Boy name · Scottish Gaelic
Duncan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: brown warriorDuncan is a boy's name that comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "brown warrior". It is used in Scottish and English.
- Meaning
- Brown warrior
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- DUN-kan (Scottish Gaelic)
Meaning and origin of Duncan
As a boy's name, Duncan comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "brown warrior". It is used in Scottish and English.
In Scottish Gaelic, say DUN-kan. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Duncan is also a surname: the 222nd most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 129,708 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Duncan on our names that mean warrior list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Duncan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Duncan on 4 lists.
“Gaelic, usually explained as brown warrior or brown chief”
From Highland cattle names, scottish bull names for boys
“Brown warrior; Gaelic. King of Scots, killed by Macbeth in 1040”
From Medieval names and surnames, medieval Welsh, Irish and Scottish names
“Brown warrior; Scottish Gaelic. A Scottish king in Macbeth”
From Names that mean warrior, celtic warrior names
“Brown warrior; Scottish Gaelic, borne by two kings of Scots. Say DUN-kan.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish kings, saints and heroes
How popular is Duncan?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,124
- 190 babies, 111 per million boys
- Best rank
- #378 in 1997
- 644 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 21,219
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 127 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 103 per million |
| 1900s | 85 per million |
| 1910s | 81 per million |
| 1920s | 70 per million |
| 1930s | 62 per million |
| 1940s | 79 per million |
| 1950s | 88 per million |
| 1960s | 72 per million |
| 1970s | 56 per million |
| 1980s | 77 per million |
| 1990s | 217 per million |
| 2000s | 199 per million |
| 2010s | 143 per million |
| 2020s | 127 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #806 | #869 | #917 | #1,014 | #982 | #1,018 | #915 | #930 | #1,104 | #1,124 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Duncan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Names spelled like Duncan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- DubhánLittle dark one (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DunstanDark stone (Old English, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- LouiseFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- LouisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LuisaFamous warrior (Germanic, girl)
- AloysiusFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- DonovanDark brown (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinleyFair warrior (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- IvorYew warrior (Old Norse, boy)
- LewisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
- LouFamous warrior (Germanic, unisex)
- LuisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
Middle names for Duncan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Scottish Gaelic
- AngusOne strength (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- BlairPlain, field (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- BowieYellow (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CameronCrooked nose (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- CampbellCrooked mouth (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CraigRock, crag (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonaldWorld ruler (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DouglasDark river (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Duncan: common questions
What does the name Duncan mean?
Duncan comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "brown warrior".
Is Duncan a boy or girl name?
Duncan is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Duncan come from?
Duncan comes from Scottish Gaelic and means "brown warrior". Today it is used in Scottish and English.
How do you pronounce Duncan?
In Scottish Gaelic, say DUN-kan. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Duncan?
Duncan ranked #1,124 in the US in 2025, with 190 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Duncan?
Forms of Duncan with the same meaning and origin include Donnchadh (Irish).
What middle names go with Duncan?
Middle names that flow well with Duncan include Alton, Elton, Ezra, Henry and Micah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.