Scottish baby names

[Scottishflower]

Hello :)
I have just found out I'm pregnant and of course I'm absolutely over the moon. I understand it's v early for some people to be thinking of names but for me I just find it so exciting and really want to find something my partner and I absolutely love.

Ideally we would really love a Scottish name but we are open to others if we find something we love. Also aware this could change as my pregnancy goes on.
Something pretty for a girl and strong sounding for a boy. We also don't want anything that's really popular, as lovely as they are names like Isla, Iona, Lachlan and Lewis for example, are very well known and common to us.

We have a few ideas which are Scottish or Celtic I will list below but really looking for more ideas.

Thanks so much.

Girls - Alba, Marsaili, Saorsa, Vaila, Jura

Boys - Munro, Murdo, Murdoch, Carrick, Murtagh, Argyll.

Ailsa
Ailith
Ishbel
Catriona
Rhona
Morna
Lorna
Mhairi
Mairi
Lillian
Lillias
Eilidh
Shona
Morven
Rowena

Ross
Arran
Harris
Murdo
Murray
Duncan
Dougal
Douglas
Rory
Ruaridh
Alisdair
Fraser
Fergus

Your list is already fab! Good luck choosing!

For girls Sobrach (Sovra) is lovely and pp suggestion of Ishbel also nice.

Thanks so much for all of your knowledgeable info :). Interesting about Argyll and I just feel Jura sounds more feminine but you've given me another outlook which is great. Me and my partner are both very tall and didn't even think about Munro haha, don't know if it would put me off though. X

It's nice to see some more unusual Scottish names and not the usual run of the mill ones. I speak as someone who has one! I like Alba, Saorsa and Jura and Murdo and Argyll.
What about Forveleth for a girl, very old name and never used. It's anglicised as Ferelith.
Can you also tell me how Saorsa is pronounced? Have heard different ways of pronouncing it.

Thanks so much to everyone who has taken the time to reply so far, its really appreciated and lovely to hear different peoples thoughts and suggestions. X

What about Bonnie for a girl?

Campbell or Finlay for a boy?

@thistlegirl4 It is lovely to hear some different ones isnt it, it's hopefully the style we will be going for so I'm happy other people seem to like them which is always a bonus although I think if it's something you love the style and meaning of yourself then go for it.
Oooo, thanks for your suggestion, that's another new one for us to look up.
I love how Saorsa looks but the pronunciation does worry me a bit that other people wouldn't know but working in education I also know these things are easily picked up. We first seen the name in a village in the Highlands we visit regularly, it's Gaelic meaning is 'liberty' or 'freedom'. The most typical gaelic pronunciation seems to be 'Say-or-sa'. Although as I was saying working in education I've had a few varients on this name, mostly the Irish spellings and pronunciation.

If you don’t live in Scotland or Ireland then prepare for a lot of name mangling if you go for one without an obvious pronunciation.

[quote Scottishflower]@thistlegirl4 It is lovely to hear some different ones isnt it, it's hopefully the style we will be going for so I'm happy other people seem to like them which is always a bonus although I think if it's something you love the style and meaning of yourself then go for it.
Oooo, thanks for your suggestion, that's another new one for us to look up.
I love how Saorsa looks but the pronunciation does worry me a bit that other people wouldn't know but working in education I also know these things are easily picked up. We first seen the name in a village in the Highlands we visit regularly, it's Gaelic meaning is 'liberty' or 'freedom'. The most typical gaelic pronunciation seems to be 'Say-or-sa'. Although as I was saying working in education I've had a few varients on this name, mostly the Irish spellings and pronunciation.[/quote]
Yes I'm the same it is the Irish spelling and pronounciation that I know better. I'm sure if you did pick Saorsa it would be fine and people would soon pronounce it, just as they have Saoirse.

Speaking as someone who named their children with very Scottish names while living in England (not to out myself but) my daughter Mhairi has had her name pronounced twice correctly.

I would say find a name you like and pay no heed to anyone.

Mhairi is called Marie a lot. I think when she gets older she’ll correct people or not care.

Good luck

All great names! I love these suggestions.

The one caveat I'd lave is Mairi/Mhairi. In Gaelic they are the same name, spelt and pronounced differently depending on the grammatical construction. (My dc all went to Gaelic school and are fluent speakers). If that doesn't bother you, fine, especially if you're not in Scotland.

One more suggestion, one of my ds's closest friends is Seonaidh (Shonn-ay) which I've always thought is lovely.

@SabrinaThwaite Thanks for the advice, we're both Scottish and live in Scotland so feel it's truly fitting for us to have names that represent our country. Totally understand some pronunciations/meanings etc might be confusing to others from further afield or even less patriotic people. X

@catboysriver Bonnie is very pretty and has the same meaning but if you want a laugh our dogs name is Clyde after the river. Bonnie and Clyde 🤣 haha. X

Dougray for a boy
Opheera for a girl

Erm ... as an Aberdonian now living in England I don’t think it’s a case of being “unpatriotic” to point out that the many non-Scots struggle with pronunciation.

@SabrinaThwaite I'm sorry, you've picked me up wrong with my last comment. I meant Scottish people being unpatriotic as in not being aware of more traditional Scottish names actually being from Scotland and/or how to pronaunce them.

lovely thread..
As someone who works with children in a hospital outpatient setting I would say try and choose something that people know how to pronounce like Eilidh ( sure all's.cotish people know how to pronounce it ) .
Have a look a t river names and mountains too.
I like Torrin for a boy and Jura for a girl

Jura would get Durex for her Teenage years, please don’t.

Mirrin is lovely for a girl, Xander for a boy.