50 Scottish Baby Names: Meanings & Origins

With its rolling green highlands, deep waters, and handsome towering castles, some might argue Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. In addition to its scenic landscapes—and of course that delicious whiskey and the unique sound of bagpipes—this country has given us baby names that range from iconic to truly unique. If you’re trying to find the perfect name for your baby girl or boy, perhaps you’ll find that a Scottish name is the winner.

Scottish Names for Your Baby

Choose a beautiful and unique Scottish name for your new arrival.

Ansley
Alastair
Blair
Blake
Cameron
Dallas
Davina
Fiona
Kenna
Lachlan
Lainey
Morrison
Murdock
Rory
Skye

Popular Scottish Baby Names for Girls

Below you'll find 25 unique Scottish baby names for girls along with their meanings, origins, and a few fun facts.

Aileen

Origin: Scottish, Irish
Meaning: Light, from the green meadow
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aila, Aileana, Ailein, Aileene, Eileen, Helen, Leena, Lina
Peak Popularity: Aileen saw peaks in popularity in both the 1920s and 2000s.

Ailsa

Origin: Viking, Scottish
Meaning: Supernatural victory
Famous Namesakes: Ailsa Piper, Australian TV star
Peak Popularity: Ailsa is not a popular baby name. In fact, there were only 23 girls named Ailsa in 2020 in Scotland.

Fun Fact: This popular Scottish girl’s name refers to Ailsa Craig, a volcanic island and gannet colony located in the Firth of Clyde. It has Viking origins and is pronounced “Elsa.”

Annabel

Origin: Scottish, Latin
Meaning: Beautiful, graceful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Annabelle, Anna, Belle
Famous Namesakes: Annabel Daou, an artist from Beirut
Peak Popularity: Annabel experienced a peak in the 2010s.

Fun Fact: Edgar Allen Poe wrote a famous poem called Annabel Lee, which is about a lost love.

Ansley

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Clearing with a small dwelling
Famous Namesakes: Ansley Cargill, a U.S. tennis player
Peak Popularity: Ansley has seen a recent peak in popularity, which began in 2011.

Blair

Origin: Scottish, Celtic
Meaning: Battlefield
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Blaire, Blare
Famous Namesakes: Blair Chenoweth, U.S. beauty queen
Peak Popularity: Blair saw a peak in popularity in the 1980s.

Fun Fact: This common Scottish girl’s name used to be more common as a surname.

Bonnie

Origin: Scottish,
Meaning: Charming, beautiful, good
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bonny, Bonny-Lee
Famous Namesakes: Bonnie Wright, a British actress; Bonnie Rideout, an award-winning Scottish fiddler
Peak Popularity: Bonnie was particularly popular in the 1940s through 1960s.

Fun Fact: It’s very likely that this common Scottish name comes from the French word bon, which means “good.”

Catriona

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Pure
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cat, Kat, Katherina, Kathryn, Katerina, Katherine
Famous Namesakes: Catriona Morison, a Scottish opera singer; Catriona MacInnes, a Scottish film-maker
Peak Popularity: Catriona hasn't been a popular name. It has never made the top 1000 list in the U.S., and in 2020, only 5 girls were given this name in Scotland.

Fun Fact: Author Robert Louis Stevenson wrote a novel about a woman named Catriona, which was also the title of the book.

Cameron

Origin: Scottish, Celtic
Meaning: Crooked nose
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cammie, Cammy, Camryn
Famous Namesakes: Cameron Diaz, a U.S. actress; Cameron Crowe, a U.S. screenwriter and director
Peak Popularity: Cameron (as a girl’s name) saw a peak popularity in the 1990s and 2000s.

Fun Fact: Despite its unflattering meaning, Cameron is one of the most popular Scottish names for both boys and girls.

Davina

Origin: Scottish, Hebrew
Meaning: Small deer
Famous Namesakes: Davina McCall, an English TV host
Peak Popularity: This girl’s name has long been popular in Scotland, but in the 2000s it re-entered the U.S. top 1000 list of baby names in 2016.

Fun Fact: Davina is the feminized version of the name David.

Drew

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Brave
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Andrew
Famous Namesakes: Drew Barrymore, U.S. actress
Peak Popularity: Drew saw a very small peak in popularity in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Fun Fact: Drew is the feminized version of the name Andrew.

Elsbeth

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: God is bountiful
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Elizabeth, Lisabeth, Elsa, Elisabeth, Liz, Liza, Eliza, Lizbet, Elsie
Famous Namesakes: Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II, Queens of England
Peak Popularity: Elsbeth hasn't been a popular name. In 2019, only eight girls were given this name.

Fiona

Origin: Gaelic, Irish, Scottish
Meaning: Feminine, fair
Famous Namesakes: Fiona Apple, U.S. singer; Julia Fiona Roberts, U.S. actress
Peak Popularity: This girl’s name hit the U.S. popularity list in the 1990s.

