Oban - anyone familiar with this name?

[CornerOfTheSky]

This name is on our potentials list for boys, because it's one of few that we both agree we like, going purely by the sound of the name, and that it means little bay, rather than any particular connection to the place in Scotland or being big fans of the whisky.

Could anyone confirm the pronunciation? If my research is right, I think it's pronounced Obe-un, a bit like Open with a b, and the emphasis on the Oh syllable, rather than saying it like Oh-BAN or Oh-BEN?

Would appreciate the input of any Scottish mumsnetters, Twitter seemed a bit disparaging of Oban the place,...is it a bit like naming your child Blackpool?

Tbe town is pronounced like open, but with a b, as you suspected.
It's a bit of a shithole though, sorry! Not as bad as naming your child Blackpool, but not great.

Obe-un with emphasis on the obe.

There are probably nicer Scottish places to name your child after, but it's ok. Better than Ardrossan!

Um, well it's better than Dumbarton.

I live in Scotland, have the most Scottish-named children you could think of and wouldn't consider Oban. Yes the town is pronounced a bit like Open with a b, but it's not really a person's name - I've never met a single one.

I know an Oran which is similar?

Oban isn't like Blackpool but there are nicer places. Is not as bad as Paisley for a girl!

I’m not familiar with the place, but it doesn’t have a particularly pleasant sound... I’d associate it with a brand of washing powder or something.

As above. I quite like Oban, but I never heard of it as a person's name. Reminds me of Urban (popular Slavic name, pronounced oor BAN) but I wouldn't use that in the UK either cos everyone would think city street...

It’s like Open with a B. I wouldn’t use it personally.

Never heard it used as a boy’s name. Maybe people will think you conceived him on a weekend away in Oban.

Of all the names to choose from, you agree on one that isn't actually a person's name and you're not sure how to pronounce it.

Not ever heard it as a name but I actually like it. Makes me picture a rugged outdoorsy chap with a bit cabled jumper (will take a cold shower now).

I know a toddler Oban, child of climbers.

Like Pp said, Oran is much nicer, or Struan maybe?

Great with a splash of water!

What about Cumbernauld?

I really like it and I live in Scotland.

Strange that you like a name that you don't know how to pronounce.

Sounds like a nightmare to have a name that’s so difficult to pronounce and that most haven’t heard of.

It's not a name, it's a place. Better than Paisley although that's not saying much.

What if you’d been told it was pronounced differently to how you’d imagined op?
Literally baffled at someone claiming to love a name when they don’t even know what it sounds like??

Oban is a brand of whisky.

It's a quite nice single malt scotch.

Bit like naming your child Sherry.

Sherry Hewson(?) actress.

What if you’d been told it was pronounced differently to how you’d imagined op?

If I were told it is pronounced differently to what I thought, we'd take it off the list of potential names. At the moment, it's just one option out of a few that we are considering.

Thanks for those who have given me a bit more context to the name / place. Just wanted to do my research before we get serious about any name contenders.

Of all the names to choose from, you agree on one that isn't actually a person's name and you're not sure how to pronounce it.

Again, yes thank you for the helpful comment. Wasn't actually asking for opinions on our 'picking a name' process. Why are some people on here so brash and rude for no reason?

It is a slightly run down place but not unpleasant. Very wet often with some boarded up shops.

Oh, that looks quite pleasant? Maybe different up closer.