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

[marmitecheesetoast]

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!

I would certainly use Eilidh. Lovely name.

I love it and it was on the top of our list but didn't get used because we have American family and it would have been too strange there and when I tested it everyone thought it was Arabic. . There's nothing wrong with having an Arabic name but it wasn't the impression we were after. How about Jane as a middle name?

I've namechanged for this

I would use Eilidh. Lovely name but I am biased

I've had years of having to spell it and get used to the different pronunciations. Never bothered me and got some laughs at people's attempts at my name.

Also spent large amounts of time in Liverpool and they always love saying my name. And having a go at trying to spell it. Back in Scotland now and it's much more popular so rarely have to spell it out.

And agree re simple middle name. It flows much better.

I was always called Eilidh Bailey growing up by my mum. When I was first at school I thought that was my actual middle name! Almost 30 years later my family still call me that

Consider whereabouts in England you are. If you are in an area where h's are dropped, she will sound like Hayley with a dropped h. Hayley sounds very dated and not in a vintage way (maybe in 30 years though!)

AlwaysSpellingMyName My friend got called Eilidh Pailey by her family, sounds so sweet

What about Eily for spelling?

Please don't do this. Eilidh is a gorgeous name, don't butcher it.

I know an Eilidh in England. We met her before seeing the spelling so it was never a pronunciation problem. people cope with Sian, Siobhan, Aoife, Aisling etc so they'll learn!
It's a very pretty name.

I used to nanny for a little girl called eilidh, she was awesome! So is the name

Thanks AlwaysSpellingMyName

Hhmm User makes a potentially valid point though given we are currently in the Manchester area

Eilidh is a beautiful name. I may be bias as I'm from Scotland. It's quite popular up here but not overly so.

Prefer Alice.

Eilidh and Isla are very popular where I live (Scotland). I probably know more young Eilidh than girls with any other name.

Ailsa was more a popular amongst our generation. Don't know any young ones.

What about Iona. Still pretty popular but less so than Eilidh or Isla.

For what it's worth, I'm a nursery teacher in London and have worked in primary schools and nurseries for many years - I've never met and Isla or an Eilidh. I think they're both beautiful names.

I do currently have an Aila, Iona and Aileen in my school, all lovely girls and I love their names.

What about Eily for spelling?

because that's not how it's spelt.

I love love love Eilidh, unfortunately our friends wee girl is called Eilidh so we can't use it.

You can't spell it Eily!

Dd had a million Elidhs in her year at school i fancied it but dh didnt like it it is a lovely name though and as you are a Scot living in England why not keeps your heritage going I wouldn't worry about the spelling lots of names are hard to spell teachers will manage

I love it..lovely name. I know a grown up Eilidh with a high powered Jobs meeting lots of people and she manages. She will have to spell it but I wouldn't let that put you off a fabulous name. I far prefer it to the millions of Islas

Eily?

Why? It wouldn't be pronounced like Eilidh, you'd get eely or eyely...so they'd have made up the spelling for no reason anyway.

And it wouldn't solve the spelling issue because it's made up not intuitive.

Eily is not butchering the name. It is an acceptable more modern spelling of it and I say that as an Irish teacher.

Eily is pronounced eye-Lee which is who I'd pronounce Eilidh also. Maybe it's different in Scottish garlic.

"It is an acceptable more modern spelling of it"

How is it? it doesn't spell Eilidh...

I live in London and know 2 people (both in their 30's) called Eilidh.