Scottish boy names: 140+ male Gaelic, clan and Scots names with meanings
141 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest
Popular Scottish boy names include Rory, Finlay and Lachlan, along with Highland classics such as Angus, Hamish and Alasdair. These male Scottish names come mostly from Scottish Gaelic, and others from the Vikings, the Normans and the Scots language of the Lowlands.
Below are 141 Scottish boy names, each with its meaning and origin, and a pronunciation for every Gaelic name. They are grouped into popular names, Scottish Gaelic names, Gaelic forms of classic male names, Norse names of the Isles, the names of kings, saints and heroes, Highland names in English spelling, clan names, place names and Scots pet names. We left out names whose meaning is unknown, such as Euan, Fraser and Niall, and say possibly where scholars disagree.
Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks
Kerr
Thicket or marsh, from Old Norse kjarr via Scots; a Borders clan.
Bruce
From a Norman family, probably of Brix; Scotland's hero king.
Labhrann
Scottish Gaelic form of Laurence: man from Laurentum. Say LAV-ran.
Donald
English spelling of Dòmhnall: world ruler. Say DON-ald.
Seoc
Scottish Gaelic form of Jack, from John: God is gracious. Say SHOCHK.
Lewis
English form of Louis: famous warrior; also a Hebridean isle.
Scottish name tools
Find the Gaelic form of a first name, see a clan surname in Gaelic for a man and for a woman, and work out the names the old Scottish naming pattern gives a family's children.
Gaelic and English first names
- Alasdair · Alexander, Alistair · man
- Aonghas · Angus, Aeneas, Innes · man
- Coinneach · Kenneth · man
- Dòmhnall · Donald · man
- Dùghall · Dougal · man
- Eachann · Hector · man
- Eòin · John · man
- Fearchar · Farquhar · man
- Gilleasbaig · Archibald, Gillespie · man
- Iain · John, Ian · man
- Raghnall · Ranald, Ronald · man
- Ruairidh · Rory, Roderick, Derrick · manSay ROO-uh-ree
- Seumas · James, Hamish · manSay SHAY-muss
- Somhairle · Sorley, Somerled, Samuel · man
- Torcall · Torquil · man
- Tormod · Norman · man
- Aileas · Alice · woman
- Anabla · Annabella · woman
- Annag · Annie, Anna · woman
- Barabal · Barbara · woman
- Beasag · Bessie · woman
- Brìde · Bridget · woman
- Cairistìona · Christina · woman
- Catrìona · Catherine, Catriona · womanSay kuh-TREE-uh-nuh
- Ciorstaidh · Kirsty · woman
- Ealasaid · Elizabeth · woman
- Eilidh · Helen, Ellen, Ellie, Ailie · womanSay AY-lee
- Eubh · Eve · woman
- Fionnaghal · Flora, Fiona, Fenella · woman
- Floireans · Florence · woman
- Flòraidh · Flora · woman
- Iseabail · Isabel, Isobel, Ishbel · woman
- Labhra · Laura · woman
- Leitis · Letitia · woman
- Lìosa · Lisa · woman
- Magaidh · Maggie · woman
- Mairead · Margaret · woman
- Màiri · Mary, Mhairi · womanSay MAH-ree
- Marsaili · Marcella, Marjorie · woman
- Marta · Martha · woman
- Moibeal · Mabel · woman
- Mòrag · Morag, Marion, Sarah · woman
- Muireall · Muriel · woman
- Oighrig · Effie, Euphemia, Henrietta, Erica · woman
- Olibhia · Olivia · woman
- Peigi · Peggy · woman
- Seonag · Joan, Shona · womanSay SHO-nak
- Seònaid · Janet, Jessie, Shona, Seona · woman
- Simeag · Jemima · woman
- Sìne · Jane, Jean, Sheena · woman
- Siubhan · Joan · woman
- Siùsan · Susan · woman
- Teasag · Jessie · woman
Hamish and Mhairi come from the Gaelic vocative, the form used to call someone: a Sheumais, a Mhàiri. Pronunciations are given only where a source records them.
