Aulay?

[scotte]

We're in central Scotland, thinking of baby name for DS2 and came across Aulay (aw-lee, as in MacAulay).

It is a Scottish name meaning "ancestors descendant", which I quite like, but is very uncommon - I've only ever known 1 in person.

I think it's cute for a little boy... not sure if it sounds masculine enough for adulthood? Would appreciate mumsnetters opinions!

DS1 has a well known Scottish name beginning L.

How do you feel about people assuming he's called Ollie? In many Scottish accents there won't be a distinction.

If you don't think that'll irritate you then I think it's a nice name.

You may as well call him Macaulay as in Macaulay Culkin - that would make more sense.

Café

😀

I’m not in Scotland and I’ve never heard of the name but it sounds lovely. It doesn’t sound cutesy to me at all.

Never heard of it before, but I like it!

You may as well call him Macaulay as in Macaulay Culkin - that would make more sense.

What do you mean by 'make more sense'? Names are a personal choice - they don't need to 'make sense'.

I'm also a Scot, I do like the vibe and I'm guessing your other son is called Logan, which if so they go nicely I think. Although saying it aloud it just sounds like 'Ollie' which is very popular and will likely be mistaken for that all the time.

No.

I had to google this to get it 😂

Not the same pronunciation and I doubt anyone in Scotland would read Aulay aloud that way!

Not sure what you mean by it would make more sense?

Aulay is given first name, Macaulay is a surname name which people now give as a first name.

I have a Mac surname so using Macaulay actually makes far less sense.

It sounds quite unfinished to me. I think many will assume it's short for Macaulay.

It's not to my taste at all, but as long as you both like it that's all that matters.

I’m not convinced that even fellow Scots would make the pronunciation leap from MacAulay to Aulay, and pronounce it accordingly.

It’s an Irish name originally, from MacAmhalghaidh, and some of DH’s family are Macaulays (spelled like that), so I’m very familiar with the surname, but if I came across a child called Aulay, I wouldn’t make the connection, and would probably vaguely assume it was pronounced as in Oil of Olay/ café au lait until told otherwise.

I think you’re slightly misunderstanding the etymology of the surname — it means ‘son of Amhalghaidh’. ‘Aulay’ is just the anglicised form of Amhalghaidh.

I have never heard it before but I really like it! I don’t think it’s too cutesy at all.

Not a fan OP…. Before reading your pronunciation I assumed it was pronounced the same as Olé! Like you know when Spanish people do the red cloth thing with bulls and then go ooooollléé! But maybe if you’re from Scotland then people will know how to pronounce it properly.

I’ve not heard it before, it’s not really to my taste but equally I wouldn’t think anything negative if someone I knew named their baby this, it’s unusual in that it’s not very used but it doesn’t feel massively out there or like you’re going for something ‘yooniq’ so I don’t think it matters that it’s not very used. If you like it I see no reason not to use it.

I agree my first thought was to pronounce it as "oh-lay." I'm not Scottish though, potentially it wouldn't be mispronounced in Scotland?

I'm Scottish and wouldn't have an issue with the pronunciation but I'd assume it was Ollie, short for Oliver if I'd heard and not seen it written down.

I think it's fine for a child or an adult. I prefer Macaulay though and Mack as a nickname.

I've just asked my Scottish friend (Aberdeen) how they'd pronounce it. Olé or Orlay. They wouldn't connect it to McCauley, and I don't think most people would.

No, it would never have crossed my mind to pronounce it 'olé' - Macauley is a well known name and everyone knows that all the mac names just mean son of [name].

Mack and Lockie sounds nice together (if your older son is Lachlan).

I think it is nice.

I'd pronounce Macauley correctly because of the C, just as I would the word "cause" or "caught." Without the C I'd pronounce Aulay as if I were starting the phrase "au lait" or "au fait."

And the ending of Macauley is a "lee" sound, just as you've spelled it "ley." Like the ending of "alley." I think "lay" for most people would be pronounced just as it looks, rather than the lee the sound.

None of this is a problem if the OP and their family are going to forever remain in Scotland, but it's just something to bear in mind that a lot wouldn't pronounce it that way.

Ollie spelled normally would be better
All phone correspondance will come through as Ollie meaning he can't use it as Id for bank accounts etc...
And they sound exactly the same

I'm in Scotland. My DH cousin named her kid that. Most people get his name wrong and call him Ollie. I just assumed it was the Scottish spelling of Ollie tbh.

People getting the name slightly wrong if they have to guess isn’t a reason to not choose a name you love. You’d presumably just tell them how it’s pronounced? Rather than change the name you love to Ollie because some people will accidentally pronounce Auley as “Ollie” 🤣🤣🤣