What are you first impressions of....

[DefinitelyMaybeBaby]

Hamish?

THINK this might be the one for our DS due soon. I was going to explain the reasons why we've tentatively chosen it, but I actually would be more interested in your initial reaction to it without knowing anything else. Would you make any assumptions about the child/adult carrying this name and does it give you any pre-conceived ideas about them?

*your first impressions...
DOH! Spelling mistake in the title not a great start...

I like it. I vaguely think 'Hamish Macbeth' but that's not a bad thing.

I would assume you were Scottish.
But nothing else.

I know quite a few Hamishes, pretty much equally divided between men from New Zealand, and small shaggy terriers.

I would assume that any small boy called Hamish had some kind of Scottish heritage, but apart from that it doesn't have any particular connotations for me. I quite like it.

Yes, or Scottish heritage if not actually Scottish.

I would expect the child or the parents to be Scottish.
It's a lovely name but I would find it odd if no one was Scottish.

Love it

I quite like it but then the only one I've ever known was so lovely that that might be the reason I like the name.

I'd definitely assume you and/or you partner were Scottish though

I'd assume he was a hulking great Scottish man, possibly out garroting haggis with his kilt. Exaggeration - but yes I'd be thinking very Scottish! I'd be very surprised if there was no close Scottish connection!

I like it, and wouldn't assume you were Scottish! I know it is a Scottish name but both the Hamishes I know are English. I wouldn't find it any odder than a Sean who wasn't Irish.

They are ten a penny up here, so I wouldn't think anything tbh. If you were outside Scotland I would think you had some connection to that part of the UK.

Yep, as far as I would think about it at all, I'd assume some sort of Scottish connection. Other than that I really like it and haven't come across any children called Hamish in my part of South East England.

Love it. If DD had been a boy, she would have been Hamish. I am Scottish.

Thanks all, that is helpful. The scottish connotations are strong! I am Scottish, DH is English, we used to live together in Scotland but are now in South England. Baby will be raised here and so I imagine have an English accent, I wonder if he will have to explain he is half Scottish a lot.
I wanted a scottish name, and this was DH's suggestion, he loves it, and I do too but then sometimes I think it's "too scottish" which seems ridiculous when that was something I wanted in a name! Someone on baby names thread recently coined the phrase "a hairy-arsed highlander name" and I think Hamish falls in that category!

I love it. I would assume he had Scottish family. I'm of with dc3 and although we both love the name we are English/Irish and kibd of feel like frauds if we used it!

It's great go for it!

I know an English Hamish, he is half Scottish. Really suits him.

Love it

Aha - it was me with the "hairy arsed highlander" That's not a derogatory term though, just a description of a rugged outdoorsy type - kinda like the guy on the front of the porridge box iyswim?

Interestingly th only Hamish I know personally isn't like that - he does have nice curly hair and an accent like liquid honey though.

I like it. His brothers would be Fraser and Rory and his sisters would be Lorna and Mhairi if that helps :o

Slightly lesss overtly highland and rugged I would say are names like Keir, Gregor, Craig, Innes, Struan, Ross, Nairn etc - all lovely names too.

More highlander names, Murdo, Angus, Fergus, Duncan.

Loads of brilliant Scottish names, I don't think you'd get a second glance for Hamish in England though, it's easy to pronounce, easy to spell etc and you never know, you might end up back here some time

Love it.

I'd think "I love it, if only Mr Knit liked as much as me"!

I know a lovely Hamish and think it's a handsome strong name.

It's also the punch line to a great joke - What do you call a man who's almost home? Hamish!

Thanks everyone, I've been re-convinced hearing all your positive responses! I think I just had a last minute wobble, but I do think it is our holy grail name with scottish roots but recognisable in england, easy to say and spell, and uncommon. And a unanimously positive response on mumsnet baby names thread must mean it's a winner!!

Oh I like it. I went to school with an East Asian Hamish, he was lovely.

I'd probably assume Scottish heritage but wouldn't think you were weird if you didn't have any.

I too would assume Scottish roots. Not a name I'd've used, but I think it's fine. Very masculine.

Apologies, but it makes me think of questionable meats (i.e. "What's in this airport vending machine sandwich?" "It's ham...ish") and always has, no matter how many lovely Hamishes there are!

My DPs mum has a Scottie dog door stop called hamish. That's all I have to contribute.