A surname in Gaelic, for a man or a woman
- A man
- MacDhòmhnaill
- A woman
- NicDhòmhnaill
- As printed in our sources.
- The name
- Named for Dòmhnall mac Raghnaill, a grandson of Somerled.
- Chief's motto: Per mare per terras, by sea and by land. Clan history
Sharing a clan surname links you to the clan, but it does not prove descent from the chief.
The traditional naming pattern
Many Scottish families named the first three sons after the father's father, the mother's father and the father, and the first three daughters after the mother's mother, the father's mother and the mother. Type the family's names to see who each child would be named for.
- First sonJohnAfter the father's father
- Second sonAlexanderAfter the mother's father
- Third sonWilliamAfter the father
- First daughterMargaretAfter the mother's mother
- Second daughterJanetAfter the father's mother
- Third daughterElizabethAfter the mother
A tradition, not a rule: ScotlandsPeople says some families kept to it strictly and others ignored it, and a study of 24,000 records from the 1700s found no definite proof it was followed. It faded during the 1800s.
Popular Scottish boy names
Noah was Scotland's top boys' name in 2025, but Scottish names held strong: Rory was third, Finlay ninth and Harris tenth (National Records of Scotland).
- Finlay 50 in 2025: Fair warrior, from Gaelic Fionnlagh; ninth in Scotland in 2025. Say FIN-lee.
- Harris 150 in 2025: Son of Harry, an English surname that shares its name with the Isle of Harris; tenth in Scotland in 2025.
- Ruaridh Under 5 in 2025: Red king; Scottish Gaelic, up 33 places to 52nd in 2025. Say ROO-ar-ee.
Scottish Gaelic boy names
Native Scottish Gaelic names in Gàidhlig spelling, with the English form in each note.
- Coinneach Under 5 in 2025: Handsome, comely; Scottish Gaelic, often anglicized as Kenneth. Say KON-yakh.
- Dòmhnall Under 5 in 2025: World ruler; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Donald. Say DAW-ull.
- Donnchadh Under 5 in 2025: Brown warrior; Scottish and Irish Gaelic, anglicized as Duncan. Say DOON-a-kha.
- Aonghas Under 5 in 2025: Possibly one strength; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Angus. Say UH-nus.
- Fionnlagh Under 5 in 2025: Fair warrior; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Finlay. Say FYOON-lakh.
- Eachann Under 5 in 2025: Brown horse; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Hector. Say YAKH-an.
- Murchadh Under 5 in 2025: Sea battle, from muir and cath; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Murdo. Say MOOR-a-kha.
- Gilleasbuig Under 5 in 2025: Servant of the bishop; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Gillespie or, oddly, Archibald. Say GIL-yes-pik.
- Cailean Under 5 in 2025: Whelp, young dog; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Colin. Say KAL-an.
- Beathan Under 5 in 2025: Life, from beatha; a Scottish Gaelic pet name. Say BYAH-han.
- Dùghall Under 5 in 2025: Dark stranger; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Dougal. Say DOO-al.
- Fearchar Under 5 in 2025: Dear man, from Gaelic for man and friend. Say FER-a-khar.
- Calum US #799: Dove; Scottish Gaelic form of Columba, from Latin. Say KAL-um.
- Fearghas Under 5 in 2025: Man of vigor; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Fergus. Say FER-a-gus.
- Maoilios Under 5 in 2025: Servant of Jesus; Scottish Gaelic, anglicized as Malise. Say MUH-lis.
Male Scottish names in Gaelic form
Familiar names in their Scottish Gaelic spelling. Each note gives the meaning of the original name.
- Seumas Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of James: supplanter. Say SHAY-mus.