Isla

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Dynamic, vibrant, bright
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Islay, Aisla
Famous Namesakes: Isla Fischer, U.S. actress
Peak Popularity: Isla is currently peaking in popularity. In 2020, over 4,000 girls were given this name.

Fun Fact: This popular girl’s name refers to Islay, an island located off the Scottish coast.

Jaime

Origin: Scottish, Hebrew
Meaning: May God protect
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Jamie, Jami, Jaymie, James
Famous Namesakes: Jamie Lee Curtis, U.S. actress; Jamie Lynn Spears, U.S. singer
Peak Popularity: The name Jamie peaked in the 1980s.

Fun Fact: This name is the feminized version of James.

Kenna

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Born of fire
Famous Namesakes: Kenna Zemedkun, U.S. musician
Peak Popularity: Kenna saw a small peak in popularity in the 2010s.

Fun Fact: This name is the feminized version of Kenneth.

Lainey

Origin: Scottish, English, French
Meaning: Shining light
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Laney, Lainie, Elaine
Famous Namesakes: Lainey Keogh, Irish fashion designer
Peak Popularity: Lainey saw a small peak in the 2000s and 2010s.

Leana

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: Grace, favor
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Liana, Leeanna, Leann, Juliana
Peak Popularity: Leana hasn't been a popular name. It has not been in the top 1000 in the U.S. since 1905.

Lorna

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: Honor, victory
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Loren, Lorne
Famous Namesakes: Lorna Anderson, Scottish soprano; Lorna Hill, British children’s author
Peak Popularity: Lorna was particularly popular in the 1930s through 1960s.

Fun Fact: This Scottish girl name refers to the laurel tree, which is a considered a symbol of honor or victory.

Maisie

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Pearl
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Mazie, Margaret
Famous Namesakes: Maisie Williams, English actress
Peak Popularity: Maisie is currently peaking slightly in popularity. In 2020, 760 girls were given this name.

Makenna

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Child of the handsome one
Alternative Spellings & Variations: McKenna, Mac
Peak Popularity: Makenna experienced a small peak in popularity in the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s. In 2020, about 800 girls were give then name.

Nessa

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: From the headland
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ness, Vanessa
Famous Namesakes: Nessa Diab, U.S. TV host
Peak Popularity: Nessa hasn't been a popular name, and has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Paisley

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Church
Peak Popularity: Paisley is currently peaking in popularity. In 2020, over 4000 girls were given this name.

Fun Fact: The name Paisley was given to a very unique textile pattern, which was first produced in a town called Paisley, Scotland.

Sima

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Listener, face
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Seema
Peak Popularity: Sima has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Senga

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Pure, chaste
Peak Popularity: Senga has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Fun Fact: Senga is the name “Agnes” spelled backwards.

Skye

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Adventurous, bold
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Sky
Famous Namesakes: Skye Edwards, English singer
Peak Popularity: The name Skye saw a small peak in popularity in the 1980s through now.

Fun Fact: This popular Scottish girl’s name refers to a paradise island in Scotland, the Island of Skye.

Popular Scottish Baby Names for Boys

Below you'll find 25 unique Scottish baby names for boys along with their meanings, origins, and a few fun facts.

Abhainn

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: River
Peak Popularity: Abhainn has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Alastair

Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
Meaning: Defender
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alistaire, Allister, Alasdair
Famous Namesakes: Alistair Cooke, a British-born American writer
Peak Popularity: Alastair ranked 963 in 2020.

Fun Fact: This name is variation on Alexander.

Blane

Origin: Scottish, Celtic
Meaning: Slender
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Blaine
Famous Namesakes: Blaine Larsen, U.S. country singer
Peak Popularity: Blaine ranked 891 in the U.S. in 2020.

Blake

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: Dark-haired
Famous Namesakes: Blake Shelton, U.S. country singer
Peak Popularity: Blake saw a surge in popularity in the 1980s through 2010s.

Brodric

Origin: Scottish, Scandinavian
Meaning: Brother
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Broderick, Brodie
Peak Popularity: Brodic has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Camden

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: From the winding valley
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cammie, Cam
Famous Namesakes: Camden Garcia, U.S. actor
Peak Popularity: Camden is currently peaking in popularity. In 2020, roughly 2300 baby boys were given this name.

Clyde

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: River
Famous Namesakes: Clyde McPhatter, U.S. R&B singer
Peak Popularity: Clyde was particularly popular in the 1910s through '50s.

Fun Fact: This name refers to a Scotland river, the River Clyde, which flows through Glasgow.

Craig

Origin: Scottish, Irish, Welsh
Meaning: Rock
Famous Namesakes: Craig Robinson, U.S. actor; Craig Ferguson, Scottish T.V. host
Peak Popularity: Craig saw a peak in popularity in the 1950s through '80s.

Fun Fact: This name is derived from the Gaelic word “creag” or “crag,” which is a group of rocks.

