Fòram na Gàidhlig

How do you tr*nsl*t* these names?

Bonnie = Bonnidh
Cristal = Cristal
Ella = Ella
Kalibwani = Calibuani or Calibuanidh or Calibuanì (sounds like Cal ib warn ee)
Kato = Cato (sounds like cat oh)
Marie = Mairi (or is Mairi closer to Mary, should Marie which is more like Muh ree be Marì)
Musana = Musana or Mùsana (sounds like Moo sarna)
Revence = Rebhens

Depends whether you want a similar existing Gaelic name or a Gaelic way of spelling a non-Gaelic name, in which case we need to know what syllable(s) the emphasis falls on - that would affect the spelling and use of accents. (Use capital letters to show that, perhaps).

Marie is just the French version of Mary, so I'd be inclined to go for the existing name Màiri, even though the emphasis is not on the same syllable.

Ella looks as if it's related to Ellen or Helen, in which case why not go for Eilidh.

A real crystal is 'criosdal', so why not take that.

Bonnie = pretty (in Scots, not Gaelic) and there are of course Gaelic words that mean the same (bòidheach, brèagha) but they are not used (as far as I know) as actual names, so best to stay with Bonnie (or Bonnaidh if you really want it looking Gaelic, though that's a made up name).

I'm not sure if there are standardised ways to transcribe foreign names into Gaelic nowadays, perhaps in line with the Gaelic Orthographic COnventions rules, e.g. whether to use -i or - idh for an 'ee' ending, and -bh or -mh for a 'v' sound in different contexts.

Anyone on here know?

I don't think there is any reference available for this that makes it easy. I'd say go with the closest Gaelic pronunciation there is and then spell it the Gaelic way.

It's a rather pointless exercise with names outwith the Scottish/European tradition. Let me put this the other way, what's English for Xiaoping, Hassan or Satoko?

akerbeltz wrote:It's a rather pointless exercise with names outwith the Scottish/European tradition. Let me put this the other way, what's English for Xiaoping, Hassan or Satoko?

Uill, AB, dè a' Ghàidhlig air na h-ainmean ud?