Pronunciation of Ruthven

[GoAwayCat]

Does anyone have a definitive answer on how to pronounce Ruthven, or if you know a Ruthven how do they pronounce it?

It's a name I've always liked for a boy and have heard it pronounced Ruh-thven and Roo-ven. Mentioned it to DH and he thought it was Ruth-ven (like the girls' name Ruth) The internet seems to indicate it is 'Rivven'

So that's us up to 4 possible pronunciations Wondering if the hive mind of MN had a view?

If anyone has a suggestion of anything similar I'd be interested. It's not a popular view on MN but I really like the Scottish surnamey, place-namey kind of style. Our first DS has a similar style of name - along the lines of Nairn.

Oh crikey we now have a 5th possible pronunciation

People get my DCs names wrong all the time but they are quite unusual so fair enough.

What is weird is how many people get MY name wrong (or just randomly shorten it or use a totally different name). It is one of the most commonly used names in the English language for centuries I don't get annoyed at all, it's just absolutely bizarre.

I live in Edinburgh, previously Aberdeen, and would pronounce it Ruh-thven

If you like it then go for it, but as has been pointed out, he’ll be correcting the pronunciation for the rest of his life given the number of possibilities.

The original place name is pronounced Riven, from the Gaelic (Ruadhainn).

Any Scottish Gaelic speakers here?
I speak Irish Gaelic, not Scottish, but can't see how Ruadhainn would be pronounced as Riven.
Maybe Ruadhainn is a shortened version of
another name...a quick google suggests Ruadh Mhaighin (red place) or possibly Ruadh Abhainn (red river). Does anyone know?

Interesting name OP. I've never come across it before.

I’ve only seen it as a surname

North East Scotland - I'd pronounce it Ruhthven. I've never heard Ruthven Barracks in Bademoch pronounced any other way.

Ramsay is a good name with a very straightforward pronunciation. Shame your husband has taken that one off the table. As huge as GoT was at the time it seems to have faded quite quickly from pop culture. Pity to write a name off based on one GoT character and a pity the baddies on GoT were such thoroughly sadistic baddies.

The most authoritative Scots-language dictionary says it should be 'Rivvin', and refers to the place-name in the north-east.
dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snds5110

But the previous poster who says that many - maybe most? - people now follow the spelling and say Ruhth-ven is correct, at least in my experience.

I believe that Clan Ruthven is 'Rivvin', traditionally.

The use of Scots - especially archaic Scots, in matters of clan and historic titles - has at times been culturally quite complex. It involves issues of class, education, literary tastes, political feelings etc etc. I don't know enough about it to say more.

Thanks @scottishnames

Given your username, can you suggest anything similar? I like really unusual ones and spent a good portion of the first trimester attempting to persuade a reluctant DH towards Uist, which I just love. I've only ever come across one in real life. I also like Ramsay, Campbell and Brodie although the latter two (especially Brodie) are not exactly unusual.

Gilzean?

Ru thven

The u is like in up.

(It's a local place name here. Never ever rivven or roothven or anything else)

If your husband has vetoed Ramsay what about Ranald? No issues with pronounciation (I don't think...)

What about Harris? Not exactly unusual but not hugely common either. Fergus, Murdo?

I agree that Ranald as suggested by previous poster would be good. In a similar style (traditional but not wildly popular) what about Innes, Gregor, Dougal, Duncan, Ewen, Maxwell, Fergus, Magnus...

I have met or know of Scottish men and boys with all the following first names. Some I like more than others:
Struan, Adair, Crawford, Gillespie, Gillies, Comrie, Finnian, Shaw, Mungo, Murdo/Murdoch, Brice/Bryce, Erskine, Forbes, Fraser, Keir, Logan, Moray/Murray, Nicol, Sholto, Tormod.

If you like Uist, what about Barra? Or, instead of Ramsey, Raasay?

Edinburgh local.

I would say Ruh-thven. This is also what I’ve heard my colleague with the surname say. He is from central belt.

Riven is a new pronounciation to me. Never heard it before.

Thank you everyone, these are all amazing suggestions. I'll discuss with DH and see if any take his fancy.

I LOVE Forbes, Adair and Keir. Thank you

Cormac
Wallace
Munroe

*Monroe even

How about

Lorne
Strathaven (similarly daft pronunciation issues)
Fingal
Tobermory (although I think there might have been a womble)
Lewis
Ranald
Arran
Toquail
Annan

If you give your kid a name with lots of different pronunciations, you're going to have to live with lots of people getting it wrong all the time or the possibility that they'll just adopt a different name/spelling/shortened version, it's not like you can blame them if they do.