I would love to you what your favorite Irish and Scottish names are. [name_m]Can[/name_m] be as outlandish or GP/hard to wear as you want, if you can please put the meaning of it and/or reasons why you like it. Bonus point if they have nns but not required or anything, just interested in hearing your thoughts.
[name_m]Hi[/name_m] there.
I love Irish & Scottish names.
Here are my top five:
Boys-
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[name_m]Colm[/name_m]-This name means âdoveâ, which makes it even more beautiful. I read it in a historical fiction book set in the 1860s. [name_m]Colm[/name_m] was the name of an Irish immigrant soldier. I just love how gentle yet handsome it sounds.
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[name_m]Ewan[/name_m]-I just find this charming, witty, kind & handsome. Itâs simple, yet somehow not at all popular. The only nn I kind of like is [name_u]Win[/name_u]. Meaning isnât for certain, but it may mean âborn under the yew treeâ. Which is nature-y & sweet.
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[name_m]Nolan[/name_m]-Iâm a huge baseball fan, so I love names that sound like ballplayers. This one totally does, but it also sounds like a rugged woodsman. And then at the same time, it also has a kind gentle feeling. I love boy names like that. The nn [name_m]Nollie[/name_m] pretty cute.
4.[name_m]Seamus[/name_m]-I think that this is my fourth favorite. First three are set in stone. I love this, because itâs just the epitome of an Irish name. It just sounds like a charming, cheerful friendly hardworking fella. And the nn [name_u]Shea[/name_u] is beautiful.
- [name_m]Eamon[/name_m]-This is another of those cool outdoorsy guy sounding name, who has a gentle soul. Itâs very Irish too.
As a side note, I think youâd like to know my nephewsâ names. Dhâs sister has five boys called Li@m, Se@mus (nn [name_u]Shay[/name_u] most of the time), Cilli@n, M@lachy & E@mon. And then his brother has two boys called Decl@n & [name_m]Kier[/name_m]@n. And their dog, [name_m]Ron[/name_m]@n. Then I have a bunch of non-Irish named nephews as well.
Anyway, the girlsâŚ
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[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]-The beautiful angel in my profile picture if [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]. I just love the name so much. Itâs a perfect balance of boldness & feminine beauty. It means âfairâ or âwhiteâ. As far as nns, we call her Fi or Feefs a lot. I think that Feefs may be goofy for a human. Iâve never used this, but always thought that the name [name_f]Nonie[/name_f] could work.
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Finuala/[name_f]Nuala[/name_f]-I canât decide which one I like more. I sort of like the idea of the full name & [name_f]Nuala[/name_f] as a nn. I have just [name_f]Nuala[/name_f] on my âwould use for a hypothetical human babyâ list, because Finuala is too close to [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]. Finuala means âwhite shoulderâ.
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[name_f]Aine[/name_f]-This is basically said like [name_f]Anya[/name_f], but I think a little bit more like âown-yuhâ. Itâs kind of too complicated to use in real life, in my opinion. But itâs beautiful, isnât it? It means âradianceâ, & she was the queen of the fairies in Gaelic mythology.
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[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]-This is a Scottish form of [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], so it means âGod is an oathâ. I think that it sounds smart & sassy. And has the adorable nn of [name_f]Elsie[/name_f].
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[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]-Apparently this means âintoxicatingâ. And she was a warrior queen in Irish mythology. I never thought that it sounded warrior-y, but thatâs very cool. I think it sounds smart & sweet.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps.
[name_f]My[/name_f] favourites for boys are [name_u]Rory[/name_u], which is apparently both Scottish and Irish, [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] (Irish) and [name_m]Angus[/name_m], which is Scottish. For girls I love [name_f]Marsaili[/name_f] (MAR-sa-lee), which is derived from the [name_m]Roman[/name_m] god of war, [name_u]Mars[/name_u], and [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], both of which are Scottish, and the Irish [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]: itâs simple and strong and I love its meaning/background. It means âshe who intoxicatesâ and in Irish mythology [name_f]Maeve[/name_f] was both a warrior queen and queen of the fairies. I started appreciating it when I watched Sex Education (itâs the name of a feisty, intelligent, and also beautiful character). OisĂn (b) and [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f] (g), both of which are Irish, are also great names. I love that both Irish and Scottish names seem, both aesthetically and in sound, simultaneously strong and magical. They make me think of highland battles, witches on heaths, and fairy magic.