- Iain 11 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of John: God is gracious. Say EE-an.
- Uilleam Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of William: resolute protector. Say OOL-yam.
- Alasdair 28 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander: defender of men. Say AL-as-ter.
- Tàmhas Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Thomas, meaning a twin. Say TAH-vas.
- Seòras Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of George, meaning farmer. Say SHAW-ras.
- Dàibhidh Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of David, meaning beloved. Say DAH-vee.
- Raibeart Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Robert: bright fame. Say RAB-ert.
- Griogair Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Gregory, meaning watchful. Say GREE-ker.
- Eanraig Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Henry: home ruler. Say EN-rik.
- Aindrea Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Andrew: manly, brave. Say AHN-dra.
- Pàdraig 7 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Patrick, meaning nobleman. Say PAH-drik.
- Mìcheal 130 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Michael: who is like God? Say MEE-khal.
- Teàrlach Under 5 in 2025: Instigator; the Gaelic name long used for Charles. Say CHAR-lakh.
- Bhaltair Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Walter: ruler of the army. Say VAL-tir.
- Eideard Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Edward: rich guardian. Say AY-jart.
- Filib Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Philip: lover of horses. Say FEE-lip.
- Goraidh Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Godfrey: God's peace. Say GOR-ee.
- Labhrann Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Laurence: man from Laurentum. Say LAV-ran.
- Neacel Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Nicholas: victory of the people. Say NYEKH-kel.
- Sachairi Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Zacharias: God remembers. Say SAKH-a-ree.
- Seoc Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Jack, from John: God is gracious. Say SHOCHK.
- Seòsaidh Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Josey, from Joseph: he will add. Say SHAW-see.
- Steaphan Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Stephen, meaning crown. Say STEF-an.
- Ualan Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Valentine: strong, healthy. Say OO-a-lan.
- Ealar Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Hilary, meaning cheerful. Say YAL-ar.
- Dùbhghlas Under 5 in 2025: Gaelic form of Douglas: dark river, from dubh, dark, and glais, stream. Say DOO-glas.
Norse names of the Highlands and Islands
Vikings settled the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland, and their names passed into Gaelic and Scots.
- Somhairle Under 5 in 2025: Summer traveler, from Norse Sumarliði; Scottish Gaelic. Say SAW-ur-la.
- Sorley Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Somhairle: summer traveler. Say SOR-lee.
- Torcuil Under 5 in 2025: Thor's cauldron, from Norse Þórketill; Scottish Gaelic. Say TOR-kil.
- Torquil Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Torcuil: Thor's cauldron. Say TOR-kwil.
- Iomhar Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Ivor: yew warrior, from Norse. Say EE-var.
- Ivor 10 in 2025: From Norse Ívarr, built from yew and warrior. Say EYE-vor.
- Raghnall Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Norse Ragnvaldr: counsel ruler. Say RAH-nal.
- Ranald Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Raghnall: counsel ruler. Say RAN-ald.
- Ronald US #638: Scottish form of Norse Ragnvaldr: counsel ruler.
- Amhlaidh Under 5 in 2025: Scottish Gaelic form of Norse Olaf: ancestor's descendant. Say OW-lee.
- Aulay Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Amhlaidh: ancestor's descendant. Say AW-lee.
- Tasgall Under 5 in 2025: God's cauldron, from Norse Ásketill; Scottish Gaelic. Say TAS-kal.
- Ùisdean Under 5 in 2025: From Norse Eysteinn, island stone or lucky stone; Scottish Gaelic. Say OOSH-jan.
Scottish kings, saints and heroes
Names borne by Scotland's kings, patron saints and national heroes.
- Fillan Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Faolán, little wolf; a Perthshire saint. Say FIL-an.
- Kentigern Under 5 in 2025: Brythonic name ending in tigernos, lord; Glasgow's patron saint, also called Mungo.
- Ossian 8 in 2025: Form of Irish Oisín, little deer; the bard of Macpherson's 1760s poems.
