More parents are ditching Celtic baby names amid 'cultural identity' fears
Scotland has a deep Celtic history and heritage, with strong ties to our Irish and Welsh counterparts. The culture and language, specifically Gaelic, have significantly shaped Scotland's identity and is part of its living culture today.
When it comes to having children, parents may draw on this strong sense of identity when it comes to names. It is not uncommon to have an Isla or an Eilidh in your university class, or bump into a Harris or a Finlay down the pub.
However, the latest data analysis by language learning marketplace Preply of birth records from the past 20 years reveals a steep drop of 37 per cent in Celtic-origin baby names. According to Preply, this shows that language endangerment has extended beyond spoken words, now affecting how people name their children.
Celtic languages belong to two branches: Gaelic (including Irish, Manx, and Scottish Gaelic) and Brythonic (Welsh, Cornish, and Breton). UNESCO had classified all six as endangered to some degree.
Irish is listed as "definitely endangered" and others as "vulnerable".
The dominance of English is suggested to have gradually eroded native speaker communities, influencing how parents named their children, with fewer Celtic names being chosen as the languages themselves lost ground.
Preply's analysis used the official UK birth records from 2003 to 2023. An interesting point to note, though is that Scottish girls' names have actually risen, despite the overall decline.
Scottish girls' names have upped in use by 14 per cent - the only language to have jumped on the whole table alongside Cornish boys' names, which spiked by a huge 633 per cent.
Anna Pyshna, spokesperson for Preply, said: "While some languages such as Cornish show signs of revival with an increase in names given to boys, the overall decline highlights the continuing impact of language erosion on cultural identity markers like personal names.
"Names are intimate symbols of cultural identity. When Celtic names fade from birth records, it signals more than just shifting trends. It suggests a disconnect from ancestral languages and heritage.
"Even with current revival programmes, many young parents may feel less connected to Celtic languages if their own identities were not shaped by them, potentially perpetuating a cycle of decline."
The most common names for girls and boys in Scotland in 2024 included a host of Celtic names. Rory, Harris, Finlay, Brodie and Finn were all in the top 20 for boys. Isla, Bonnie, and Orla were in the top 20 for girls' names.
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So, all of this begs the question - will a Celtic language revival translate back into names?
"The increasing visibility of Celtic languages in education and media offers hope," Anna assured.
"But will this translate into more children receiving Celtic names?
"Will future birth records reflect renewed pride and connection to these ancient tongues?
"The next decade will be telling. The story of Celtic languages is still being written, and names, which is the first gift we give our children, could be a powerful sign of cultural resurgence or continued retreat."
Numbers and percentage changes by language branch and gender
Language
Girls' Raw Changes
% Change (Girls)
Boys' Raw Changes
% Change (Boys)
Gaelic
1,758 → 1,441
−18%
7,107 → 2,159
−70%
Irish
13,681 → 7,569
−45%
22,575 → 16,077
−29%
Scottish
3,072 → 3,495
+14%
12,090 → 3,952
−67%
Welsh
10,933 → 2,437
−78%
13,234 → 4,972
−62%
Cornish
47 → 36
−23%
3 → 22
+633%
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