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Baby names

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

Original poster

Morven or Alba?

76 replies

Scottishgirl85 · 15/12/2017 17:49

We're expecting dd2 and looking for a name that is Scottish and unusual but not too tricky to spell or pronounce as we live in England. Dd1 is Eira (Welsh, pr Ay-ra).

So far Morven and Alba are top of the list. Interested in people's opinions, and other suggestions welcome! Thanks!

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NorthernLurker · 15/12/2017 18:43

Have you been to Morven?

It's lovely but a bit remote/bleak. Unless the sun is shining. It also sounds like a boys name to me.

Not too keen on Alba either.

Catriona?
Innes?
Moire?

florascotianew · 15/12/2017 18:52

In Latinate languages, Alba (= white, adjective) sounds like 'Al-buh'. As previous poster says, it can also mean 'light, dawn'.
In contrast Gaelic Alba (=Scotland) sounds more like 'Ahl-pah'.

There is also the pair Morven = mountain and Morvern = peninsula. Both very, very scenic but also rather different.

Re Eilidh, yes, it's pretty, but I've never quite understood it's appeal south of the border. It's simply the Gaelic version of the nice but popular Ellie (short for well-known international names Eleanor or Helen), not anything Celtic and mysterious and romantic.

florascotianew · 15/12/2017 18:55

Pedant alert. Sorry - should have typed 'its' not 'it's'.

islandblone · 15/12/2017 19:54

Ailsa
Mhairi (V-aree if you're wanting the Gaelic style, more like Marry if you're not)
Morag, which is just the Gaelic equivalent of Sarah
Rhona
Cairstine
Catriona
Eilidh is a classic, but be prepared for a lifetime of people calling her Hayley

17caterpillars1mouse · 15/12/2017 19:55

I love Morven. It would be on my shortlist of our surname didn't also start Mor :(

weegiemum · 15/12/2017 19:57

People have suggested Innes - in Scotland that's a boy's name!

florascotianew · 15/12/2017 20:06

Agree that Innes is a boy's name. I know several males called that.

Technically, in Gaelic Mhairi (= Varry) is the vocative case, used only when speaking to someone. The actual name (nominative case) is Mairi (= Marry)

Original poster
Scottishgirl85 · 15/12/2017 20:09

Thanks for all the really helpful replies! Sorry I didn't explain well, I'm Scottish, husband half Welsh, we live in south of England!
Definitely swaying towards Morven given the responses. Hadn't even thought of the Scottish independence connection or the potential for alba and eire (Scotland and Ireland!) (even though as someone correctly said Eira is Welsh for snow).
Eilidh is lovely but the first syllable is pronounced exactly the same as the first syllable of Eira, so too similar.
A lot of the other suggestions are names of relatives or friends or spelling/pronunciation too tricky for English people (we already have a tough time with Eira...).
Never visited Morven but love the idea of it being a 'nature' name, as Eira is, and we love remote countryside!
Husband's only concern about Morven is it may not be feminine enough...
Thanks so much for your help so far!!

OP posts:
museumum · 15/12/2017 20:13

I’m scotyish so familiar with Morven. It’s clearly a girls name to me.

Alba is a bit “out there”. It’s commonly known to mean Scotland. Eg the bbc Gaelic channel is bbc Alba. Interestingly Gaelic speakers tend to say Alba as if it was. Alaba.

gunsandbanjos · 15/12/2017 20:19

Morven is 100% a girls name, I’m Scottish and went to school with one. She was lovely! It’s a great name.

Meeep · 15/12/2017 20:27

I love Morven, it's so pretty. 100% Morven!

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 15/12/2017 20:33

Morven ❤️

TheMasterNotMargarita · 15/12/2017 20:42

I'm Scottish and I know 2 Albas.
I don't love it as a name although it suits the ones I know.
I really like Morven.

mammmamia · 15/12/2017 20:42

I know a lovely Morven! Not keen on Alba at all.

StandardLampski · 15/12/2017 20:47

I have an Alba 😊 obviously I love It although I try to keep the popularity down 😂 we are Scottish living in England. It has been very well received. Pronounced as spelt , apart from the odd 'Albert 'over the phone. We wantrd a nod to gaelic but didn't want something difficult to pronounce or spell.
We don't hear much reference to the independence ref (but she is older, born well before) we just say we named her after a cheap tv 😊

Eolian · 15/12/2017 20:49

I think Morven is beautiful - I'd never heard of it before. It's unusual but without the disadvantage of being difficult to spell or pronounce.

FoofFighter · 15/12/2017 20:57

How about Callie/Calle (Caledonia)

Courgettekatie · 15/12/2017 21:32

I know a 12 year old Morven. Beautiful girl and beautiful name.

TrashPanda · 15/12/2017 21:39

There's an actress called Morven Christie I think, she's in The A Word at the moment and was in The Replacement earlier this year. I really like it.

MorwenTheWitch · 16/12/2017 14:09

I’m voting Morven for obvious reasons...

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/12/2017 16:26

I prefer Morven but my favourite girls name is Lorna with Mairi as a back up.

Other suggestions I don't think you've had yet:
Ailsa
Vaila
Rhona
Shona

wooster16 · 16/12/2017 20:12

Morven is an absolutely gorgeous name.

DuggeeHugs · 16/12/2017 20:13

Morven sounds lovely

allegretto · 16/12/2017 20:17

I have a Scottish friend in Italy who has a daughter called Alba - means Dawn in Italian - it's a lovely name.

happylantern · 16/12/2017 20:18

Love Alba but probably a bit similar to your other DD's name.