views on Arran??

The correct pronunciation is Air-on. I went to school with 2 boys called Aaron pronounced Air-on. I think over the years the incorrect spelling has been used. If the name wanted is Arun then it should be spelled Arun or Arran or something that pronounces like that. Double A at the start of a word is pronounced Air. This isn't debatable it is the facts but the language evolves over time and as such the majority of people now call their children Aaron and say it Arun. It is incorrect but in today's language appears to now be correct.

Hi swanandduck - was it the Scottish version (Arran) that was popular in Ireland or were people naming their sons after the Irish island (Aran)?

Interesting, because over here in scotland I havent met many other "Arrans" at all - I think the name is just coming into use. My son is 3, and Ive run into two other children with the "island" version.

Dont worry about not liking it - we all have our opinions, thats cool - these name boards are so much fun!

I don't really like the name, partly because it was very, very popular in Ireland about 10-15 years ago and is now a bit tired over there. But also because it's always sounded a bit makey uppy to me. Sorry!

Just thought Id mention some more "scottish place names"...Tyree for a girl (an island) Lora for the "falls of Lora".....Rosa for "glen rosa" which is on the isle of Arran!

The thing I love about the name Arran is there are versions in every culture. There is obviously the biblical and arabic Aaron (exalted one), the scottish Arran (island, mountain dweller, mountain of strength, sleeping warrior), the south east asian and Indian Arun (colours before the sunrise - isnt that gorgeous?), and Aran, the Irish island. I love names that have their roots all over the place!

I love just saying my sons name - as someone on another board said "the roundness of the name" gives it a lovely sound - and I absolutely love it when I see Arran oatcakes, and Arran lotion (made on the island) - I love seeing his name "in action"! But I particularly love seeing the views of Arran, the "sleeping warrior", and thinking about my son!

I like Aaron or Arun (Indian/Persian i think) but not too keen on Arran.

lovethesea trying to imagine someone called Scalpay!

Other island names not yet mentioned include Sanday for a boy or Rona for a girl (though usually spelt Rhona, Rona is the island name). Another Scottish place name I like for a boy is Lorn (as in the Firth of Lorn, just off Oban) and Brodie (is a place near Inverness).

I like Arran as a name.

Love, love love the name Arran! It is my 3 year old sons name. I am American, my husband is Scottish, and he grew up seeing views of Arran every day. Its a stunning island, and a strong, lovely name.

My boy is Arran Joseph Sinclair (he has 2 middle names)....

Funny thing about the biblical "aaron"...Im from new york and never, ever heard it pronounced "ear-on"....Ive always herd it pronounced the same way I say "arran"....maybe a regional thing?

Anyway, go for "Arran"!

I've always pronounced Aaron as Aron, I knew someone called Aaron who pronounced his that way and I always associated Air-ron as the American way of saying it. I'd never really heard it pronounced Air-ron until a few years ago. It sounds quite odd to me. Typically dp's brother is called Air-ron

I love it, love it, love it. I'm biased though as it's my ds name. We chose it as I used to live across the water from The Isle of Arran and it is such a beautiful isle. It also turns out that the Earl of Arran from years gone by shares my dp's surname, so there could be some connection there. I'd say go for it, people will get used to the spelling and pronunciation!

Aaron to me is always AIR-ON from years of church pronounciation - and I don't like it because of that sound.

Arran I like. I know Lewis', Iona's, Skye's and Harris' so don't see why other islands should be excluded .... though some would be harder to live with - Scalpay, Rum, Mull ...

It has already been posted as Air-on this is how i also pronounce it

Aaron - biblical, I'd pronounce it Air-on

Aran - I think of the Aran islands off the coast of Galway

My brother (22) is Aaron and I choose his name and love it. No one ever pronounces his name Air-ron just A-ron and we have scottish relatives.

It's not necessary imo to have a connection to the island - that would rule out so many beautiful names if that were the case.

my nephew is called Arran as he was conceived on the Isle of Arran

Arran and Aaron are completely different names (and being Welsh I would pronounce Aaron as Ah-ron).

Arran is a lovely name though the only one I know is a girl!

Read this and thought it was going to be about the views on Arran (quite new to MN). Truly spectacular views on the the bonny wee island. Even better to view Arran from Ayr/Troon area. Beautiful on a clear day esp if there's a bit of snow on Goatfell. Arran is known by some as the sleeping warrior.

Oh, and I wouldn't choose as a name unless the place holds some signifivcance...

Do you have a connection with the island?

I like Air-on, I hate Arr-on - sounds like a woolly jumper! I'd always spell it Aaron.

I always used to think Aaron was pronounced Air-on too but in recent years everyone I come across seems to pronounce it like Arran. I considered Aran for my ds but dh wasn't keen...

Then they are mis-pronouncing it. Aaron is pronounced AIR-on, for the reasons Stable has described.

Arran is perfectly fine - a name in it's own right.

Seamus Heaney - Lovers on Aran

The timeless waves, bright, sifting, broken glass,
Came dazzling around, into the rocks,
Came glinting, sifting from the Americas

To posess Aran. Or did Aran rush
to throw wide arms of rock around a tide
That yielded with an ebb, with a soft crash?

Did sea define the land or land the sea?
Each drew new meaning from the waves' collision.
Sea broke on land to full identity.