Scottish names.

[seawiych]

Hi all. I’m English and my husband is Scottish. We tend to travel a lot between the two countries.
Ever since I was a child I had a best friend named Eilidh. Pronounced Ay-Lee. It’s Gaelic for sun ray/sun light. It’s a Scottish name and I adore it.
We are due to have a baby girl soon and I’d love to use the name. I know it’s not easy phonetically in English bit most people get it straight away once told and I don’t see it as an issue.
My husband is worried that it might be hard when we are in England.
May I have your thoughts please?

I know an Ailie, pronounced the same as Eilidh. Would that be an option?

Oh no. That’s what I’m worried about.
Didn’t her teachers and peers get it quickly?
I’m assuming not which is sad.

Mixed opinions. Mostly positive so thank you to everyone for your thoughts and comments.

Isla
Rona
Shona

Mhairi, Catrione, Davina

It’s a lovely name, I know an eilidh in England. People will get the pronounciation quickly.

Agreed it’s much prettier than Helen! I won’t dox myself but I’ve listed some nice Scottish girls names that might suit? Tbh it might be better to post in Scotsnet than on this board.

Flora
Mhairi or Mairi (both pronounced Mah-ri)
Isla
Rhona
Ailis or Ailish (pronounced Ay-lish)
Ailsa
Ceit (pronounced Kate)
Isabel or Isobel
Morven

I've known Eilidh spelt as Eilidh, Ailidh, Ailie and Eily. All from across Scotland (the Eily was from the Highlands) and none had a problem with folk spelling their name after they had said it once.

It's no harder a spelling correction than Steven/Stephen or Katherine/Catherine/Kathryn or Alison/Allison and maybe less difficult than the Ruairi/Ruaridh/Ruaraidh alternatives.

I thought Mhairi was pronounced Vahri.

@MiddlingMarch I have a short simple phonetic name with only one spelling, (it gets suggested on here regularly) and people frequently get it wrong.

offering Catriona as another Scottish girls name
but Eilidh is lovely

Eilidh is beautiful - go with that. It’s not a difficult name to say - give English people more credit! It’s like Hayley without the H. I’m sure they can manage to say Eilidh. The spelling on the other hand is a different story but that doesn’t really matter - if anything it’s a point of interest!

We've got a Mhairi. You have to tell people it's pronounced 'Marry' not 'Mary' but that's fine. There are so many names from different cultures now that people are used to being told how to pronounce or spell something, I think.

It can be! Technically Mhairi is the vocative, so if you were addressing Mairi you would say “a Mhairi” and the MH becomes a V sound.

It’s how we get Hamish from Seamus (James) too.

If I met a Mhairi in Scotland I would assume it’s Mah-ri but would probably still ask.

I’m afraid I’m not aware of this post. Can you share it? I’d like to honour her too. Seems very sad x

Oh thank you . I didn’t know there was a Scotsthread! Would they take kindly to me as an English woman lol?!

Lovely comments thank you. I wouldn’t anglicise it. I’m sure people would learn it.

You’re absolutely right. Thank you.

I experienced the exact same with my friend, Eilidh, when we were at school. She got all sorts, including Elliot (??) but eye lid was the most memorable. It probably didn't help that there were not really any other kids with Gaelic names - I feel nowadays English people are more familiar with them, but that may just be my perspective as I've grown up and branched out.

Op, if you like it, go for it. A lot of names need pronunciation/spelling clarification nowadays, so it's hardly an uncommon scenario. I'm sure your Eilidh will be fine!

I think Eilidh would be fine. Beautiful name. Much nicer than Eileen, Ailsa etc.

I love Eilidh but you could maybe spell it Ailie?

in Gaelic, it depends if you’re speaking TO the person with that name or about the person with that name (to someone else. It changes!

I love Eilidh. It was on my list if DS was a girl. Go for it. There will be children with names from all over, all different heritages and cultures.

I’m an Eilidh in England.
i do get a lot of mispronunciations but just used to that now, it’s part of life. I couldn’t imagine walking into a room, meeting, or at school ever meeting someone with the same name!

These threads always make me chuckle. Inevitably there will be someone who says:
”(insert name) reminds me of (unconnected unattractive thing), your child will be bullied relentlessly!”
”how about this completely different name with different connotations??”
“it’s not easy for English speaking people who have never come across this name before. Have you considered Sarah/ Isla/ something less foreign?”

As someone who grew up with a foreign name which is basically impossible to spell unless you know it already … it has had zero negative impact on my life, except that people always remember my name as it isn’t very common.