ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Scottish Gaelic personal naming system

Okay kiddo, so in Scotland, the people have their own special way of naming themselves. They use a language called Scottish Gaelic to do it. It is a really cool way of naming yourself because it is very unique and has a lot of history.

Let's start with first names. In Scottish Gaelic, first names are usually based on animals, nature, and things found in the world around us. For example, "Seonaidh" means 'John' and it is based on the name of a small bird called a 'seonaidh ghiùlain' which lives in the Scottish Highlands.

Now, let's talk about last names. In Scottish Gaelic, last names are usually based on the father's name. For example, let's say a man's name is "Calum". If his father's name is "Angus", then his last name would be "MacAngus", which means 'son of Angus'. Similarly, if a woman's name is "Mairi" and her father's name is "Domhnall", then her last name would be "NicDomhnaill", which means 'daughter of Domhnall'.

And just like in English, there are also middle names in Scottish Gaelic. These are usually based on a person's personality or physical traits. For example, a person might have the middle name "Fionn", which means 'fair-haired'.

Overall, the Scottish Gaelic naming system is really fascinating because it tells a lot about a person's family and heritage. It's a fun way to explore the natural world and learn about the people and culture of Scotland.