When compiling genealogical information about Gaelic-speaking communities, the treatment of personal names can be far from straightforward. Official English-language records have traditionally used English ‘equivalents’ to the Gaelic-language first names by which people were actually known. Some of these, such as Donald for Dòmhnall, are more or less universal. But if a woman was known as Oighrig, for example, this might appear in the records as either Henrietta or Euphemia, apparently at the whim of the person compiling the original record. For this and other reasons, additional information is needed to discover how someone officially recorded as ‘Euphemia Macleod’, for instance, would have been known to her friends and family. To reflect this fact, records of people in Hebridean Connections can include Gaelic patronymics and nicknames in addition to the English name that constitutes the title of the record.
Because our information has been compiled from a variety of sources including oral history and official documents, there is inevitably a degree of inconsistency in the treatment of English names. Some attempt has been made at standardisation, but we are aware that standardised English names may differ from the names used in practice by people who lived part or all of their lives in a bilingual or anglophone society.
The following list may help users to track down possible alternatives where an initial search fails to find a person under a particular name. It features only the most significant variants of frequently occurring local names, and does not include all possible spellings. English names that are normally considered different but are linked via a common Gaelic equivalent are shown together in the list. Note that there is considerable local variation in whether or not particular names are considered as being equivalent to one another.
MALE NAMES
Alexander (common Gaelic equivalent: Alasdair). Variants: Alex, Alec, Alick, Ailig, Sandy, Alastair, Alistair
Angus (common Gaelic equivalent: Aonghas). Variants: Angie, Angaidh
Donald (common Gaelic equivalent: Dòmhnall). Variants: Donnie, Donny, Dolan, Dolaidh
Evander (common Gaelic equivalent: Ìomhair). Variants: Ivor, Iver
John (common Gaelic equivalent: Iain). Variants: Johnny, Ian, Jack, Jock, Seoc, Seocan, Seonaidh, Seonachan, Shonnie
Kenneth (common Gaelic equivalent: Coinneach). Variants: Kenny, Ceanaidh
Lewis (Gaelic equivalent: Luthais). Variant: Louis
Murdo (common Gaelic equivalent: Murchadh). Variants: Murdie, Murdani, Murdigan, Murdaidh, Murdanaidh, Murdoch
Norman (common Gaelic equivalent: Tarmod). Variants: Tormod, Nomie, Norrie, Nomaidh
Peter (common Gaelic equivalent: Pàdraig). Variants: Peadar, Patrick, Pat
Roderick (common Gaelic equivalent: Ruairidh). Variants: Roddy, Derrick, Rory, Ruaraidh
Samuel (common Gaelic equivalent: Somhairle). Variants: Sam, Sorley, Somerled
Zachariah (common Gaelic equivalent: Sgàire). Variant: Zachary
FEMALE NAMES
Alexandra (common Gaelic equivalent: Leagsaidh). Variants: Addie, Adaidh, Alexanderina, Alexia, Lexy, Sandy, Sandra, Aline
Angusina (common Gaelic equivalent: Ineag). Variants: Agnes, Nessie
Annabella (common Gaelic equivalent: Barabal). Variants: Barbara, Baba, Barabla, Beildidh
Catherine (common Gaelic equivalent: Ceiteag). Variants: Cathy, Kathy, Kath, Kate, Kathleen, Catriona, Caitrìona, Ceit, Ceitidh
Christina (common Gaelic equivalent: Criosaidh). Variants: Christine, Christy, Kristy, Kirsty, Ciorstaidh, Ciorstag, Cairistìona (also Chrisann, sometimes equated with Christina Ann but often treated as a single name)
Dolina (common Gaelic equivalent: Doileag). Variants: Donaldina, Dolly, Dolag, Dolaidh
Elizabeth (common Gaelic equivalent: Ealasaid). Variants: Betsy, Bessie, Betty, Beasaidh, Beasag, Beathag, Beit, Eliza, Liz
Euphemia (common Gaelic equivalent: Oighrig). Variants: Effie, Henrietta, Etta, Henny, Eibhrig
Gormelia (common Gaelic equivalent: Gormail). Variant: Millie, Gormshuil
Isabella (common Gaelic equivalent: Beileag). Variants: Isabel, Isobel, Ishbel, Bell, Bellag, Bella, Isa (also Bellann, sometimes equated with Isabella Ann but often treated as a single name)
Janet (common Gaelic equivalent: Seònaid). Variants: Jessie, Jess, Seasaidh, Seasag
Jean (common Gaelic equivalent: Sìne). Variants: Sheena, Jane, Sìneag
Joanna (common Gaelic equivalent: Seonag). Variants: Johan, Johanna, Joan
Kenina (common Gaelic equivalent: Ceanag). Variants: Kennina, Kennethina
Malcolmina (common Gaelic equivalent: Miona). Variants: Malina, Mina, Mionag
Margaret (common Gaelic equivalent: Mairead). Variants: Maggie, Magaidh, Peggy, Peigi, Maighread
Marion (common Gaelic equivalent: Mòr). Variants: Mòrag, Sarah, Sadie
Neilina (common Gaelic equivalent: Neileag). Variants: Nell, Nellie, Neilidh
Rebecca (common Gaelic equivalent: Beathag). Variant: Sophie
Williamina (common Gaelic equivalent: Miona). Variants: Willag, Mina
Note: In addition to the above, most or all female names ending in ‘-ina’ are often shorted to Ina or Ena.