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Baby names

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

Scottish boys names

69 replies

Scaraben · 24/06/2023 11:20

Expecting our second and we cannot agree on boy's names! We're in Scotland, I'm Scottish and DH is Irish so we're keen for a traditionally Scottish first name as the kids have a very obviously Irish surname.

Our DD has a traditional, easy to spell and slightly unusual but not wacky name that we love. It's also a name that can be used as a Surname and I quite like that.

Names I like but he's vetoed:
Innes, Harris, Angus, Hamish, Munro (I wasn't super keen on this)

Names he likes but I don't:
Cameron, Campbell, Lewis

We both like Arran but I'm convinced it's a girls name as I went to school with 3 female Arrans!

Any ideas??

OP posts:
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Whataretheodds · 24/06/2023 11:24

Ross, Murdo, Alastair, Menzies, Douglas, Duncan, Marholm, Ian, Colin, Bruce, Kenneth, Lachlan, Logan, Craig, Callum, Finlay, Fergus.

I also love Sandy for Alexander.

Whataretheodds · 24/06/2023 11:25

Malcolm, not Marholm

Abhannmor · 24/06/2023 11:32

I like Callum. Similar to the Irish Colm so a nice compromise? Means 'dove' iirc after St Colmcill - known in Britain as Columba.

Nice bit of history as he was an Irish Saint who founded the monastic settlement on Iona.

maddingcrow · 24/06/2023 11:32

Fraser, Stuart, Rory, Ian (guessing you don't want Gaelic spellings?). I always think of Robert as a Scottish name too (maybe because of Robert the Bruce!).

Scaraben · 24/06/2023 11:39

Ooh good suggestions so far. You've between you already suggested his dad's name (inexplicably Scottish despite being from Galway as far back as you can go) and both my brothers

I forgot I liked Lachlan but he's vetoed that too. Malcolm could go nicely with our DDs name...

OP posts:
Slaistery · 24/06/2023 11:48

Euan
Coll
Andrew
Alastair/Alasdair
Fergus
Torquail
Cameron
Robert
Glen
seamus
Lorchan
Nathaniel
Neil

KirstenBlest · 24/06/2023 12:07

I like from your lists:
Innes, Angus, Hamish, Lewis

Not keen;
Munro, Harris, Cameron, Campbell

Suggestions:
Fraser, Murray, Magnus, Alan, Alistair, Andrew, James, Bruce, Gavin, Gordon, Duncan, Malcolm, Gregor, Lachlan, Murdoch, Mungo, Calum, Donald, Charlie, Dougal.

Mischance · 24/06/2023 12:11

Lachlan

Hullobaby · 24/06/2023 12:16

Struan
Blair
Magnus
Douglas
Adair
Brodie

continentallentil · 24/06/2023 13:11

Arran is more usually a girl’s name, although I’d assume it’s unisex

Kester
Gillies
Alistair
Robert nn Robbie
Alexander nn Sandy
Lorne

midsomermurderess · 24/06/2023 13:17

‘Charlie’: that well-known Scottish name.

Sorley, like the poet, related to Somerled.

YoucancallmeKAREN · 24/06/2023 13:55

Logan
Struan
Murray

YoucancallmeKAREN · 24/06/2023 13:56

I know a wee boy called Arran, so can be unisex

storminamooncup · 24/06/2023 14:04

Brodie
Murray
Ewan
Douglas
Kenneth
Alistair
Rhuaridh
Keir
James
Struan

KirstenBlest · 24/06/2023 14:13

Some of my suggestions aren't scottish but they are used in Scotland.
I forgot Robert, Ross and Fergus.
Cameron was very popular about 20 yrs ago so might be a bit overused.
I'd not use Arran because of the different possible spellings but I like it.

marypoppinsreturns · 24/06/2023 14:18

I have an Arran and he's a boy! And there is another boy is school with the same name spelled the same way. West of Scotland.

joyshortage · 24/06/2023 14:19

Nairn
Struan
Fraser
Brodie
Harris
Finlay
Keir
Kerr

lilybloom2 · 24/06/2023 14:20

Aaron is a well known boys name around the west of Scotland

KirstenBlest · 24/06/2023 14:23

I wouldn't have thought of Arran as a girl's name. I know a few men/boys called Aaron, Aaran, Aran, Aron and Arran.

MidnightSky8 · 24/06/2023 14:25

I always liked Gregor.

Heard of a Lockie too, if you like Lochlan.

Torrin?

heyyellowyellow · 24/06/2023 14:25

I have a Ruairi… chose the Irish spelling to avoid the complicated h/dh placement! 15 years later I still adore his name. Also very fond of Duncan and Fergus. Alasdair is enduringly popular, I know so many across a wide range of age groups (Al, Ally and various other shortenings).

YerAWizardHarry · 24/06/2023 14:27

I’ve never met a female Arran! Erin yes but not Arran

LimitMyScreenTime · 25/06/2023 23:29

Arrans are all boys here. I'm in east of Scotland, never met a female one!

Itsapurplepanda · 25/06/2023 23:36

Arran is definitely boys here! A name I’m going to come back on and delete if you don’t steal it as I secretly want to keep it in case I ever have a third… Raith 😍 I heard it just the other week. It’s an area in Fife. We have gone for Scottish place names but tried to go for the smaller and less well known ones like this

SSCCLL · 25/06/2023 23:39

Nairn is my favourite after Ruairi ☺️