Guest Author - Susan Keeping
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)
Some women's names are more commonly heard in certain areas of the world than others. Scotland is not unique in that aspect; there are some names that make you instantly think of Scotland when you hear them.
Recently, none of the top ten most popular girl's names in Scotland were uniquely Scottish. According to the Register General for Scotland, the top ten girls names in Scotland in 2004 were, in order of popularity: Emma, Sophie, Ellie, Amie, Chleo, Katie, Erin, Emily, Lucy and Hannah. However, for those who wish to be more traditional Scottish names, there are some girl's names that are uniquely Scottish; you might want to consider one of these names if you are planning on or hoping to have a girl. Below you will find five of those names, with meanings, derivations, and famous people with those names.
Eileen or Aileen
This name means desired or sunshine. It is derived from the name Helen, which in turn was derived from the Greek word helios. Famous Scottish women named Eileen include Eileen Catterson (former Miss Scotland and model), Eileen Herlie (actress, she played Gertrude in Olivier's Hamlet, she later was a star of the US soap opera All My Children) and Eileen McCallum (actress, from BBC soap opera River City)
Moira
This name means bitter or great. It is derived from the Greek word for fate and is also an anglicized version of Marie.Famous Scottish women named Moira include Moira Shearer (Ballet dancer and actress) and Moira Anderson (Singer)
Lorna
This name came from the Lorne, Argyll and Bute area of Scotland, it was popularized by author Richard Doddridge Blackmore. It is also said to be derived from the name Loren which means crown of laurels.Famous Scottish women named Lorna include Lorna Doone (fictional character, written by RD Blackmore)
Fiona
This name means fair or wine. It was first used by James MacPherson in his Ossianic poems. Famous Scottish women named Fiona include Fiona MacKenzie (Singer)
Jean
This name means God is gracious. It is a feminine form of the name John. Famous Scottish women named Jean include Jean Armour (wife of Robert Burns) and Miss Jean Brodie (the fictional Scottish teacher, written by Muriel Spark and starring Maggie Smith)
