Parents shun Gaelic tradition in naming babies

PARENTS in the Highlands largely ignored the region’s Gaelic heritage when naming their children last year.

Eilidh was the only Gaelic name in the area’s top ten for new-born boys and girls in 2006, according to the General Register Office for Scotland.

Instead the region generally followed the national trend, with Jack the most popular boy’s name, but Highland parents made Katie the most popular girl’s name as opposed to Sophie, which topped the Scottish top ten.

Alexander and Daniel were joint second in the Highland league table, followed by James, Lewis, Dylan, Kyle, Jamie, Joshua and Andrew.

Callum and Cameron both featured in the country’s top ten but failed to feature in the North.

Sophie and Chloe shared second place in the girls’ list, ahead of Emily, Eilidh, Ellie, Freya, Leah, Lily and Lucy.

“As always, the list of Scotland’s favourite baby names is very interesting,” said Duncan Macniven, Registrar General for Scotland. “Around 26,500 boys and 25,300 girls names have been registered. More than 6000 different names were chosen this year and around 1600 boys and 2200 girls were given unique names.”

The highest climbers in the 2006 Scottish name tables were Luca for boys and Imogen for girls.

* Emma was Raigmore Hospital’s first baby of the New Year, born to Alan and Kerry Tolmie of Castlehill Gardens, Cradlehall, 8.03am on Monday. She is their second child and weighed 8lbs 2oz.

Top five names in the Highlands:

Boys — 1 Jack, 2eq Alexander, 2eq Daniel, 4 James, 5 Lewis.

Girls — 1 Katie, 2eq Chloe, 2eq Sophie, 4 Emily, 5 Eilidh.