[name_m]Just[/name_m] wondering if there are any thoughts on Caledonian as a boys name? We would shorten to [name_u]Cal[/name_u], which I really like. I’m half Scottish and my hubby has Scottish roots, we live in NZ. I can’t find it as a name anywhere, only [name_f]Caledonia[/name_f] for a girl - which my husband really likes for a boys name - but the ‘a’ ending and the fact that if you look it up it’s definitely classified as a girl’s name are putting me off. Have seen [name_m]Caledon[/name_m] as an alternative for a boy, but think that Caledonian sounds better?
I think going with an actual Scottish name would be better. If you’re wedded to [name_u]Cal[/name_u] (it is a great nickname) then find a Scottish name that it can be used with. Or go for three names that spell [name_u]CAL[/name_u], like [name_u]Cameron[/name_u] [name_m]Alasdair[/name_m] [name_m]Ludovic[/name_m].
Caledonian does not sound better than [name_m]Caledon[/name_m] to me. And I actually enjoy the idea of [name_f]Caledonia[/name_f] on a boy.
Going with an actual Scottish name would be the best option by far, or saving [name_f]Caledonia[/name_f] for a future girl.
Caledonian for me is like Scottish or Norwegian or Greek, a geographical term, not a name. (It’s not the name of [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] either, [name_f]Caledonia[/name_f] is.)
[name_m]How[/name_m] about [name_m]Alban[/name_m]? Same meaning ([name_f]Alba[/name_f]=[name_f]Scotland[/name_f]) but it has the benefit of also being a name on it’s own, not just an adjective.
Otherwise, I second the suggested of finding a Scottish name that nicknames to cal - [name_m]Calum[/name_m]/[name_m]Callum[/name_m] is an obvious choice. [name_u]Calder[/name_u] and [name_m]Callan[/name_m] are also possibilities.
I don’t like it. Here are some boy names that I like that I find unique/uncommon starting with a C
[name_m]Caspian[/name_m]
[name_m]Cadan[/name_m]
[name_m]Caelan[/name_m]
[name_m]Clyde[/name_m]
[name_m]Clark[/name_m]
[name_m]Clemense[/name_m]
[name_m]Clifton[/name_m]
[name_u]Cody[/name_u]
I don’t like Caledonian. I mean, it’s a nice word but that’s just it - it’s a word, not a name. I actually think [name_m]Caledon[/name_m] is really nice: musical, unusual, linked to [name_f]Scotland[/name_f] and it has the nn [name_u]Cal[/name_u] that you love.
I also think the suggestions of [name_m]Calum[/name_m], [name_m]Callen[/name_m], [name_u]Calder[/name_u], [name_m]Caelen[/name_m] or [name_m]Conal[/name_m] nn [name_u]Cal[/name_u] are great. [name_m]Callahan[/name_m] is another option, but admittedly it’s more Gaelic than Gallic.
