamed Donnie ?

It would be interesting to see the number of Scottish baby Donalds born over the last few years. I would put money on the numbers plummeting….