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Naming the new

a ’cur ainmean air an fheadhainn ùra

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As part of the project, a selection of animal and plant species have been chosen which now occur in Scotland but do not yet have established, Gaelic names. In consultation with a panel of advisors, a table of alternative names were compiled for each species using the scientific, Irish and English translations of the name as well as options which reflect the place of the animal in Scotland's ecology - and how they interact with human activity in the environment. A process of further consultation with stakeholders and Gaelic language groups resulted in the final choice of one name for each species. 

The database of names will be presented to institutions and reference collections to be incorporated into their archives. 

Gender of name is denoted by (b) feminine and (f) masculine. In Gaelic, this has an important influence on the spelling of the word depending on context. 

NAMES

surf scoter

lach-dhubh tuinne      (b)     black (wild) duck of the wave (lach-dhubh is the name for common scoter)

 

Scottish crossbill   

cam-ghob Albannach (b)      Scottish bent-bill

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parrot crossbill                 

cam-ghob làidir (b)                strong/stout bent-bill

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mandarin duck 

lach Shìonach(b)                    Chinese duck

                                           

three-cornered leek

creamh trì-cheàrnach (f)      three-cornered leek (creamh is the generic name for garlic, wild leek and wild onion)

​Iberian three-banded slug

seilcheag thrì-stiallach Ibeirianach (b)       three-streaked Iberian slug

 

white-letter hairstreak

ròin-stiallach geal     (f)         white hair-streak

​bearded tit

cuilcear staiseach (f)              moustached reed-worker/reedling       

common rosefinch

deargan drise    (f)                  little red creature of the briar

 

Montagu’s harrier                     

clamhan Mhontagu  (f)        but will mention clamhan cluaine - meadow kite- in the text as one we considered.

 

Mediterranean gull          

faoileag Mheadhan-thìreach (b)      Mediterranean gull        

 

bee-eater

beachadair   (f)                       bee worker (beach means bees and wasps)

 

 

Cetti's warbler   

ceileiriche Cetti  (f)  but will mention ceileiriche falachaidh - hidden warbler- in the text as one we considered .

 

firecrest           

crìonag lasrach    (b)        flaming, wee, little thing

        

cattle egret              

corra-bhàn chruidh  (b)   pale/white crane of cattle

    

ring-necked parakeet  

paracait choilearach  (b)    collared parakeet

 

red-necked wallaby

uallabaidh ruadh-mhuinealach  (f) 

 

parti-coloured bat

ialtag dhà-dhathach  (b)    two-coloured bat

 

muntjac deer

fiadh-comhartaich  (f)       barking deer

 

whiskered bat

ialtag chiabhagach    (b)   

 

azure damselfly  

cruinneag liath (b)          grey, neat young girl 

 

emperor dragonfly

tarbh-nathrach ìmpireil (f)     

 

small skipper butterfly

sùrdagan beag     (f)               little leaping/skipping creature  

 

buff footman moth

leòmann gille-coise odhar    (f)     

 

tree bumblebee

seillean-mòr craoibhe         (f)  

 

American signal crayfish

giomach-uisge Ameireaganach (f)    American (fresh)water-lobster

 

 

harlequin ladybird

daolag-bhreac Àisianach           (b)   Asian ladybird/speckled beatle  

 

green sea fingers

corragan-mara uaine    (b)    

                         

leathery sea squirt

spùtachan-mara leatharach (f)     leathery, little, squirting creature of the sea

 

Atlantic bluefin tuna

tiùna gorm-iteach Atlantaigeach (f)  

 

Chinese mitten crab

Crùbag mhiotagach Shìonach  (b)

 

European sea bass

basan-mara Eòrpach         (f)   

 

American ragweed

lus-luideig Ameireaganach  (f)           

 

bee orchid

mogairlean-seillein    (f)           

 

early pampas-grass

feur-pampais an earraich (f)      spring pampas-grass

 

Clutha male-fern

mearlag Chluaidh  (b)           

 

Scottish male-fern

mearlag Albannach (b)         

 

Japanese skeleton shrimp

carran-cnàimhnich Iapanach (f) 

 

snow algae

lìrean-sneachda   (f)      

 

scarlet berry truffle

balg-losgainn caora (f)   red, berry truffle/toad mushroom

 

 

fork-palped harvestman

fogharaiche iadhairean-gòbhlach      (f)     fork-feelered harvestman

 

St Kilda wren

dreathan-donn Hiortach     (f)      

 

Spanish bluebell  

bròg na cuthaig Spàinnteach (b) 

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