I am playing with boys names. I love gaelic names as we have Scottish, British, Welsh and Irish heritage.
For the last 15 years [name]Liam[/name] has been #1 on my list- but as we all know it is very popular. My oldest son has an Irish first name and [name]Riley[/name] as his Mn- so that is out (I chose it 20 years ago when it wasn’t popular!!).
Here is my ‘play’ list… of new possibilities, what is good? what is usable? what thoughts do you have? Any awesome ones I forgot? I am after masculine, strong and friendly feel.
[name]One[/name] criteria I have is “see and say” so no weird spelling that people will say wrong.
[name]Aidan[/name] (yeah probably too popular)
[name]Angus[/name] nn [name]Gus[/name]
[name]Brendan[/name] nn [name]Dan[/name]/ [name]Danny[/name]
[name]Duncan[/name]
[name]Dylan[/name]
[name]Declan[/name] nn [name]Dex[/name] (prob my favourite)
[name]Elliott[/name]- could nn [name]Eli[/name] work?
[name]Evan[/name] nn Ev
[name]Farrell[/name]
[name]Fergus[/name] nn [name]Gus[/name]
[name]Fergall[/name]
[name]Finley[/name] nn [name]Finn[/name]
[name]Flynn[/name]
[name]Galen[/name] (too girly?)
[name]Keegan[/name] (too girly?)
[name]Morgan[/name] (too girly?)
[name]Mitchell[/name] nn [name]Mitch[/name]
[name]Nolan[/name] nn ???
[name]Oren[/name]/ [name]Orrin[/name]
[name]Quade[/name]
[name]Rhys[/name] (girl napped?)
[name]Riordan[/name] nn [name]Dan[/name]/ [name]Danny[/name] or nn [name]Rory[/name]??? GP name of mine- is it usable?
[name]Rohan[/name] (girl napped?)
[name]Ryan[/name] (easy to spell/ well known… popular though- but less so than [name]Liam[/name])
[name]Torin[/name] nn???
[name]Tully[/name] (does it sound like a name? or a nn?)
[name]Tynan[/name] nn [name]Ty[/name]
[name]Ronan[/name] nn ???
Lachlan (thanks Rollo)
I love [name]Riordan[/name] ([name]Rory[/name]!), [name]Aidan[/name], [name]Dylan[/name], [name]Declan[/name] (although I prefer it as it is… for some reason, [name]Dex[/name] has always sounded a bit pretentious to me, sorry!), [name]Elliott[/name] (prefer [name]Elliot[/name]; although [name]Eli[/name] can definitely work!), [name]Finley[/name] (love [name]Finn[/name]!), [name]Flynn[/name], [name]Galen[/name] (definitely not too girly, especially with The Hunger Games!), and [name]Rhys[/name] (definitely still masculine enough, especially with the original Welsh spelling!).
I’m not a huge fan of most Gaelic/Irish/Scottish names–at least, I’ve always thought that until I see lists like this, lol–but I do love some! The ones that I love that I haven’t seen on your list (besides [name]Patrick[/name]!) would be [name]Brody[/name] and [name]Callum[/name]. [name]Both[/name] Scottish, I believe…
[name]Aidan[/name] (yeah probably too popular) - insanely popular and annoying to no end. Please, don’t pick this one.
[name]Angus[/name] nn [name]Gus[/name] - NMS, personally. I associate the name with steak and hamburgers.
[name]Brendan[/name] nn [name]Dan[/name]/ [name]Danny[/name] - Classic. Fun nicknames. Maybe consider [name]Brennan[/name]?
[name]Duncan[/name] - Classic. I like this one.
[name]Dylan[/name] - more on the popular side, but not super-popular. Nice one.
[name]Declan[/name] nn [name]Dex[/name] (prob my favourite) - NMS, personally, but I can see the Irish/Welsh appeal. Not a fan of the nn. I’d probably just go with “D”.
[name]Elliott[/name]- could nn [name]Eli[/name] work? - love this one. Sadly, it’s gaining popularity. Not in the top 50 yet, but it’s getting there. Personally, I don’t think this one needs a nickname. It stands so well on its own.