Creighton

Origin: English, Scottish
Meaning: Rocky place, hilltop
Peak Popularity: Creighton has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Dallas

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: Meadow
Famous Namesakes: Dallas Clark, U.S. football player
Peak Popularity: Dallas saw a peak in popularity in the 2000s with 1,249 boys given the name in 2020.

Fun Fact: Dallas isn’t just a big city in Texas; it’s the name of a small village in Scotland, too.

Duncan

Origin: Scottish, Gaelic, Celtic
Meaning: Warrior
Famous Namesakes: Duncan Hines, U.S. entrepreneur known for his confections
Peak Popularity: Duncan saw a small peak in popularity in the 1990s. In 2020, 216 boys were given the name.

Fun Fact: Duncan is a royal Scotsman—King Duncan, who was killed by a man named Macbeth. The story was told by Shakespeare in one of his dramatic plays.

Fraser

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Of the forest men
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Frasier, Frazier
Peak Popularity: Fraser has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Fun Fact: Fraser is also the name of a Scottish clan from the country’s lowlands.

Gaven

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: White hawk
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Gavin, Gavyn
Famous Namesakes: Gavin Rossdale, English singer
Peak Popularity: Gaven saw a small peak in popularity in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Kendrew

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Manly, brave
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ken, Drew, Dru, Andrew
Peak Popularity: Kendrew has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Kenneth

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Handsome
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Coinneach, Kenny, Ken
Famous Namesakes: Kenneth Edmonds "Babyface", U.S. singer; Kenneth Ham, astronaut
Peak Popularity: Kenneth saw a large peak in popularity in the 1930s through the 1980s. In 1957, over 28,000 boys were given this name. It remains somewhat popular but certainly less so. In 2020, 1466 boys were given the name.

Fun Fact: Kenneth is the more recognizable, Anglicized variation of Coinneach, pronounced similarly.

Keith

Origin: Irish, Scottish, Welsh
Meaning: Forest
Famous Namesakes: Keith Richards, English singer; Keith Carradine, U.S. actor
Peak Popularity: Keith saw a peak in popularity in the 1950s through the 1970s. In 1966, 11,612 boys were given the name.

Fun Fact: This Scottish boy’s name was first a very common surname.

Lachlan

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: Land of lakes
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Lakeland, Laochailan, Lake
Famous Namesakes: Lachlan Macquarie, British Army officer from Scotland
Peak Popularity: Lachlan is experiencing a very small peak in popularity. In 2020, about 357 boys were given this name.

Malcolm

Origin: Scottish
Meaning: A disciple of Saint Columb
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Malcom
Famous Namesakes: Malcolm Gladwell, English author and journalist; Malcolm X, U.S. minister and activist
Peak Popularity: Malcolm saw a peak in popularity in the 1980s and 1990s. In 2020, 1160 boys were given this name.

Fun Fact: Four kings in Scotland were named Malcolm.

Morrison

Origin: English, Scottish
Meaning: Son of Mary’s servant
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Maury
Peak Popularity: Morrison has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Murdock

Origin: Celtic, Scottish
Meaning: Protector of the sea
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Murdoch
Peak Popularity: Murdock has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

Fun Fact: Though used as a first name, we usually see Murdock as a surname.

Neil

Origin: Scottish, Gaelic
Meaning: Champion, cloud
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Niall, Neill, Neal
Famous Namesakes: Neil Armstrong, astronaut; Neil Young, U.S. musician; Neil deGrasse Tyson, U.S. astrophysicist; Neil Diamond, U.S. singer-songwriter
Peak Popularity: Neil experienced a small peak in popularity in the 1940s through the 1980s. In 1953, roughly 2000 boys were given this name.

Rory

Origin: Scottish, Irish
Meaning: Red king
Famous Namesakes: Rory Kennedy, U.S. filmmaker and daughter of JFK
Peak Popularity: Rory has experienced a small and steady peak since the 1950s. In 2020, 989 boys were given the name.

Scott

Origin: Scottish, English
Meaning: From Scotland, wanderer
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Scotty, Scot
Famous Namesakes: Scott Weiland, U.S. musician
Peak Popularity: Scott saw a large peak in popularity in the 1950s through the 1970s. In 1971, over 30,000 boys were given the name.

Fun Fact: This has long been a nickname that was given to Scottish people.

Stewart

Origin: English, Scottish
Meaning: Steward, castle guard
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Stuart, Stu
Famous Namesakes: Stewart Copeland, U.S. drummer
Peak Popularity: Stewart saw a small peak in popularity in the 1940s through the 1960s. In 1955, 630 boys were given the name.

Fun Fact: In the medieval era, a steward’s job was to look after the castle.

Tavis

Origin: Scottish, Irish
Meaning: Twin
Alternative Spellings & Variations: Tavish
Famous Namesakes: Tavis Smiley, U.S. radio personality
Peak Popularity: Tavis has never been in the top 1000 list in the United States.

1 Source

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Social Security Administration. Popularity of name.

By Wendy Rose Gould
Wendy Rose Gould is a lifestyle reporter with over a decade of experience covering health and wellness topics.

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