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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Girls shortlist...is Eilidh a bit unrealistic for living in England??

105 replies

marmitecheesetoast · 13/02/2017 13:22

So we don't know what we're having but approaching 32 weeks and feel like we should really probably start to sort out our names shortlist! No idea about boys (that's a whole other thread for another day ) but we have a few ideas for girls.

I've always loved Isla, for years I thought if I ever have a girl I'll call her Isla, but it's got so popular now that once I knew I was pregnant I discounted it. As approaching due date it does keep popping back into my head though..but really I feel like realistically she would end up being one of four Islas in her class? I suggested Eilidh as an alternative which I think I actually love as much/more than Isla now and DH loves it too - yay! However, is it a bit of a burden giving that name when we live in England? Would she be forever spelling her name/people saying her name wrong?? We have a long-ish surname which while not particularly complicated we do have to spell quite a lot....

I'm Scottish and while a Scottish name isn't a must, (we have some other names on shortlist too) I am quite keen to have a Scottish name. We hope to move back to Scotland in a few years too but nothing definite.

So shortlist is

Eilidh (love it but is it unrealistic giving this name in England?)
Isla (pretty sure we are going to discount this as too popular?)
Ailsa - I suggested as easier alternative to spell than Eilidh but DH not so keen)
Also like Alice and Evelyn...

Would welcome thoughts/opinions on the above generally and particularly on whether Eilidh would be a bit of a burden living in England?! Thanks!

OP posts:

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wishingona · 13/02/2017 13:44

Eilidh* sorry was thinking of her surname!!

GinIsIn · 13/02/2017 13:47

I know a 5 year old Eilidh, in England. It's a lovely name! Yes, you or she will need to tell people how to pronounce it first off, but it's a fairly easy one to remember once they havez

Lochan · 13/02/2017 13:50

I think Eilidh is beautiful. I have a name that requires spelling for most people but it doesn't bother me at all. I like having beautiful, unusual name.

As an alternative if you like Alice have you considered Alis? (pronounced Ay-lish for the non Scots) Also very beautiful but a bit easier to spell.

reuset · 13/02/2017 14:14

I think it's fine. I knew how to spell it.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 13/02/2017 14:17

I've always loved Ailsa and it is less common in Scotland atm. I do know a few Islas and a few Eilidhs too.

AuntiePenguin · 13/02/2017 14:22

I prefer ailsa, I think that's a lot easier for people to pronounce and spell. Names that have to be constantly spelled out (like mine!) are a hassle and it's your child not you that will mainly have that hassle, so I would tend to avoid them.

Jooni · 13/02/2017 14:24

Eilidh is nice and I love Ailsa. I think there would be spelling/pronunciation confusion with Eilidh but there are loads of ways to spell even well-known names like Isabel and Catherine so I think it would be fine. If it's your favourite I'd go for it! Especially since you have the Scottish connection, it's a lovely nod to that.

Alice is nice too but a bit bland in comparison to me. Evelyn is lovely and as I said I really like Ailsa (might get confused with Elsa though?)

Twistmeandturnme · 13/02/2017 14:29

There's an Eilidh in our family. It's a beautiful name, especially when spoken in a lilting Scottish accent.
Only issue is when she visited family in Yorkshire for the first time, as her name was misinterpreted as 'ayley with a dropped H and has been mis-spelled on Christmas cards ever since from that side of the family.
I don't know any little Islas
Several Ailsa/Elsas though.
All the names on your short list are lovely.

NotMrsTumble · 13/02/2017 14:33

Just bear in mind that there will NEVER be any souvenir shop tat with her name on. I feel this is a bonus. Dd has a celtic name and is used to not being able to buy a keyring or whatever with her name on now but there were a few times when this caused upset! Most English rellies got the hang of the spelling and pronunciation very quickly, we do still get some birthday cards with very odd spellings. Eilidh is a lovely name.

passingthrough1 · 13/02/2017 15:20

It's one of my favourites names. I'm not Scottish and I know how to pronounce it. It's just beautiful.

Lochan · 13/02/2017 15:34

You can't get named items for my name either, nor for either of my children.

This really isn't a big deal these days - it's really very easy to order personalised items online.

MrsHathaway · 13/02/2017 16:12

I know a family with an Isla and an Eilidh bit of a mouthful to say together, come to think of it and no issues so far. Certainly no "eyelid"

I'm a big fan of Alice as well.

Original poster

marmitecheesetoast · 13/02/2017 17:23

Thanks all, very helpful! Thinking about it I don't think I'd be precious about the spelling of it as used to my own name being constantly misspelt! More just whether if people seeing it written down e.g. at school wouldn't know how to say it and she'd end up being called all sorts. As many have said though, I guess once you explain its like Hayley without an H it's ppretty straightforward to remember, hopefully!
I also could never get any souvenir shop tat in my name as a child!

I wonder whether Alice would work as a potential middle name and then if she did really have bother with Eilidh she could choose to use Alice if she wanted. Does Eilidh Alice work?!

Of course this baby may well turn out to be a boy anyway!

OP posts:

MrsHathaway · 13/02/2017 17:31

I think they're a bit similar tbh.

Save Alice for DD2's middle name.

MrsHathaway · 13/02/2017 17:31

I think they're a bit similar tbh.

Save Alice for DD2's middle name.

thisismadness77 · 13/02/2017 17:33

I like it a lot. I also like Alba...

MygirlKeith · 13/02/2017 17:35

I love Eilidh. I think it would be fine in England. My son has a Scottish name, we live in Scotland and it gets spelled wrong all the time, he knows how to spell it though so he just corrects them!

MagnumAddict · 13/02/2017 17:40

Pronounced the same but I know an Ailidh, not sure if that would help with pronunciation or not though!

I don't actually know any Isla's (live in Scotland)

MagnumAddict · 13/02/2017 17:42

Also not keen on Eilidh Alice. Both lovely names but don't flow together imo

penguincrumble · 13/02/2017 17:44

I love Eilidh. There are lots of 'ayleys in london..

MagnumAddict · 13/02/2017 17:45

Eilidh Louise?

SingaSong12 · 13/02/2017 17:52

I wouldn't know how to pronounce it and might forget the spelling. As long as you don't mind that go for it.

Monkeyandthebear · 13/02/2017 18:11

Been interesting reading this post. We are both Scottish, living in Yorkshire and I am 21 weeks. Girls names are our long story, but for a boy we have 2, one very easy name but I am really loving Ruaridh, pronounced roo-ree. Scottish version of Rory. I think we might end up going for it if we have a boy. I know it will involve lots of spelling it out and I think we have to be ok with that.

Roodolf · 13/02/2017 18:17

I don't think Eilidh Alice works all that well - bit too similar.
I love the name Eilidh though - and I would have thought Eilidh Child had made it quite a bit more well known in terms of pronunciation.

StayGoldPonyBoy · 13/02/2017 18:26

I love the name, but we have an occasional client at work called Eilidh and I've heard some of the staff call her to confirm appointments and say hi is that 'Eyelid' I'm in Yorkshire. It's part of why we didn't choose it! I can't unhear it now every time I see the name written.

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