I love Celtic names, so many amazing options.
[name_f]Bronagh[/name_f] - means âsorrowâ. Sad meaning but I love how strong she is, I can just imagine this she-wolf type character.
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f] - means âmaidenâ. One of my absolute favourites for a long while now, even though sheâs quite familiar for me, I think sheâs also fairly unique and I donât see her getting as much love as I think she deserves.
[name_f]Isobel[/name_f] - means âpledged to Godâ. This is the Scottish variant of [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] etc and, in my opinion, far and above the best of all versions. [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] can be a little juvenile to me, like it wouldnât suit a grown woman at all but [name_f]Isobel[/name_f] feels like it would suit anyone of any age.
[name_m]Alistair[/name_m] - means âdefending menâ. A total classic, and lovely alternative to [name_m]Alexander[/name_m].
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] - means âlittle, fierceâ. Such a great meaning, no? And so full of Irish history, I love him the most.
[name_m]Malachy[/name_m] - means âmy messengerâ. I prefer [name_m]Malachy[/name_m] (MAL-AH-KEY) over the Hebrew [name_m]Malachi[/name_m] (MAL-AH-KAI). I watched a show once with a character called this and pronounced how I preferred, Irish accent and all, and I just fell for him.
[name_u]Rory[/name_u] - means âred kingâ. Always a favourite. Iâm firmly on the boys team where [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is concerned and even though I said [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] is my absolute favourite, [name_u]Rory[/name_u] is the one Iâd consider more for a future kiddo. I just feel like heâd fit a lot of personalities without being the same old kind of thing, if that makes sense.
[name_u]Tristan[/name_u] - means ânoise or sorrowful.â Another sad meaning, but heâs such a classic, in my opinion. So sturdy, too, and another with a wealth of history with him. Charming.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] these give you some inspiration.
[name_m]Fergus[/name_m] â[name_u]Gus[/name_u]â: [name_f]My[/name_f] all time favorite boys name. Itâs the perfect balance of hardy, steady, manly, but with the nickname [name_u]Gus[/name_u] itâs soft, playful, somewhat childish. I thing itâs just perfect for any kind of boy. It means âman of forceâ
[name_m]Fraser[/name_m] â[name_m]Frey[/name_m]â: my second favorite boys name. It hits all the same points as [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] does. It means âstrawberryâ which is just adorable. Iâve always loved the name [name_m]Frey[/name_m] but itâs a little too weak to stand by itself. I think it really softens [name_m]Fraser[/name_m] up.
[name_m]Branigan[/name_m] â[name_m]Bram[/name_m]â: a new love of mine. It has such a unique sound to it and the coolest meaning (âlittle ravenâ). I think itâs well rounded, handsome, and can be the name of a little boy or an old man.
[name_m]Callaghan[/name_m] â[name_u]Cal[/name_u]â: Iâm a sucker for names that have [name_u]Cal[/name_u] as the nickname. It again fits the above criteria which is what I look for in boy names. [name_u]Cal[/name_u] once again softens the harsher name and provides an adorable nickname for a child. It means âlover of churchesâ which is an okay meaning, nothing special though.
[name_m]Dougal[/name_m]: Iâve loved this name for a while now. Itâs more of a guilty pleasure though. Itâs a steady, tough boy name. I love itâs mysterious meaning, âdark strangerâ. I do not like the nickname [name_m]Doug[/name_m] which is inevitable with a name like this. Also where I live no one would be able to pronounce it.
[name_m]Findlay[/name_m]: it has a cool meaning. âfair-haired heroâ. I also prefer this traditional spelling. This (and all other [name_m]Fin[/name_m] names) are guilty pleasure for me. I have a cat named [name_m]Phinneas[/name_m] âPhinn/Phinneyâ so I canât really name a kit the same thing.
[name_m]Finian[/name_m] â[name_m]Fin[/name_m]â: same as above. It means âfairâ. I prefer it spelt with one N. I read a book series with a character named [name_m]Finian[/name_m] and I feel in love with the name and the character. Itâs such a strong and handsome name however I couldnât really use it unfortunately.
