Scottish names - for Eilidh

[marmitecheesetoast]

DC2 is due in June, we don’t know what we’re having.

DD is Eilidh. Scottish but we are currently living in Manchester. Possibly will move back to Scotland in next few years but not certain. I would quite like DC2 to have a Scottish name too, but doesn’t have to be.

The problem is neither of us love any name as much as Eilidh! Last time I was in labour and we still hadn’t agreed any boys names so luckily DD was a girl!

Actually the one boys name I’ve always loved is Euan, but DH hates it and hasn’t been convinced over the last 3 years

So, current shortlists:

Boys:
Angus (would this be too much living in England?!)
Alasdair (I think I love how it looks written down more than how it sounds? And I know we’d always be correcting the spelling here)
Finlay (quite popular)
Fraser (would people just think of Frasier?!)
Murray

None of them compare to Euan for me.

Girls:
Flora (would people just think of the margarine?!)
Isla (so popular though)
Fiona (DH not keen)
Elspeth (DHs favourite, I like it not but sure it’s not a bit ‘lispy’)
Ishbel (probably not realistic living in England, and DH not keen)

Iona is lovely but doesn’t work with our surname

Other names we like not on the Scottish theme are
Alice
Eleanor (probably too similar to Eilidh)
Edith
Mary (but it rhymes with Eilidh so think that’s a no-go!)
Florence
Esther
Orla

Thoughts, honest opinions and suggestions most welcome!

Ok I can’t figure out how to edit the title of the thread but obviously it should read ‘sibling for Eilidh’!

Ruaraidh? Or Rory?
What about Ian? There's a name you never hear for little boys now.
Or Struan?

I think of Robert as a Scottish name. Bobby, Robin, even Bertie.

I think Flora has gone past the margarine phase now, tbh.

I have a friend with an Eilidh and a Laurie.

Thanks @squeaver I do like both Robert and Rory but unfortunately both out due to close family members!

I think of the girls Flora is my favourite.

Laurie is a nice name, not keen on Ian!

Depends whether you want Scottish Gaelic names or just Scottish names. The trouble with the former (unless you are Gaelic speakers) is that the spellings can be very obscure for non-Gaelic speakers, making them hard for children to learn to spell and giving them a lifetime of having to spell out their name. Some of the truly Scottish names just don't sound nice to a modern ear. For example, the name Gruoch just hasn't regained popularity, and I don't think it is because Lady Macbeth was portrayed as an unpleasant character by Shakespeare.

You may have already rejected these, but here goes:

Alan, David, Glen, Gordon, Graham, Hamish, Iain, James, Neil, Keith, Robert, Douglas, Doug, Duncan, Donald, Scott

Elspeth, Catriona, Isobel, Isabella, Moira, Morag, Jessie, Kirstin...

Flora is a lovely name with strong Scottish historical associations. I would go for it.

Yes, that’s why we’ve not got any on there that I think are particularly hard to spell/pronounce.
We have had some difficulties with Eilidh in England but to be honest most people have got it fairly quickly (so far) and have had a lot of compliments on it.

I really want to like Catriona but can’t seem to get on board with it for some reason.

Thanks @Genevieva I think if I can convince DH of Flora over Elspeth it’ll be the front runner for the girls!

Ivo and Innes are two of my fave names and both Scottish - any good?

Murray is quite nice, and I do love Alastair but prefer this spelling. Actually I really do like Angus.

Flora is nice, I think people will get over the margarine reference quickly.

Isla is way too popular and a bit too similar to eilidh really. Fiona is a bit meh. Can't stand Elspeth, it's so lispy. And again a bit tongue twisty with eilidh. Ishbel has a Middle Eastern vibe to me. Not keen and I think she'd always get mistaken for Isabel, which is very common.

Iona would be lovely, shame you can't use it. Of your other names I like Eleanor and Alice, but I think quite a lot of your name choices are too similar to Eilidh quite honestly!

Orla spelt the Irish way Orlagh / Orlaith might be nice.

What about Aisling, Aine, Sorcha? Heather?

Brodie? Calder? Innes? Campbell?

How about Ailsa or Morven?

I like Alasdair, though I agree he's likely to be correcting spelling. How about Lachlan or Lewis?

Fergus for a boy?

Thanks @diddlediddle yes you’re right, I clearly have a thing for names beginning with E / vowels!

Heather is nice but also doesn’t work with surname unfortunately! Not too keen on Ivo or Innes, but thanks for the suggestions.

Good to hear you like Alastair/Alasdair, I wasn’t sure if it was a bit meh. I always preferred the Alasdair spelling which I always thought was the Scottish spelling (prepared to be corrected though!)

I love Lewis but it’s the name of a close family member!

We did debate Fergus for a while, but decided it was a bit much! Although maybe no more so than Angus?!

I Ailsa but think it’s too close to Eilidh

Thanks this is really helpful keep it coming!

Struan, and then you can just say "Euan" under your breath.

I think Fergus a bit less Scottishy than Angus personally

I like Fergus.

Also what about Callum of Cameron.

Harris for a boy? (This is my DS's name so I'm biased but I love it). I'm in Scotland and it's popular without being too common. Practically unheard of in England I think.

I love Eilidh btw, that was my choice for DS if he's been a girl.

Also love Iona, Flora, Morag for girls.

I love your boys names apart from Finlay which is just too popular and I agree Angus is a bit much.

Other suggestions are Lewis, Andra and Bruce.

I think Flora, Ishbel and Elspeth are a bit wishy washy, Fiona is very dated and Isla just too popular.

Other nice names are Mairead, Kirsty (but also dated), Alba and Skye.

@Tombakersscarf

@StylishDuck thanks, I am a big fan of Harris, but unfortunately another veto from DH... Though he’s yet to suggest a single boys name himself

My favourites are-

Morven
Heather
Catriona
Shuna
Kirsty
Mhari
Lila

Gregor
Arran
Rory
Struan
Stewart
Angus
Andrew

Eilidh is a great name! I also appreciate how hard it is to name dc2 when you had a name you loved for dc1! We struggled with that this year.

I like

Blair
Magnus
Hamish
Douglas
Struan

Vhari
Rhua
Isla

James. A classic. It's Scottish, but not too Scottish. Also Stewart.

Lachlan?

I know 2 Angus's, neither of whom are even Scottish! (some heritage maybe) I think its fine in England.

I like for a boy
Keir
Corin - love this
Harris