Scottish girls names!

[bunhead34]

DH and I would both like a Scottish name for our baby girl, but can't agree on one!

I really like Eilidh but we live in England and also have a not super straightforward (European) surname, so will she be in for a lifetime of spelling out her full name and mispronunciation? Regardless, DH isn't super keen on Eilidh anyway.

What are your favourite Scottish girls names?

I love Iona. I quite like Blair for a girl.

Aila, Elinor, Mirren, Eilidh, Heather, Isla, Myla.

@florascotia2

Is Rhona a correct spelling of Rona? Or does the h make that vocative, same as Mhairi?

Iona
Kirsten

I love Fiona.

Mary must be due back in fashion any day now.

I like Mairi and Mirren. I’m Scottish. My own daughter has a similar sounding, but not Scottish name. She’s called Marin.

Rhona is the more common spelling in my experience and sounds just the same as Rona.
Mirren is becoming more popular. I've also seen Murron which I don't like so much.

Kirsteen

I know a lady called Shuna - like Shona but with a U from Gaelic which I’ve always thought was nice.

Christina

Can't believe no one has said Bonnie.

I loved learning about the vocative case, thank you @florascotia2 - any other language lessons?

ruruvision:
This site is a very useful introduction to grammar - English has cases, too, but the spellings of words chane just a few. It explains:

www.grammar-monster.com/glossary/case.htm

This is an excellent site for learning more about Scottish Gaelic; it starts with basics.
learngaelic.scot/

As RaRaRachel says, Rhona is quite a popular spelling for the female name. (Not vocative case, nominative.)

Rona is the usual spelling for the Scottish Island; it is Norse in origin but is used (with spelling Ronaigh) in Gaelic.

I suspect - but I do not know for certain - that the modern spelling of the name Rhona might have been influenced by the rhotic (rolled) prononciation of the letter 'R' used by many, many people in Scotland (and northern England). So not short, crisp 'Rona' but longer, softer 'Rrrrowhna'.

Rhona is old-fashioned but perhaps coming back. I once met a delightful 5-year old with the name.

More haste, less speed: should be "change in just a few"

(even if Americans are insisting on using it for girls!!)

The Blair (f) I knew was Irish, in school in Ireland.

"hron" means "whale" in Old Norse. In Modern Irish "rón" means "seal".

@Isawthathaggis

Fiona, Shona and Heather are all very popular if you look at 40 something’s. In my high school I was one of several Fiona’s, Shona’s and Heathers. The Scottish version of Jane I’ve always felt. Loads of 40 something Kirsty’s too.

Love Greer, Mhairi , Elspeth, Ishbel.

I know you didn’t mean literally the Scottish version of Jane, but that reminds me of Sine or Sheena, which is the Gaelic version of Jane.

@bunhead34

Any opinions on Aila?

"Aila" is a Scandi name that means "holy", same as "Helga". www.nordicnames.de

It's therefore possibly an Old Norse name - could be a thousand years of use. Norse was spoken in Scotland and other Norse names are used and confused with Gaelic names.

In Scots Gaelic it is
a little like "Àille" which means "beauty" and is pronounced "Ahlya".
a little like Eala which means swan. That's pronounced "Alla".
"Èalaidh" would rhyme with "daily" but means escape, elope, etc.

Marsali.

Eila, Esme, Iona, Ishbel, Flora, Peigi.

We had a Sine in our town and I had no idea that it was pronounced Sheena. I thought it was like in the mathematical term

We are going with Aila 🥰 it may or may
Not actually be Scottish but that's good enough for me!
We almost went with Eilidh but realised that also means Helen which is our chosen middle Name!

@bunhead34 lovely choice 🥰

@bunhead34

@bunhead34 lovely choice, we have had nothing but compliments on our little Aila