Scottish Baby Names: From Ailsa to Angus

Oh, I like Scottish names! And with a Scots Mac- surname of my own, I could use them and not sound completely ridiculous.

I am surrounded by them here in the Boston area though , so I’ve been searching for “fresh” sounding ones. Angus, Elspeth, Alasdair & Lilias are in play somewhere on my lists and I thoroughly like Graeme, Magnus, Isobel/Ishbel, Hamish & Ivor. Ailsa’s charmed me since finding her as a charchter in a book as a kid (something to do with a castle in Italy and the “broom” flowers around it. I forget most of it, but remember Ailsa. Finella’s pretty but in my neighborhood would end up yet another Ella. I also find the alternate spelling Fenella completely charming. *sigh* on that Ella thing.

Scottish names are HUGE in Australia. It seemed like every one lil boy I met there was named Lachlan and there were a bunch of Angus’s I came across too.

erm….every -other- little boy I ment. Ugh, typos.

Makes me glad I’m a Yank, then (and I get so few opportunities to be so). Thanks for the update on Aussie trends, Janine. Nice to know what the rest of the world is up to!

I just named my son Callum. It is a great Scottish name.

Yes–a wonderful choice! Congrats!

I named my 3 year old son Campbell for husband’s grandmother’s family-her brother, our favorite great uncle, was the last Campbell of that family. I have since heard of 3 other Campbells-2 boys and a girl. I’m sure CNN’s Campbell Brown will help bring the name some popularity.

Hmm.

My son is a Liam. When my husband and I were in Scotland we fell in love with this derivative of William (my grandfather’s name.) I heard it EVERYWHERE so I knew it would be the next cool thing in the states. His middle name is Atherton.

My daughter’s name is Isla, which we chose after hearing Isla Saint Clair when we were in Edinburgh. I’ve loved “Ella” since I was a little girl and this seemed like a fresher take on it. Her middle name is Maeve.

If we add another little one to the family, he/she would be either Calum Alasdhair or Ness Rosalie.

We love Isla but our surname is White so we can’t use it!!! I am also in Oz and there are loads of Lachlan’s but not many other Scottish ones, apart from Hamish and Angus. We will likely go with Eilidh if it’s a girl but I’m worried about nobody being able to pronounce it!!