Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Scottish name

35 replies

Florelia · 26/03/2021 08:06

Hello everyone.

Our baby boy is due in 9 weeks and we are looking for a new name for him. We were initially set on Jack, as a tribute to my grandpa, but I made the mistake of letting it slip to my parents and not only did they tell the whole world, but then my aunt found it appropriate to broadcast the name on Facebook. I couldn't stop crying. This may sound immature of me but the name feels somehow tarnished, like it's been vulgarised, thrown out there without our consent. We may try to keep it but it's unlikely. This precious boy is not even out of my womb yet that people can casually talk about him... It's like he's been robbed of his entrance, of his right to get a name reveal. I wish I felt differently and could get over this disappointment, but it's unlikely.

Anyway. My mistake, lesson learnt. My husband is Scottish and we live in Scotland.

I would love a name:

  • of Scottish or Gaelic origin
  • with maybe a literary, medieval or historical ring to it.
  • I'm not desperate for originality, but admittedly I wouldn't say no to something unique.

Thank you in advance for your help! ❤

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Raggeo · 26/03/2021 08:13

Maybe you can still use Jack as a middle name.
Scottish Names:
Angus
Seamus
Douglas
Callum
Harris
Lewis
Jura
Aaron
Fraser
Innes
Alasdair
Ewan
Not sure about gaelic names.

Tagagzjskva · 26/03/2021 08:15

Also

Ruaridh
Blair
Hamish

sarah13xx · 26/03/2021 08:43

Oh no, that’s horrendous. Why would she think that was okay to do?! 😮
I’m trying to name a boy just now too, my favourite name is Harris but it’s really popular now and also quite popular in my council area. Have you seen the new 2020 names list that came out this week for Scotland? That might help sway it!
Also love Rory and Fergus! I know a wee boy called Hamish that’s lovely and the name Angus is nice too. Also Nairn is a place name in Scotland and quite an unusual name

sarah13xx · 26/03/2021 08:44

Ramsay is another one!

Palavah · 26/03/2021 08:49

That sounds like an overreaction.

Struan
Stuart
Ross
Fraser
Alasdair

MrsMoastyToasty · 26/03/2021 08:50

Names on our shortlist were
Murray
Stirling
(First two following a formula one theme)
Ross
Cameron
Lachlan
Rory

Whynotnowbaby · 26/03/2021 08:57

Love Rory (or Ruairidh if you want to to really go for it!) Also Ross and Angus.

florascotia2 · 26/03/2021 09:38

Duncan, Dougal, Atholl, Murdo, Mungo, Coll, Colin, Magnus, Fergus, Grant, Gregor, Alpin, Gordon, Adair, Finlay, Neil, Malcolm, Graham, Ivor ...

Calum, Seumas, and (as pp has said) Ruairidh are Gaelic spellings.
Eoghan = Gaelic spelling for Ewen.

I0NA · 26/03/2021 09:45

Don’t use a Gaelic name unless you are a Gael or of that heritage.

And there’s no unique Scottish boys names, just go for one of the lovely normal Scottish boys names.

www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/babies-first-names-2020

EvelynBeatrice · 26/03/2021 09:48

Glen or Murray.

clpsmum · 26/03/2021 09:49

That's horrible of them

How about jackson shortened to Jack?

Or

Ewan
Struan
Innes
Fraser
Harris
Lewis
Tyree
Hamish
Angus

LadyDanburysHat · 26/03/2021 09:51

Jack is overdone anyway, so have it as a middle name maybe. There are loads of great Scottish boys names.

Angus
Harris
Munro
Forbes
Jura
Fraser
Innes
Cameron
Ruariadh
Callan

Florelia · 26/03/2021 10:11

[quote I0NA]Don’t use a Gaelic name unless you are a Gael or of that heritage.

And there’s no unique Scottish boys names, just go for one of the lovely normal Scottish boys names.

www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/babies-first-names-2020[/quote]
My husband is a Mac Murchaidh and Gaelic speaker (I myself studied it, alongside old English and a little Doric) so thank you very much but you do not own the culture.

OP posts:
Florelia · 26/03/2021 10:13

Thank you all for your kind suggestions 💙! I have noted down a few of these and we will try and decide soon.

OP posts:
marypoppinsreturns · 26/03/2021 10:14

I have an Arran, and I know of one adult Nairn. Both a little more unusual, but not unique!

TheVanguardSix · 26/03/2021 10:17

Andrew
Duncan
Graham
Clyde
Mungo

emmathedilemma · 26/03/2021 10:27

Fergus
Hamish
Angus
Murdo
Harris
Andrew / Drew
Douglas / Dougie
Alistair / Ali / Al
Scott
Struan
Cameron
Donald
Callum
Fraser
Gregor
Lewis
Ross
Blair
Alec
Fergal
Finlay
Archie
Ruaridh

yankeedoodlecandy · 26/03/2021 11:23

[quote I0NA]Don’t use a Gaelic name unless you are a Gael or of that heritage.

And there’s no unique Scottish boys names, just go for one of the lovely normal Scottish boys names.

www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/babies-first-names-2020[/quote]
What is your reasoning for this? The op is free to use any name she wishes.
Op you've had lots of lovely suggestions, one being my DS name. We're in scotland and although not common it is not an unusual name here

emmathedilemma · 26/03/2021 12:57

I didn't think Jack was particularly common in Scotland but it tops the baby names list for 2020! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56498066

Florelia · 26/03/2021 13:13

[quote emmathedilemma]I didn't think Jack was particularly common in Scotland but it tops the baby names list for 2020! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-56498066[/quote]
I was surprised with that finding as well, I'm a secondary school teacher and I've only had one pupil named Jack so far.

OP posts:
LadyDanburysHat · 26/03/2021 14:04

Jack has topped baby names in Scotland for years. And if you're a teacher you should know that Jack is a naughty boys names.

Florelia · 26/03/2021 14:11

@LadyDanburysHat

Jack has topped baby names in Scotland for years. And if you're a teacher you should know that Jack is a naughty boys names.
Is that so?
OP posts:
IllNeverLetGoJack · 26/03/2021 14:48

I love Scottish names! I think, since you are of that culture, it would be really nice to use a traditional Scottish or Gaelic name.

Already lots of lovely suggestions on here, which I honestly think are all about 20 million times nicer than Jack. No offence to your grandad! I'd use Jack as a middle name for one of the suggestions on here.

I especially love Fergus, Angus, Struan and Hamish.

Sorry about your aunt btw. That was weird of her!

TatianaBis · 26/03/2021 14:55

@Florelia

Scottish names I love are:

Ossian which is the Scottish version of Oisin.

Your DH will know the 18th c Poems of Ossian by James Macpherson which are said derive from ancient sources.

Also Sholto & Hector.

TatianaBis · 26/03/2021 14:57

Love Hamish too. Jack can be the middle name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread