Category Archives: Latest Names

Elspeth

The Meaning of Elspeth

The name Elspeth is pretty exclusive to Scotland, and sometimes England. The name was derived from Elizabeth, which is more universally recognizable. The meaning of Elspeth is “chosen by God,” which gives the name a powerful and cherishable meaning.

Popularity

In 2013, Elspeth was the 413th most popular baby girl’s name in Scotland. The Elspeth name is beautiful and graceful, and gives you the image of an elegant woman. The meaning of Elspeth is also very beautiful and meaningful.

Famous People with the Name

The popularity of Elspeth is pretty minimal, although there a few well-known women with the Elspeth name. Elspeth Gray was a British actress that landed her first film in the 1940’s and become more popular throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. Elspeth Gibson is a British fashion designer that is well known for her signature use of lace, beading and embroidery designs. She even styled Madonna! Elspeth Ballantyne is an Australian actress who is a part of theatre, film and television. Her most well-known work is the soap opera Prisoner.

Why Choose Elspeth as a Baby’s Name

Choosing unique baby names seems to be a trend these days. Elspeth is definitely a unique name and a little less popular, which would make your little Elspeth-to-be the perfect name trend setter.

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Discover other lovely Scottish girls’ names on this website


Ina

Meaning and Origin of the Name Ina

The name Ina is used as a nickname for names like Marina or Kristina that end in “ina”. Some common forms of Ina include Ena, Inna, Yna, and Inanne. Another form for Ina, used in Ireland, is Agnes. The name Ina is derived from an Anglo-saxon word meaning “home” or “to entertain”. The meaning of Ina is Christian woman or queen.

Predominantly used for girls, history show it has also been used for boys. King Ina of the West Saxons who, in 725 A.D,, is said to have added a one cent tax known as Peter’s Pence to every household. Collected during the Feast of Saint Peter during High Mass, it was used for a college in Rome.

Popularity of Ina

Archived records in Scotland show the popularity of Ina has not been great over the centuries, but there are some notable characters. In Ireland, two saints are named Ina. Other famous people named Ina include famous author and chef, Ina Gartin, and Ina May Gaskin, the mother of modern midwifery.

In 2013 and 2014, the most popular girls names were Sophie and Emily. The name Ina didn’t even make the top 100. Based on past history, this trend is likely to continue.

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Finola

Meaning and Popularity of the Name Finola

Finola is altered from “Fionnghuala” and the meaning of Finola is “fair-shouldered.” It was not in the top 100 baby names in Scotland for 2013, making the popularity of Finola marginal. It is Anglicized from the name Fionnula. Variants of the name include Fionola, Fionnuala, Finnguala, Fenella, Fionnghuala and Finella.

History of the Name

The Finola name comes from Fionnghuala from the legend of the Children of Lir of the Tuatha De Dannan. The other Children of Lir were Fionnghuala’s brothers, Fiachra, Aodh and Conn who were all cast out of their home when their stepmother Aoife turned Fionnghuala into a swan, cursed to wander Ireland’s rivers and lakes with her brothers. 900 years later, the curse broke when Deoch, daughter of Finghin and Lairgren, son of Colman, got married. “The Song of Albion” by Thomas Moore depicts Fionnghuala’s time as a swan.

Famous People with the Name Finola

The Finola name is shared with actress Finola Hughes who appeared in the American impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous musical “Cats”.

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Greer

Meaning and History of the Name Greer

The Greer name can be either a surname, as in the writer Germaine Greer, or a given name, as in the actress Greer Garson. It can also be spelled Grear, Grier or Gryer. The meaning of Greer is “alert, watchful.” Greer is a Scottish name that’s the feminine form of Gregor, which is itself the Scottish form of Gregory, which has Greek origins. It can, rarely, be used as a boy’s name.

The surname Greer is derived from MacGregor, which means “son of Gregory,” and is the name of a powerful Scottish clan.

