Is Oban too weird?

[Fl0ss]

Looking for advice, especially from any Scottish mums out there....

My husband loves the name Oban. I love that it's unusual and the way the name sounds but I think an English couple naming their son after a Scottish town could be a bit weird.
Our eldest is Skylar, often shortened to Sky, which I feel adds to the potential weirdness.

What are your opinions?

As I'm not overly familiar with Scottish geography, I immediately think of Oman, the country. To me, Oban has a vaguely middle-Eastern vibe.

@BrooHaHa that’s so funny... it’s about as far from a middle eastern vibe as you could get. It’s funny how you get these pictures in your mind: I’m regularly disappointed in places, or indeed pleasantly surprised.

Yeah it's weird sorry

I was once thrilled to come across a pub that shared my (fairly unusual) Scottish name. Had to go in for a drink.
Found a used condom lying under the table on the filthy floor.
I still took a beer mat with their logo though.

Scottish mum here. It's a no from me too, sorry. I like the sound of the word but not with Skye. And as PP said, it's like calling your child Dover

Bit like calling your kid Guildford or Basingstoke really isn't it?

I think you'd need a really strong personal connection to the place to do that. Have you been to Oban? What if you go and don't like it? It's like a Scottish baby called Margate or something. Oran is a nice Scottish name!

Nooooo.

@ErrolTheDragon hahahahaha!

“I think you'd need a really strong personal connection to the place to do that.”

It’s where I’m from and I’m still saying don’t.

Oban is also not the nicest place! Areas around it are lovely. Struan or Lochlan maybe?!

I’m not saying I don’t like Oban...but it’s not quite the Highland idyll people might imagine it as.
🍺👊

Obi Wan?

Scottish here too, no. When people use placenames for their kids it tends to be along the lines of Harris, Skye, Jura, Arran, Iona - picturesque islands. Not Oban, which is not. It would be like calling them Paisley or Leven. Or Hull 🤔

I am Scottish with an Irish husband and its just odd. Like others have said would be a it like calling the poor child Blackpool or something. Lots of v. Nice names and unusual names. It isn't just about what you like, it is thinking about the child as an adult with that name. And if they ever intend on going to Scotland at all then... Nope.

it like calling the poor child Blackpool or something

Fleetwood would be a closer analogy.

As others have said, Oban is a port. Not only for ferries, as here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oban#/media/File:Oban_.jpg , but also for fishing boats, yachts, and increasingly cruise liners. The ferry terminal, with the railway station and car/lorry park beside, dominates the town centre. In summer, the streets are crowded with tourists - it's a popular coach-party destination . It's said that on some weekends there are 25,000 visitors - that's almost three times the size of the resident population.

It's a very useful place, and economically important. It has lovely countryside nearby. Its name means 'little bay'. Sadly, it has a growing drug problem: www.obantimes.co.uk/2020/02/13/councillor-calls-for-drug-summit-to-tackle-problem-in-oban/

Oban is not traditionally used as a personal name in Scotland.

I know a wee boy called Oban. It suits him and I've never heard a negative comment about it in real life.

People are polite in real life. That's why it's a good idea to check first on MN.

Another Scottish no from me. Sounds a bit odd. Also, don't think it works well with a range of English accents.

I did hear about an American girl called Aberdeen.

I mean, I hope she never visits...

I've long though that Corby would make a nice girls' name.

I vote for Aspatria.

No, really really no!

Even shifting a couple of miles and calling him Kyle would be better

Shift it south and call him Lochgilphead .... No? Campbeltown ... No? Maybe go for Arran then.