What could be more fitting for a Scottish breed than a Scottish Gaelic name?
Naming your Highland cattle can be a lot of fun and over the years at Ennerdale we have sat as a family and had many discussions flicking through naming books and browsing the web choosing Scottish Gaelic names for our offspring. It really is a personal choice, but what could be more fitting for a Scottish breed – than a Scottish Gaelic name.
When starting your herd, you will have inherited names from the previous owners. You may wish to introduce your own names with your first calves. With one line we adopted the name from whom we had purchased the animal, for example, Seonaid translated is Janette. Heifers from this dam will then adopt the Seonaid in their identity to preserve that female line.
For example: Seonaid Ruadh (Ruadh meaning red) 1st, 2nd and Seonaid Dhubh (Dhubh meaning black). When using a colour with a name, it is correct for a colour to follow the name. As well as colours, descriptive words are commonly used. Like a Bhuidhe Aillidh, meaning Yellow Beauty or Grainne, translated to Loved One.
We hope you have fun naming your cattle!
Special Thanks to Lesley Matheson, a fellow Highland Breeder Breeding Highland Cattle in the Isle of Lewis. Thank you so much for your help compiling these Scottish Gaelic Names.
