Donald or Donalbain

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Again, two classic Scottish names. Donalbain is the name of a much beloved uncle we lost during Covid so is close to my heart. Donald is more common. Both I like.

At DS's wedding I was surprised to hear all his friends and groomsmen call him Don or 'The Don.' Donald is his middle name. We named him after DH's late DF, long before Trump was around. He doesn't mind it.

Donald seems very dated to me. Plus there are the inevitable Trump and Duck associations. There are plenty of Scottish boy's names that aren't dated or loaded with problematic associations.

I've never heard of Donalbain before.

I agree. It is a very, very common name in Scotland. I work with about a dozen of them. I wouldn’t link the two, despite every other conversation in our house being about Trump. I can’t remember the last time I saw a baby Donald. I think it’s lovely. It was my Granda’s name.

Oh don’t be ridiculous. It’s a traditional name.

Donalbain is cool. I only know it from Shakespeare but if it is a family name, go for it.

I think the thing with the names you mention is that there are many Andrews and Jeffs and Jimmys with excellent reputations so the names are associated with one person. But Donald is a less common name these days, and world history is heading towards it being a name strongly associated with him and his actions.

Also, with Donalbain, you can shorten it to Donal which is great and almost identical to Donald but without the connotations.

Nope and yes Jeffery would be a no for me too

What an unpleasant post

I think it’s batshit to discount a relatively common and traditional name, just because it happens to be associated with a particular person. It’s giving them way too much power. If you like Donald, I wouldn’t be put off. Donal might be a nice compromise, though?

I prefer Donal. Also Scottish and have a lot of Donalds in the family, but I think of it more as an old man’s name because of that. Donal sounds a bit more of this time

Really? Nooooo!

Donaldbain is a mouthful and Donald ! Just makes me think of the orange one or the duck. So many nice Scottish names... Jamie Alastair Finlay . I would be worried about saddling a child with such a hard sounding name .but it's your choice of course .

I actually wouldn’t use any of those names at this particular point in time, no.

How about Dougal?

Donald is an awful name even without the Trump association.

Scottish here too, and this sums it up, sorry op, don’t do it - soo many great Scottish names to chose from, these two are not..

My grandson is called Donald as is his dad, grandad and great grandad. It was a family tradition long before anybody had even heard of that person. I never make any association . Tbh you could associate any name with anybody unsavoury.

Is Donaldbain pronounced as it spells. I've never heard it before.

I think you're missing the point. Deliberately naming a baby with the same name as an extremely controversial (!) authoritarian head of state who is on the brink of triggering WWIII (or possibly already has) at that exact point in history, is very different to your uncle / father / grandfather already having the name 30/40/50/70/100 years prior.

@RaraRachael ,Is Donaldbain pronounced as it spells. I've never heard it before. Not if you spell it like that.
He's one of Duncan's sons in Macbeth.

Looney Lefties in their hatred of Donald Trump lose all sense of reasoning.

That’s not the correct pronunciation. Duncan and Malcolm are also Shakespearean characters, but I don’t hear anybody sneering at those names as people on this thread are with Donalbain. All names have been in use in some form long before Shakespeare was born.

Donald??

Go with Donalbain, please!
I think Donal is very nice, even though they'll get Don.

I don’t live in Shetland. But every traditional Scottish male name suggested on this forum has been sneered at. Just because you don’t like Tully or Dougal or Magnus or Donalbain doesnt mean that they’re absurd. Maybe take some pride in your Scottish culture and roots. That’s all I can suggest.

Donalbain is my favourite of the two.

I've only heard it in the play. Maybe more Don-ul-bain. Might be different in Scotland. Stress on 1st syllable. Feel free to correct.
I know a few Duncans and Malcolms so they seem more ordinary.

Crack on and call him Donald then - and wait for the eye rolls and smirks from everyone when you tell them his name🙄