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Baby names

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

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Original poster

Dh and I can’t agree - Ruaridh or Hamish

74 replies

Middledistancerunner · 09/08/2019 10:09

We live in England so that has a bearing on it.

Dh thinks Ruaridh will be called Rory.
I think Hamish will be shortened to Ham.

Which is the less worst option?

(We have been debating baby names for months now, baby is now 12 days old, so we’re not looking to try out different names, it has to be one of these two).

His twin is called Ishbel.

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Howtotrainyourhamster · 09/08/2019 10:12

I slightly prefer Ruaridh, but I think Hamish goes better with Ishbel and I don’t think it would be shortened to Ham as it’s not pronounced Ham.

The Ruaridh pronounciation can be confusing - we know a Ruairidh pronounced Rory (apparently Irish spelling) but I’d usually assume it was pronounced Ruary (and I’m Scottish)

00Sassy · 09/08/2019 10:13

Oh gosh, I assumed Ruaridh was pronounced Rory

How should it be pronounced?

Chocolatedaim · 09/08/2019 10:13

I would pronounce Ruaridh ‘Rory’ until corrected.

I wouldn’t shortened Hamish to Ham, I don’t think that’s a natural shortening, who is called Ham? 😄 I think Hamish will always be that.

I think Ruaridh sounds and looks better with Ishbel though

LarkDescending · 09/08/2019 10:14

Hamish. Given the pronunciation it’s more likely to be shortened to Hay than Ham, isn’t it?

I agree that Ruaridh will be called Rory in England. I happen to like Rory, but it’s not the name you want!

missyB1 · 09/08/2019 10:15

My nephew Ruaridh get called Rhu because no one can spell his name or pronounce it right so dsis shortened it to Rhu.
Go for Hamish it’s much more straightforward!

Lllot5 · 09/08/2019 10:17

Sorry don’t t know how to pronounce the first one so Hamish for me.

FelixFelicis6 · 09/08/2019 10:19

If you go with Ruaridh he is constantly going to be asked how to pronounce his name, people getting it wrong and mispronouncing, having to repeat it over and over... I don’t know, to me that sounds like a bit of a burden! And Hamish is lovely. I don’t know why it would be shortened to Ham!

Andahelterskelterroundmylittle · 09/08/2019 10:22

Pronounce Ruaridh ..Rooray..
Hamish goes best with Ishbel 😁😁😁

gwilt · 09/08/2019 10:24

My friend's son is called Hamish.
We call him... Hamish :)

Happy days with your LO.

doodlejump1980 · 09/08/2019 10:26

Ruairidh is the correct way to spell it. Hamish and Ishbel sounds like too many sh sounds to me. Congrats on your twins!

OtraCosaMariposa · 09/08/2019 10:26

But Hamish isn't shortened to Ham as it's pronounced Hay-mish not Ham-ish.

Both names are great. Friends have a Rory, thought about the Gaelic spelling but decided that living in England it would be easier all round to go for the anglicised spelling.

tabulahrasa · 09/08/2019 10:27

Ruaridh is roo-a-ree, though the a is very short. But yep it’ll be Rory in England a lot.

Ham doesn’t seem an obvious shortening of Hamish tbh, people don’t tend to shorten names by how they’re written but by how they’re said..

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2019 10:27

Rhuray is how you are meant to pronounce it. The dh is complicated for Scottish spellers never mind English 😀 call him Hamish he won't get Ham as you don't pronounce it like Ham-ish do you ?

Kam610 · 09/08/2019 10:28

I live in Scotland and Ruaridh always gets pronounced as 'Roory' and never 'Rory' but I guess in England it may not be as popular a name. I personally love it though. Often shortened to Ru.

Mrsjayy · 09/08/2019 10:29

I prefer Rory call him Rory

Zebrasinpyjamas · 09/08/2019 10:29

I would have said Rory as the pronunciation too so I think you should choose Hamish . It don't think it will get shortened to ham either.

BelindasRedPlasticHandcuffs · 09/08/2019 10:32

I prefer Ruaridh, but I don't think Hamish will be shortened to Hamish. I knew a few at uni (in England) and they were all either 'Hamish' or 'Mish' (or just their surname...)

Mesmermancer · 09/08/2019 10:32

I would pronounce it Ruoo-ree (sort of a soft oo if that makes sense). Sort of like the first part of rural but not quite. I prefer it to Hamish, but Hamish won't have the pronunciation issues if that bothers you, and don't think it would be shortened to Ham because the first syllable is hay not ham.

titchy · 09/08/2019 10:32

Assume you're Scottish?

I like both . Ruaridh will always be always be spelling his name for people. It might get pronounced Rory, then corrected to Roory, possibly Roo-a Ry.

Hamish will be Hamish or Hay or Hame, but only if you adopt those abbreviations. He won;t be Ham though!

Equatoria · 09/08/2019 10:33

I prefer Hamish.

joystir59 · 09/08/2019 10:33

Just called him Rory.

Lilyrose90 · 09/08/2019 10:36

I don’t like Hamish but it’s easy to pronounce.
The other name I’d guess is Rory

TheBabyAteMyBrain · 09/08/2019 10:39

Hamish goes better with Ishbel. I know a Hamish, who shortens it to Mish.

Who would shorten it to Ham? That makes no sense!

You would always have to introduce Ishbel first as Hamish and Ishbel is a bit of a sshhhh slur. (might just be my accent though)

BikeRunSki · 09/08/2019 10:41

I think your DH is right, but I think you are wrong about Hamish/Ham.

Rankellior · 09/08/2019 10:41

We debated Ruaraidh but decided against it as my English family didn’t know if it was a girl or boys name and wouldn’t have pronounced or spelt it properly. Beautiful name though

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