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Original poster

Scottish Islands- ok names?

106 replies

CalaLilly · 11/03/2009 17:25

As Scots living on "the other side of the border" we want to promote our Scottish heritage by giving our kids Celtic names. We have a Mc surname so also feel that celtic names match well.

I've just realised that we've got a lot of island names on our short list and wondered what you guys though?

Girls:
Iona
Ailsa
Ailia
Skye
Cara
Shona (their is an island called Shuna)

Boys:
Harris
Lewis
Arran

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MmeLindt · 11/03/2009 17:27

Lovely names, I like Harris and Lewis.

Ailsa and Shona are my favourites of your girls names.

LunarSea · 11/03/2009 17:31

Fine names (although Cara is perhaps seen more often as a variety of potato around here) - just make sure you avoid Muck! I met a boy called "Orkney" once too.

Original poster
CalaLilly · 11/03/2009 17:34

lol- I'm going to avoid Eigg too!

OP posts:
prettybird · 11/03/2009 17:37

I allways thought Tiree would make a good name - not sure if it would be for a girl or a boy!

But you use it for a girl and then call a boy Coll!

MmeLindt · 11/03/2009 17:38

Tiree would be a nice girl's name.

Rum for a boy?

geordieminx · 11/03/2009 17:39

I think Shona is a wee bit dated now, but love Isla, Iona, Skye and Cara, what about Jura?

Love Harris and Arran too, I know someone with a wee girl called Arran.

Phlox · 11/03/2009 17:42

Love these names. Really wanted to call DD Iona but didn't go with our surname. DH wanted to call her Ailsa but in the end we settled on another very unusual very scottish name (which no one else has ever heard of but it is an estate in Scotland) Wish I'd thought of Coll for DS though! Too late now - he's five!

We once had two dogs called Appin (after Port Appin) and Connell (after Connell Bridge) if that helps!

MmeLindt · 11/03/2009 17:43

I did not realise that there were so many Scottish islands

MsBeauregarde · 11/03/2009 17:46

Iona - LIke this
Ailsa - No.
Ailia - no
Skye - nice. prefer as a middle name.
Cara - ok. prefer Clara but that's not celtic
Shona - I like this.

Boys:
Harris - not keen.
Lewis - not keen
Arran - not keen.

Struan is better. Is that an Island?

sb6699 · 11/03/2009 17:48

dd1 is an Isla but thats really popular now (wasn't when I named her) and dd2's middle name is Iona.

Love Harris for a boy.

Original poster
CalaLilly · 11/03/2009 17:52

Iona is one of our favourites- we went there on our honeymoon so it seems fitting

I'm not sure about Struan- really like it but DH has has an unusual Celtic name that he always has to spell out to people and he doesn't want our kids to have to do the same.

We really like Ruari but we'd spell it Rory for simplicity sake which takes some of the sparkle out of it!

I love Euan Gregor as another name but DH just gave me the look that said NO!

OP posts:
Original poster
CalaLilly · 11/03/2009 17:56

MmeLindt, there are lots of Islands indeed

A few of you have mentioned Coll... it's growing on me now so I'll run it by DH later.

Phlox, I'm intrigued by what your unusual name is- can we have any clues?

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 11/03/2009 17:56

you can also have Innes for a boy which means island if that helps?

expatinscotland · 11/03/2009 17:57

I have a Struan. But no, it's not the name of an island.

Original poster
CalaLilly · 11/03/2009 18:02

geordieminx, I forgot to say that I love the name Jura but I know a few dogs called this so it's off the list!

Do you really think Shona is dated I wonder whether it would still be ok on this side of the border where it's never been popular? But that said, the other names are lovely so I don't mind crossing one off!

OP posts:
MmeLindt · 11/03/2009 18:06

I don't think that Shona is as popular as eg. Isla or Iona. I suspect that it will be making a comeback in the next few years.

Shelagh is nice when spelt that way rather than Sheila.

I like Struan too.

dizzydixies · 11/03/2009 18:07

Ishbel? I think Ishbel is pretty

DD3's mn is Ismay if you like that?

Innes
Innes
Innes
Innes

Wolfblass · 11/03/2009 18:10

I love Shona and Iona

Like Harris and Arran - not keen on Lewis

dizzydixies · 11/03/2009 18:11

expat should we throw in an obligatory Muiranne here?

Original poster
CalaLilly · 11/03/2009 18:13

Ishbel may make it on to the short list... and Ismay is lovely too.

Not sure about Innes- I once took part in the "International Neonatal Immunotherapy Study" which was nicknamed INIS and it just makes me think of that. I hate it when word association ruins a name!

OP posts:
dizzydixies · 11/03/2009 18:17

that was quite a study

if I'm honest I would have used Ismay as a first name if we hadn't already had an Isabella - I love it

dizzydixies · 11/03/2009 18:18

Nairn for a boy?
Irvine
Glen
Corin

Phlox · 11/03/2009 18:19

Calla, am reluctant to post it on here (partly because it would instantly identify her if any mums at her school see this and I would lose my anonymity and have to change my name!) But will give yousome clues. It is the name of a large estate near Pitlochry in Perthshire. It is also a tartan. Does that help?

dizzydixies · 11/03/2009 18:20

Crawford

dragonbutter · 11/03/2009 18:21

Innes is a fabulous name.

What about Barra?
or is it too much like Barry?