[name]Evan[/name] nn Ev - super-popular. I know at least 8 [name]Evans[/name] ranging from 9 years to 4 months.
[name]Farrell[/name] - NMS
[name]Fergus[/name] nn [name]Gus[/name] - NMS. [name]Gus[/name] is cute for a nn, though.
[name]Fergall[/name] - No.
[name]Finley[/name] nn [name]Finn[/name] - very nice. Like this one.
[name]Flynn[/name] - [name]Love[/name] this one! Classic and unique but not absurd.
[name]Galen[/name] (too girly?) - While it’s traditionally a boy’s name, this one has been taken over by the ladies, [name]IMO[/name].
[name]Keegan[/name] (too girly?) - NMS. I dislike this one on both boys and girls. Too unisex for me.
[name]Morgan[/name] (too girly?) - Girls’ name.
[name]Mitchell[/name] nn [name]Mitch[/name] - Like it. Strong and classic.
[name]Nolan[/name] nn ??? - Too popular.
[name]Oren[/name]/ [name]Orrin[/name] - Prefer [name]Orrin[/name]. Like this one.
[name]Quade[/name] - [name]Dennis[/name] [name]Quaid[/name]? This one will get misspelled ALL the time.
[name]Rhys[/name] (girl napped?) - Still a boy’s name, but proper pronunciation will depend on where you live. In my area, it will most always be pronounced “[name]Rice[/name]” because it’s extremely uncommon. In other areas, it will be fine.
[name]Riordan[/name] nn [name]Dan[/name]/ [name]Danny[/name] or nn [name]Rory[/name]??? GP name of mine- is it usable? - Great name. Definitely strong and masculine. Like the nn [name]Danny[/name].
[name]Rohan[/name] (girl napped?) - You’ll have spelling and pronunciation issues with this one. NMS, personally.
[name]Ryan[/name] (easy to spell/ well known… popular though- but less so than [name]Liam[/name]) - not as popular as it was 30 years ago. I can’t think of any Ryans I know under the age of 20.
[name]Torin[/name] nn??? - Like it.
[name]Tully[/name] (does it sound like a name? or a nn?) - sounds like a nn for [name]Torin[/name].
[name]Tynan[/name] nn [name]Ty[/name] - NMS. Prefer [name]Tyler[/name].
[name]Ronan[/name] nn ??? - ok.
I really like [name]Declan[/name], [name]Elliot[/name], [name]Finley[/name] and [name]Flynn[/name]. [name]Declan[/name] nn [name]Dex[/name] would be my favourite as well.
[name]Brody[/name]… hmm maybe, have to think on that one. Boy names ending in ‘y’ always have a slightly cutesy little boy/ feminine feel to me. But I guess [name]Rory[/name] ends in y…
[name]Callum[/name]- Like but ‘taken’
[name]Brooke[/name] spots my gaelic name list… apparently most of them “suck”. She reads most of them out in the same tone one might say the word “vomit”. LOL
The only ones that got the tick of teen approval were:
[name]Brendan[/name]
[name]Dylan[/name]
[name]Ryan[/name]
[name]Mitchell[/name]
[name]Elliott[/name] (“like that weird funny one off the movie Open [name]Season[/name]?”)
[name]Lachlan[/name]
Comment on [name]Angus[/name]: “like off [name]Mac[/name] Donalds?”
[name]Duncan[/name]
[name]Fergus[/name]
[name]Galen[/name] (this is a boys name)
[name]Morgan[/name] (this was and still is a boys name)
[name]Nolan[/name]
[name]Rhys[/name] (this spelling is still Masculine)
[name]Lachlan[/name]
You may also like…[name]Sullivan[/name], [name]Lorcan[/name], [name]Donovan[/name], [name]Quinlan[/name], [name]Griffin[/name], [name]Ewan[/name], [name]Eamon[/name], [name]Niall[/name], Cianan, [name]Ciaran[/name], [name]Cillian[/name], [name]Eoghan[/name], [name]Rafferty[/name], [name]Cormac[/name] and [name]Cashel[/name].
