Caitrìona, Ùna and Mhàiri

[dunkydunker]

What do you think?

I want something Scottish but not very very obvious (DH is very very far away from Scottish)

A lowland Gaelic dialect? Interesting, I don't think I have ever heard of this. Does it have a name?
Is it more influenced by Irish than Scottish Gaelic?
Is it confined to a particular geographical area or a specific population sector/group?
Does it have names for boys and girls?

Hope you don't mind all these questions.

Aitch I did - and I knew some of it (in my memory of school lessons at least) But that doesn't really change the fact that it was my Granny's name

dunkydunker, re the spelling, you should read ohbugger's post of 21:29:13! please!
Then you will understand why we have discussed this all day long!

The other problem with Gaelic names, historically, is that people had to use the English form on birth/marriage/death certificates and census returns. So a baby was known as Sine, and on her birth cert, her parents translated it as Janet. But when she got married, she couldn't remember how it was translated before, so it's translated as Jessie on her marriage cert.

I've an ancestress whose name appears variously as Louisa, Lucy and once as Elizabeth. Any guesses, oh you clever Gaelic speakers, as to which Gaelic name she was actually known as? I've no idea.

My (Irish) name is pronounced differently to the way it is spelt and causes me no end of trouble with people who see my name written down before meeting me or on my name badge at work. It is a complete pain in the arse and I wish my parents had chosen my second name instead.

However, that said, we gave our DC Irish names.

I have read it I do understand - take it up with my Great grandparents, because it still doesnt alter the fact it was my Granny's name.

no, it's okay, aitch. im sure you guys understand the need for refuge on mn sometimes. And i've enjoyed debating about it. and im pretty sure yous are thinking of one of his mates and not him.

macsaid- i think it's just called lallans. i dont think it's more irish, no, just maybe with more scots words? i might be wrong. it was spoken in campsie type area. I think the boys and girls names are the same as in standardised Gaelic.

the chap i am thinking of calls it lallans, yep.

thanks for that, have heard of lallans, off to google it and might learn some!

no, it doesn't alter the fact that it was your granny's name, of course, but it might have made you pause in responding that 'the gaelic grammar thing won't be a big thing in southern england', ie responding in precisely the dismissive manner she outlined in her post.

anyway, mistake or no, Mhairi is very very obviously scottish, so as per your OP is probably out.

AberdeenAngusina - I'd make a guess at Ealasaid, which (I think) translates into English as Elizabeth, but I guess could sound sort of like Lucy or Louisa?

aren't there other vocative names? Isn't Hamish one?

With due respect to all you Gaels, the Op asked for a Scottish name, not a Gaelic one. Doesnt this include scots names or names in the English language more commonly used in Scotland, and not just Gaelic names?

OP- by " very very obvious" do you mean names which are difficult for English speakers to spell or pronounce or ones that are very popular?

the three names she used as her examples were irish or scots gaelic, kristina.

the OP suggested gaelic names to begin with, no?

Kristina Ones that are very popular I suppose

I know, but she did ask for scottish names . Soem people are confused about the difference between the two

AFAIK lallans is scots as spoken in the lowlands, like doric in the NE. But im no expert

And before someone asks, i do know it should be Christina but it was taken already

depends where you come from, isn't Kristina an eastern euro spelling?

Not if you're Polish.

What about Flora?

flora's nice. quite london-trendy at the moment, i know a few floras.

ok, so

Catriona (due a comeback, i think)
Una (old lady ish, i think)
Wrong Mhairi (might change my name to)
Ailean (alien)
Cairistiona (

Kristina I think Gaelic names are a subset of Scottish names and the OP did lead by suggesting 3 very Gaelic sounding names which has clearly influenced the train of thought here today.

Well IME catriona and mhairi and very popular just now, and to a lesser extent so is Una. Whereas Shona, Angus and donald are a bit out of fashion.

Wht dont you check out the registrar generals lists of baby n ames for the last few years?

BTW i am using the commonly used english spellimgs of these names because i am an english speaker. I am not ignoring or disagreeing with the very interestimg comments made on this thread about showing respect for the gaelic language

How about the Irish Lasairfhíona? (Laz-uh-REE-na) It has a Scottishy ring to it with the -ína ending. Imo.

'Mairéad' would have to have the emphasis on the last syllable with the fada.

OhBugger, were you on the SORCHA thread? Everything you said would have been so appropriate there too.

I would say you can't have Scottish name suggestions without including Gaelic names, KristinaM.