[name_m]Finnegan[/name_m]: same as above. I didnât like this name for a long time, but for some reason it started to grow on me. Itâs fun, playful, unique, handsome, and just well rounded.
[name_m]Hamish[/name_m]: oh how I love this name. It just makes me smile whenever I read or hear it. It means âsupplanterâ. Itâs just the cutest, most adorable name ever. It borders on brave and GP for me since where Iâm from everyone wil pronounce it [name_m]Ham[/name_m]-ish instead of Hay-mish.
[name_u]Keegan[/name_u]: this used to be a top name for me but then I went to college and I meant three of them. Itâs not as unqiue as I thought it was and Iâm not a huge fan of the kids who are named [name_u]Keegan[/name_u]. I love the meaning, âa thinker; fieryâ. I donât really like the potential nicknames though so that is a drawback.
[name_u]Killian[/name_u] â[name_u]Kit[/name_u]â: Iâve loved this name for a long time. I read it in a book and the character was bad*ss. I do prefer the spelling with a K instead of a C. The C makes me want to pronounce it as an S. Since [name_u]Killian[/name_u] is a harsher name, I wanted to find a softer nickname for it. [name_u]Kit[/name_u] is a stretch but I love it as a nickname. [name_u]Killian[/name_u] means âWar strife or churchâ which isnât my favorite meaning, but itâs not the worst.
Murtagh: This is another GP for me. I love the meaning (âskilled navigatorâ). I first heard it in the show Outlander. I love the character. It sounds soft but at the same time carries a subtle strength to it. Once again no one where Iâm from would be able to pronounce it correctly, so itâs a GP for me.
[name_m]Seamus[/name_m] â[name_u]Shay[/name_u]â: I would use this name is a heartbeat. I think some people would pronounce it wrong at first but Itâs an easy correction. It means âsupplanterâ. Nicknames are inevitable in my family, so his nickname would by [name_u]Shay[/name_u]. I donât hate or love [name_u]Shay[/name_u], but itâs starting to grow on me. I think [name_m]Seamus[/name_m] is a tough, kind boy name. I can see any kind of boy wearing it.
[name_f]Aila[/name_f]: this a new love of mine. Itâs still growing on me, however, itâs not my favorite bc itâs pronounced the same way as [name_f]Isla[/name_f] which is becoming very popular. It means âfrom a strong placeâ which I really like. I love strong names on girls and I think this one is perfect.
Ailith: I want to love this name but Iâm having a hard time. Iâm not a huge fan of the th at the end, but it is growing on me. It means âwarriorâ which I adore.
[name_u]Ainsley[/name_u]: Iâve loved this name for a while now. I have a hard time pairing with a middle though. Itâs rising in popularity which Iâm not fond of but I think Iâll be willing to overlook it. It means âoneâs own meadowâ. Itâs such a sweet meaning. I think itâs a very independent, cute, strong name for a girl.
[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f]: this is a GP of mine, no one would be able to pronounce it. I love the meaning: âsun, radiant oneâ. I think itâs perfect for a girl. This name exudes confidence, strength, and gives me queen vibes.
[name_u]Fiadh[/name_u]: another GP just bc people would have trouble pronouncing it. I adore itâs meaning: âwildâ. Itâs strong, beautiful, feisty, and to me, just a perfect girls name.
[name_u]Madigan[/name_u]: this name is just adorable. It means âlittle dogâ which I think it so cute. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though itâs cute, itâs just so strong. Itâs a great alternative to [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] which is so popular. However, I do not like the nickname [name_f]Maddy[/name_f] which is pretty much a guarantee.
[name_f]Scotland[/name_f] â[name_u]Scout[/name_u] or [name_u]Scottie[/name_u]â: Iâve loved this for a girl for a long time now. Itâs an honor to my mom. I think itâs strong, stunning, independent, and beautiful. Perfect for any aged woman.
[name_u]Thistle[/name_u]: this is the national flower of [name_f]Scotland[/name_f]. Itâs just so beautiful. Itâs a harsher name but I still love it, especially as a middle. It is an honor for my mom.
I have a cousin named [name_m]Nolan[/name_m] and we have a sneaking suspicion that my uncle named him after the player! I like this name too!
