Scottish baby names

[waitingforbedtime]

Ok so I have a long list of boys names we like (for eg Lachlan, Fergus, Darragh, Innes) but no girls names really.

We do like Iona and Isla and Niamh but I dont love any of them.

The name cant have an 'es' sound or a 'lyn' sound at the end.

Help?

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Hi - this thread is a little old. If you’re looking for a Scottish baby name, find the most popular here. MNHQ

Kirstine
Mhairie
Flora
Fiona
.... I'll think of more....

Blaire

Eara

Edina

Ellsie

Forbina

Laria

Mairi

Maisie

Nathaila

Nula

Sima

Vika

Wynda

Ishbel
Eileen

Rhona
Morna
Katharine
Eilidh
Fiona
Jessie
Ishbel
Isabella
Skye
Christy
Kirsten
Kirsteen
Kirsty
Mairi
Morag
Donalda

My faves from these are Morna (dd1's middle name, means "well loved") and Kirsteen - I know a few who are shortened to Kirsty

Thanks guys.

Love Maisie but is it a shortened version of something? Also, is it a bit twee and not obviously Scottish? DS has a very Scottish name so we want something that 'matches' iyswim?

I had forgotten abotu Eilidh - I love this. Is it quite popular do you know?

I love Ishbel, Dh isnt so keen. Apart from Bel what could we shorten it to?

I dont know why but I quite keen on having a name we can shorten.

I also like Skye but am worried as a friend told me it was chavvy!?

Like Mhairie too - do you pronounce this Marry? Just not sure re spellings as have seen a few different ones...

Tbh my fave name is Elspeth (Elsie) but I am not sure re being Scottish and also it is quite an old lady name and Ive been laughed a by friends when Ive mentioned it before!

I know 2 little Ishbels, one is Izzy, the other is Bella.

Eilidh is quite popular at the moment in Scotland - there are 2 in dd2's class (primary 2) and its dd1's best friend's name.

Syke isn't at all "chavvy" ime, but is popular - there are 2 in dd1's class and 2 in ds's class!

Elspeth is lovely and I think of it as pretty Scottish.

Mairi is pronounced Marry. The different spellings reflect the way spellings change in Gaelic depending on where the word is in a sentence (so Mairi at the start, Mhairi (pronounced "Varry") in the middle of a sentence). I've never seen it spelled Mhairie. It wouldn't matter so much how you spelled it if you aren't going to be using Gaelic but I know that a girl in my dd2's class took a while to get used to her name 'changing' all the time - my kids are in Gaelic medium education.

Don't know about Maisie being Scottish - I had a great auntie Maisie but have no idea what her real name was - probably Margaret.

Thanks weegiemum we're in Scotland but I only know boys hence not knowing what is popular really!

Ishbel and Elspeth are my front runners at the moment I think....will discuss with dh. he likes names like Gemma, Lauren, Joanne etc which are not my cup of tea and also in no way 'go' with ds's name...

Is Eilidh pronounced Ay-lee, or Eh-lee? - I have seen it as both on another website, but never met anyone with the name.

Eilidh is ay-lee

Not like ellie

its like Ceilidh with the C left off.

Yes Id say ay-lee too.

Any more ideas anyone???

Thanks!

This website quotes both, but Ay-lee is so much nicer.

Sorry to hijack your thread Waiting! The website above has loads of good ideas, despite their dodgy Eh-lee recommendation!

Ay-lee

Marsaili and Eilidh are my favourite Scottish names.

I LOVE Ishbel and it's not that common. I would say both Eilidh and Isla are pretty common these days in Scotland. (2 of each in son's class and I also know a fair few others ranging from small babies to 30 somethings)

Just another point. Don't want to disappoint you but you said you really wanted a Scottish name and Niamh isn't Scottish - it's Irish. Sorry. If you're happy to have a Gaelic name as opposed to specifically Scottish it opens up many more options.

oh and I know 2 Ishbels. 1 doesn't get shortened at all, the other gets Ishy! Most people call her Ishbel, but it was a bit of an affectionate nn used by her close family when she was little and now used by her hubby. Not sure if you think that's a good nn or not!

I love Muiranne pn Mirren

what about Ailsa?

Heather
Kirsten
Morven
Maura

Alina
Elisa
Ailsa
Caitrin
Caroline
Jennifer
Tira
Tara
Leana
Lorna
Lainie
Lara
Robina
Ev ina
Evanna
Rona
Beth
Bethia
Erica
Edine

I also know of a Taryn (rhymes with Karen but slightly softer sounding if that helps?)

Maisie is a shortened version of Margaret and its very Scottish

Thanks guys.

What do you all think of Elspeth??

I know Niamh isnt scottish, nor is darragh I dont think on the boys list but hey ho! I suppose I just dont want anything that will sound totally out fo place with ds's name.

I like Elspeth and love the shortened name of Elsie.

If you're thinking of names that simply won't sound out of place, what about Aoife (Ee-fe) or Bride (Breej (with a soft j)) Two of my personal favourite Irish names!

I like both Elspeth and Elsie

I like Elspeth - especially shortened to
Elsie !

Ishbel could be shortened to Tish ( think there was a character in the Mallory towers or Trebizon books called Tish ??)

DD has a friend called Ailsa and I think that is very pretty too.

There are a LOT of little Eilidhs and Maisies is Scotland now .

I like Skye, and don't think it's chavvy. (How can you tell we named DD it!)

Thanks guys.

Dh has vetoed elspeth and ishbel

AAAARRRGGGGH!