Unlike the many masculine Scottish names that are enjoying popular use in Scotland, Scottish girls' names are harder to come by. They are still there, but you have to dig a little deeper to find them.
That, of course, is not to say that there is an absence of feminine Celtic choices in Scotland. The Top 100 in 2011 contained fellow Gaelic Irish favourites Erin, Niamh, Caitlin, Orla, Keira, and the Welsh staple Megan.
Isla - Ranked #7 in 2011, Isla is a 19th century name taken from the Hebridean island Islay (IE-lə). Previously, Islay was used as a name for both men and women, until the slimmed down form, Isla, skyrocketed to popularity for girls.
Eilidh - The traditional diminutive of Eilionoir, the Scots Gaelic form of Eleanor, which dates back to the Middle Ages. Eilidh (AY-lee) has, therefore, often been treated as the Scottish form of Helen. In 2011 it ranked #26 having been revived in the late 19th century.
Maisie - Ranking #38 in 2011, Maisie is the standard diminutive of Mairead, and cognate form Margaret. It has been used in Scotland since the 16th century, and found popularity world wide since the 19th.
Skye - The name of one of the largest, and extremely picturesque, Hebridean islands. It was #54 in 2011.
Iona - Yet another beautiful Hebridean island that has made it into the first name stakes. The name has been in use since the 19th century and ranked #67 in 2011.
Mirren - An Anglicised form of the Old Irish Muirenn, either from muir "sea" and fionn "white, fair," or cognate with the Welsh morwyn "maiden." It ranked #95 in 2011 with Mirrin, Miren, Mirran, Mirryn, Mirin and Mirrun used occasionally as alternate spellings.
Ailsa - A Scottish island, pronounced traditionally as IE-lə, but now more commonly found as AYL-sə. It has occasionally been used as a form of Ealisaid the Scots Gaelic cognate of Elizabeth (the island's Gaelic name is Creag Ealasaid). It ranked #145 in 2011.
Caoimhe - A Gaelic name meaning "gentleness, loveliness, delicateness, grace." It ranks #174 in Scotland with Anglicised forms Keeva and Keavy at #283 and #539 respectively.
Kirsty - The popular diminutive of Kirstin, the Scottish form of Christina. It was hugely popular in the 70s, and currently ranks at #187.
Bonnie - An old Scottish pet-name meaning "pretty" and used as a first name since the late 19th century. In 2011 it ranked #206.
Alba - The Gaelic, and historic, name for Scotland. Much like Erin for Ireland, it is now used as a first name. It ranked #224 in 2011, having risen from #764 in 2010, no doubt partly thanks to the high media coverage of Scotland's independence referendum.
Catriona - The Gaelic form of Catherine which ranks at #224 in Scotland.
Morven - The name of a mythical kingdom in Macpherson's Ossianic Poems, and used as a name from the late 19th century. In 2011 it ranked #249.
Mhairi - The Scottish form of Mary which ranked #261 in 2011.