I like [name]Angus[/name], [name]Duncan[/name], [name]Fergus[/name], [name]Galen[/name], [name]Sullivan[/name], [name]Ewan[/name], [name]Griffin[/name], [name]Donovan[/name], [name]Dylan[/name], and [name]Flynn[/name] in no particular order.
[name]Aidan[/name] - I’ve always really love this name but unfortunately I couldn’t use it because if it’s popularity. If it doesn’t bother you, it’s still a great name!
[name]Angus[/name] nn [name]Gus[/name] - I don’t like this at all. Reminds me of [name]Angus[/name] meat.
[name]Brendan[/name] nn [name]Dan[/name]/ [name]Danny[/name] - [name]LOVE[/name] [name]Brendan[/name], really don’t like using [name]Dan[/name]/[name]Danny[/name] as a nn.
[name]Duncan[/name] - I like it but it’s a friend’s last name so I wouldn’t use it.
[name]Dylan[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Declan[/name] nn [name]Dex[/name] - Sorry, I really don’t like this name.
[name]Elliott[/name]- [name]LOVE[/name]! [name]Eli[/name] could work.
[name]Evan[/name] nn Ev - [name]Love[/name]! I’d have it on my list but it’s an ex’s name so maybe a little weird.
[name]Farrell[/name] - [name]Don[/name]'t like it.
[name]Fergus[/name] nn [name]Gus[/name] - [name]Don[/name]'t like it.
[name]Fergall[/name] - No.
[name]Finley[/name] nn [name]Finn[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Flynn[/name] - Ok.
[name]Galen[/name] - Honestly, I don’t think I’d go with a name with the word “gay” in it. For some reason kids still think it’s an insult to call someone gay and it’s an easy way to make fun of someone. Kids are cruel :-/
[name]Keegan[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Morgan[/name] - I don’t really like this name on either sex.
[name]Mitchell[/name] nn [name]Mitch[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Nolan[/name] - [name]LOVE[/name]! A two syllable name really doesn’t need a nn btw.
[name]Oren[/name]/ [name]Orrin[/name] - [name]Don[/name]'t like.
[name]Quade[/name] - [name]Don[/name]'t like.
[name]Rhys[/name] - [name]Love[/name]!
[name]Riordan[/name] nn [name]Dan[/name]/ [name]Danny[/name] or nn [name]Rory[/name] - I don’t like it.
[name]Rohan[/name] - It’s ok. What about [name]Ronan[/name]?
[name]Ryan[/name] - Good name.
[name]Torin[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Tully[/name] - Sounds like a nn. Not a fan.
[name]Tynan[/name] nn [name]Ty[/name] - It’s ok.
[name]Ronan[/name] - Oh, here’s [name]Ronan[/name]! Haha. I like it. Doesn’t need a nn.
[name]Lachlan[/name] - It’s ok. Not a fan.
My favourites are:
[name]Brendan[/name]
[name]Duncan[/name]
[name]Dylan[/name] - Quite popular though.
[name]Declan[/name] - [name]Dex[/name] is a cute nn.
[name]Elliott[/name] - I think nn [name]Eli[/name] could work.
[name]Farrell[/name]
[name]Galen[/name] - Or how about [name]Gavin[/name] or [name]Gareth[/name]? Or Gryffith?
[name]Rhys[/name] - This spelling is all male to me.
[name]Riordan[/name] - Hard to know if this is usable for you, for me yes (I’m in the UK).
[name]Rohan[/name] - I don’t think it’s girl-napped… Is it?!
[name]Torin[/name] - I prefer [name]Tobin[/name].
[name]Tynan[/name]
[name]Ronan[/name]
[name]Lachlan[/name]
These might be too similar to the ‘taken’ names, but how about:
[name]Owen[/name] ‘taken’ - [name]How[/name] about [name]Ewan[/name] or [name]Euan[/name]?
[name]Ethan[/name] ‘taken’ - [name]How[/name] about [name]Eamonn[/name]?
[name]Kieran[/name] ‘taken’ - [name]How[/name] about [name]Kian[/name]?
I also like [name]Callum[/name] and [name]Malcolm[/name].
[name]Both[/name] Scottish, I believe…