Meaning and History of the Name Greer

The popularity of Greer seems to be limited. It was not one of the hundred most popular girl’s names listed by the Scottish government, it was actually 1013rd most popular name (in 2013) . The latest statistics from the United States show that Greer is not even in the top thousand of girl’s names, although it had enjoyed a brief vogue in the 1940’s and 1950’s because of Greer Garson. By contrast, Greer is a relatively common last name, being the 426th most common surname out of the 88799 surnames in the United States.

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See other Scottish girls’ names on our website.

Iseabail

Origin of the Scottish Name Iseabail

The Iseabail name is an uncommon female first name and a Scottish and Gaelic variant of Isabel, which is a Spanish variant of the name Elizabeth.

Iseabail, pronounced “EE-sha-bahl,” is a captivating name steeped in Scottish Gaelic tradition and rich with history. While it may appear unique at first glance, it holds a special place in the hearts of many seeking authentic Scottish names for their daughters.

Meaning

For the meaning of Iseabail, you have to revert to Elizabeth which is from the Hebrew name Elisheba meaning “God is my oath,” “consecrated by God” and even “God is perfection.” It is also frequently shortened in Scotland as Beileag.

Origins and Variations

Iseabail is the Gaelic adaptation of Isabel, which itself has Hebrew roots meaning “God is my oath.” This connection imbues Iseabail with a subtle spiritual connotation, adding depth to its beauty. The Anglicised form, Ishbel, is also commonly used and maintains the essence of the name.

The name Iseabail is related to peace

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Iseabail has never seemed to be high and it appeared at the 1525th place on the government’s list of the most popular girl’s baby names in Scotland as of 2023 so it would make for an unusual form of two more common names.

While not currently among the most popular choices in Scotland, Iseabail boasts a long and distinguished history. Notably, Iseabail Ní Mheic Cailéin, a 16th-century Scottish noblewoman and renowned Gaelic poet, bore the name. Her legacy as a cultural figure adds further charm to its historical appeal.

Famous People with the Name Iseabail

There are very few famous bearers of the name Iseabail however there is Iseabail Ní Mheic Cailéin, Colin Campbell, the 1st Earl of Argyll’s daughter, who was herself a 15th-century Gaelic poet and noblewoman. Otherwise, a close variant would be Ishbel MacAskill, the accomplished and famous Gaelic diva, actress, teacher, and Scottish heritage activist.

In Conclusion

Iseabail is more than just a name; it’s a heritage piece carrying the essence of Scottish Gaelic culture and history. With its beautiful sound, rich symbolism, and versatility, Iseabail stands as a captivating choice for parents seeking a unique and meaningful name for their daughter that will resonate for generations to come.

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Donella

Origin & Meaning of the name Donella

The Donella name is both an Italian and Scottish baby name. The meaning of Donella mean ‘World Leader’ or ‘World Ruler’ in Scottish from the male name Domhnall.  In  Italian it means “Lady”,. Another Celtic meanings is “Dark haired girl”.

Variations of the name Danella

There are also many variations of this name including Daniella, Donna, Danielle, Donell and Donnella.

Popularity

The popularity of Donella isn’t a very popular name among females and it was not in the top 1000 Scottish baby names in 2013. This name however is mainly used these days as a last name.

People with the Name

There are some celebrities that also share this name:

  • Donella Meadows, who was a teacher, a writer and a American environmental scientist.
  • Donella Plane, an Australian country singer and an Italian opera singer named Donella Del Monaco.

Traits of this Name

Most girls and women who have this name are known to be an actress, singer, writer or any other creative profession.

They also are very passionate and romantic people and have infectious personalties. They also aren’t afraid to participate as a public speaker and are also known be very outgoing.

Even though these people are very generous and creative people, they can also e very hot headed and quick tempered at times. They are also known to have their heart on their sleeve and fall in love very easily.

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  • Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish names on our website.

Sorcha

Meaning and Origin of the Name Sorcha

The Sorcha name is a popular girl’s name in Scotland. The meaning of Sorcha has a number of different roots. The meaning of Sorcha in Scotland has its roots in Gaelic where it means Brightness. The name in Scotland has been altered over the years to be associated with Clara. In Ireland the name has been altered to be associated with Sarah and Sally. However, there is no real root of this association. In English the name Sorcha has its roots in Latin where it also means Brightness.

