City Names - Scotland and Ireland

Bray

Irish place-name, from French

"marsh"

Can't help thinking of a donkey.

Stirling

Scottish

"from the city of Stirling"

Though the usual U.S. spelling is Sterling, this is the authentic Scottish family name version.

Cashel

Irish

"castle, stone fort"

Cashel is one of the many appealing Irish names that have not yet emigrated to the US. Cashel was chosen by actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his writer-director wife Rebecca Miller for their son. In…

Leith

Scottish river name

"wet"

This is an unusual surname and geographical name of medieval Scottish origin that might serve as a possible alternative to the aging Keith, though it's a bit tough on the tongue. More popularly spelt…

Ennis

Irish

"from the island"

An appealing Irish placename with a unisex feel, Ennis would be a fresh alternative to Dennis and Ellis. It's little-used for boys and even rarer for girls, but since Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons…

Elgin

Elgin is a masculine name with Scottish origins, derived from a place name in Moray, Scotland. The etymology likely stems from Gaelic, possibly meaning 'noble' or 'high-spirited.' Historically, Elgin…

Livingston

English and Scottish surname

"dear friend's place"

When Matthew McConaughey and wife Camila Alves chose the old English surname and place name Livingston for their third child, they elevated it from half of a Stanley & Livingston joke to a modern…

Cork

Irish

"swamp, marsh"

Buoyant but lightweight.

Derry

Diminutive or Derek or Dermot or Irish place-name

"like an oak"

With the fashions for tree names, place names, and nickname names, Derry is a three-way winner. The unusual Irish Derry was given to zero babies of either gender in the US last year, but it's a merry…

Dublin

Irish place-name

With Galway and Ireland in play as names (not to mention Shannon and Kerry), there's no reason this one can't work, too.

Dundee

Scottish place-name

A city and river in Scotland; this is upbeat and cheery, but doesn't seem that appropriate as a name.

Galway

Place-name

Associated with the poet and novelist Galway Kinnell, this name of an Irish city, county, and bay would make an evocative choice. For further literary cred, writers Liam O'Flaherty and Frank Harris…

Glasgow

Scottish place-name

An undiscovered place-name with an appealing o-sound ending.

Irvine

Irvine is a masculine name derived from a Scottish place name and surname, ultimately from Celtic origins meaning 'green water' or 'fresh water,' referring to the River Irvine in Ayrshire, Scotland.…

Limerick

Irish place name; poetic form

A limerick is an often humorous form of poetry with five lines (the last of which is the punchline). Limerick could be a fun choice for families with Irish heritage or a good sense of humor.

Nairn

Scottish

"river with alder trees"

Scottish nature name that could prove a tongue- twister for the younger set.