Morven or Alba?

[Scottishgirl85]

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!

Alba reminds me of cheap electrical goods as well as the Duchess of Alba. She had quite a strong look.

Morven is nice.

Love Alba.

Morven is very close to the word mort, and so means death to me (sorry). I wouldn't use this name. It also sounds very depressing in itself.

Alba is very common in Spain (don't know if relevant) but the equivalent of 'Sarah' etc. 3 in DD's class. I know at last 5 others.

I love Morven.

Blazing I agree!

Alba sounds lovely and feminine!

Morven sounds sad and masculine.

Lol at la duquesa de Alba. Fond of her plastic surgeon. I like Ailbhe spelling too.

I'm not super fond of either. I like the sound of alba but it reminds me of our old telly and the BBC channel.

I don't like the sound of morven very much anyway but I knew one who shortened it to morv, which sounds just like bogey in French and put me right off! Obviously in England this is probably not such a big concern though

How about Fiona, Rhona, Norah?

I hadn't heard of Alba until Gareth Bale used it for his daughter. It's lovely but too close to Eira I think. Morven is very stylish.

I know 3 Morvens, I love the name.

I love Morven, think it’s lovely, DD would have been called that but our surname is also a Scottish place so her name would have read like an address. Angus was ruled out as our boys name for the same reason!

I really dislike both sorry.

Morven is a lovely soft feminine name.

I love Mirren. From your two choices I prefer Morven (though I’d still pick Mirren )

Like both but would suggest Morna, which is a lovely Scottish name combining sounds from both.

Morven is a fab name, love it.

Other name maybe to consider is Elspeth.

I know a lovely Morven. Alba sounds a bit like a type of yoghurt.

As an Irish speaker it would sound as if your two daughters were called Ireland and Scotland. Morwen is rather witchy imo.

Adore Morven. I know a lovely, bubbly middle-aged one but I liked it before I met her.

Thanks everyone, it's been fab hearing a variety of opinions. Going to mull it over for next couple of months!

What about Agnes with the good old fashioned Scottish nickname of Senga?

Scurry, I have an aunt Senga and countless Agnes' in the my family, including my mum whose name is an unusual variant of Agnes. My family have it all covered...

Eira isn't pronounced Ayra. It's close but not quite. The 'ei' a very short ey sound. It sound like a bit like a scouser saying the word Eh!

Alba and Morven are both nice.

Morven is fab :) Alba is lovely but it’s a bit like naming your DD Scotland, isn’t it?

(Other suggestions: Morwenna, Flora, Iona, or Morag)

Alba is lovely