Popularity

The popularity of Sorcha is not very high, which has made it popular among persons who want to find a more unique girl’s name. The name is currently ranked 1013 on girl’s names in 2013. The associated names of Sarah and Clara are much more popular than Sorcha.

Famous People with the Name Sorcha

There are several persons who have bared the name Sorcha. The teacher and writer Sorcha Ní Ghuairim is known as great singer of traditional Irish songs. Sorcha Cusack is an English actress who has appeared in films such as Snatch, The Bill, Jane Eyre, and the Father Brown series. Sorcha Boru is an American potter and sculptor who has had her work featured in several museum exhibitions.

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Cullodena

Origin and Popularity of Cullodena

Cullodena is a name for baby girls that is Scottish in origin. The Cullodena name is quite rare and is not ranked within the top one hundred names in Europe. Regardless of the low popularity of Cullodena, the name is very pretty. The meaning of Cullodena is “from the mossy ground” and the meaning remains the same among the other forms of the name. The other variations of Cullodena include Cullodina, Cullodyna, Culodena, Culodina, and Culodyna.

Places with the Name Cullodena

Culloden is the is the masculine form of Cullodena and means “from the nook of the marsh.” The boy’s name is equally as rare as the girl’s form of the name.
A baby girl with the name Cullodena, or any variation of this Scottish name, will most likely be the only girl in that area with her name. She would have a very unique name. Cullodena, despite the name rareness, is a beautiful name.

Places with the Name Cullodena

In Scotland there is a village near Iverness in the Highlands called Culloden that was the site of the Battle of Culloden. The Battle of Culloden was the final battle of Jacobite Rising. There is also a village, or community, in Nova Scotia, a province of Canada, that is called Culloden.

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Jamesina

Origin and Meaning

The Jamesina name is the Scottish feminine version of the masculine name James. In English, it is another, feminine, form of the unisex name Jamie. The name is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Jamesina is, “one who supplants,” the literal translation meaning, “one who replaces or supersedes.”

Popularity of the Name Jamesina

The popularity of Jamesina is pretty much nonexistent as of now. In the year 2013, it was not found on the Top 100 Scottish Baby Names list. The name Jamesina actually fell into the list of popular baby names around the mid 2000 range, making it fairly uncommon for a baby name. The popularity of the name Jamesina has never been much, and the name is not likely to become popular in coming years.

Pronounce Jamesina

However, for anybody who is interested in the name and may be wondering just how to pronounce Jamesina, it is pronounced, Jay meh see nuh, or JHEY-Meh-SIY-Naa.

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Ainsley

Origin and Meaning of the Name Ainsley

Ainsley is a Scottish name that is most likely from Nottinghamshire. In addition, the name has become a popular first name girls serves as a surname as well. The meaning of Ainsley in Scottish is “one’s own meadow”.

Variation of the Name

Like many other names, Ainsley has many other variations as well, 18 to be exact, a few are: Ainsleigh, Ainslee, Aynslee, Ansley, and Aynsly.However, Ainsley is one of Scotland’s most popular variations.

Popularity

Ainsley is a name that has become increasingly popular. With that being said, the popularity of the name was at an all time high globally in 2012. In that year 0.048% of little girls were named Ainsley. In addition, the variation Ainsley was also the most popular variation of the Ainsley name group in 2012. In regards to the name popularity of Ainsley in Scotland, Ainsley was the 663 most used name for little girls in 2013.

Famous People Called Ainsley

In closing, many celebrities have the name Ainsley. Ainsley Howard is famous actress from England. Howard has appeared in productions in the United Kingdom, her most famous role to date is the character Birdie in the film Mum&Dad. Jacqui Ainsley is another famous person that has the name Ainsley. Ainsley is a supermodel from Essex, England. Ainsley was discovered while shopping on the world famous Oxford Street in London. Since then she has went to work for various campaign’s, a few are Lynx, Samsung, and ASOS.

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