[name_m]Sholto[/name_m] is my favourite scottish boyâs name - it just sounds so earthy and cool, so fully of life. It gives me imagery of a quiet woodland waiting to be explored
[name_m]Cillian[/name_m], [name_u]Murphy[/name_u], [name_u]Keegan[/name_u] and [name_m]Fergus[/name_m] are some runners up
[name_f]Clodagh[/name_f] is my favourite Irish girls name. I love the distinctive sounds and the mixture of softness and hardness. Itâs tough with a kind of gentleness and it gives me imagery of running water
[name_f]Effie[/name_f], [name_f]Eilidh[/name_f], [name_f]Ailish[/name_f] and [name_f]Mairead[/name_f] are some runners up
I have Irish heritage so I have a soft spot for Irish names. If my mum had had her way, me & my sister would have been called [name_f]Niamh[/name_f] and [name_f]Siobhan[/name_f].
[name_f]My[/name_f] favouritesâŚ
[name_f]Aoife[/name_f]
[name_f]Caoimhe[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Orla[/name_f]
[name_f]Aisling[/name_f]
[name_f]Roisin[/name_f]
[name_m]Faolan[/name_m] - this was my favourite boys name for the longest time! It means âlittle wolfâ so Wolfie would be an adorable nickname too.
[name_m]Cormac[/name_m]
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m]
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]
Thank you all for your feedback! I have now been able to narrow down what kind of Gaelic names Iâm looking for and I am leaning heavily to âgaelic roots that sound modern/trendy to the American earâ from these names im really liking:
[name_u]Killian[/name_u] nn [name_u]Kit[/name_u]
[name_m]Brannigan[/name_m] nn [name_u]Bran[/name_u]
[name_u]Keegan[/name_u] nn [name_m]Keys[/name_m]
[name_m]Shamus[/name_m] nn [name_u]Shay[/name_u]
[name_u]Madigan[/name_u] (although I also dislike [name_f]Maddie[/name_f] as a nn)
[name_m]Fergus[/name_m] made me think of [name_m]Magnus[/name_m] nn [name_u]Gus[/name_u] which I really like
And [name_u]Thistle[/name_u] is a really cool idea!
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] (nn ideas?)
[name_m]Cormac[/name_m] nn [name_u]Mack[/name_u]
For me its:
RuaidhrĂ
[name_m]Ronan[/name_m]
[name_m]Conan[/name_m]
[name_u]Bran[/name_u] / [name_m]Branagan[/name_m]
[name_m]Thane[/name_m]
[name_m]Odo[/name_m]
Lachlain
[name_u]Brennan[/name_u]
[name_m]Gareth[/name_m]
[name_u]Monroe[/name_u]
[name_u]Rowan[/name_u]
[name_m]Fagan[/name_m]
FĂĄelĂĄn / FaĂłlan
[name_u]Fallon[/name_u]
[name_m]Farren[/name_m]
Nicca
[name_m]Sholto[/name_m]
[name_m]Rhydian[/name_m]
[name_m]Alastair[/name_m] / [name_m]Alasdair[/name_m]
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m]
[name_m]Bram[/name_m]
LonĂĄn
[name_u]Killian[/name_u]
[name_m]Conall[/name_m]
Nessan
[name_m]Ramsay[/name_m]
Tormod
RĂłrdĂĄn
[name_m]Gawyn[/name_m]
Nanty
[name_u]Tiernan[/name_u]
[name_f]Niamh[/name_f]
[name_u]Brogan[/name_u]
[name_u]Carroll[/name_u]
Conleith
NoamhĂĄn
SlĂĄine
[name_f]Tandy[/name_f]
Elspeth
Ilsabeth
[name_f]Gillyanne[/name_f]
[name_f]Eilidh[/name_f]
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Elen[/name_f]
Cèilidh
[name_f]Phemie[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f]
[name_f]Katryn[/name_f]
[name_f]Nessie[/name_f] / [name_f]Nessa[/name_f] / Ness
[name_f]Willamina[/name_f]
[name_f]Sorcha[/name_f]
[name_f]Aislinn[/name_f]
[name_f]Morrigan[/name_f]
EibhlĂn
[name_f]Aithne[/name_f]
[name_u]Fiadh[/name_u]
[name_f]Fianna[/name_f]
MĂŠabh
[name_f]Oona[/name_f]
RĂona