Highland names in English spelling
Gaelic names as most Scots write them today, with the Gaelic original in each note.
- Murdoch 5 in 2025: From Muireadhach, meaning lord or master. Say MUR-dok.
- Gillespie Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Gilleasbuig: servant of the bishop, also rendered as Archibald. Say gil-ESS-pee.
- Farquhar Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Fearchar: dear man. Say FAR-kar.
- Gregor 9 in 2025: Scottish form of a Greek name meaning watchful or alert. Say GREG-or.
- Niven Under 5 in 2025: English spelling of Naomhán: little saint. Say NIV-en.
- Tavish 21 in 2025: From Thàmhais, Gaelic for Thomas: a twin. Say TAV-ish.
Scottish clan and surname names for boys
Scottish surnames, many of them clan names, that work as first names.
- Campbell US #764: Crooked mouth, from Gaelic cam beul; a great Highland clan.
- Craig 102 in 2025: From Gaelic creag, a crag or rock.
- Blair 70 in 2025: Plain or field, from Gaelic blàr; a Perthshire place. Mostly a girls' name in the US.
- Muir Under 5 in 2025: Scots for moor or fen; a Lowland surname.
- Keir 7 in 2025: A variant of the surname Kerr: thicket or marsh.
- Mackenzie 99 in 2025: From Mac Coinnich, son of the handsome one; mostly a girls' name in the US. Say ma-KEN-zee.
- Lindsay Under 5 in 2025: Lincoln island, from Old English; a Lowland clan, now mostly a girls' name in the US.
Scottish place names for boys
Islands, rivers, glens and old districts of Scotland used as first names.
- Arran 5 in 2025: Named for the island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland in miniature. Say AR-an.
- Fyfe Under 5 in 2025: From Fife, the old kingdom north of Edinburgh.
- Athol Under 5 in 2025: From a historic district of highland Perthshire. Say ATH-ol.
- Islay Under 5 in 2025: Named for the southern Hebridean isle; used for boys and girls in Scotland, only for girls in the US. Say EYE-la.
- Lorne 5 in 2025: From Lorn, an old district of Argyll.
- Kelvin 214 in 2025: Named for the Glasgow river that gave physicist William Thomson his title.
- Moray Under 5 in 2025: From the northeast region around the Spey and Findhorn rivers.
- Forbes 8 in 2025: From a surname taken from an Aberdeenshire village.
Scots pet names for boys
Short, friendly Scots forms of classic names, from Rab to Tam.
- Rab Under 5 in 2025: Scots short form of Robert: bright fame.
- Rabbie Under 5 in 2025: Scots pet form of Robert: bright fame; the poet Burns's nickname.
- Jock Under 5 in 2025: Scots form of Jack, from John: God is gracious. Also a nickname for any Scot, and US slang for an athlete.
- Davie 8 in 2025: Scots pet form of David, meaning beloved.
- Hendry 10 in 2025: Scots form of Henry, meaning home ruler.
- Lachie Under 5 in 2025: Scots pet form of Lachlan, from Lochlann, Norse land.
- Ally Under 5 in 2025: Scots pet form of Alistair: defender of men.
- Steenie Under 5 in 2025: Scots pet form of Stephen, meaning crown.
- Shug Under 5 in 2025: Scots pet form of Hugh, from Germanic for mind or heart.
- Dand Under 5 in 2025: Scots pet form of Andrew, meaning manly or brave.
How to pick the right name
Pick Gaelic, English or Scots
The same name often has three forms: Seumas, Hamish and Jamie all come from James. Gaelic spellings stand out, English ones travel easily and Scots pet forms feel friendly.
Check the clan meaning
Clan names make strong first names, but read the meaning first. Cameron means crooked nose and Campbell means crooked mouth, which some families love and others avoid.
Learn the Gaelic sounds
In Scottish Gaelic, mh and bh usually sound like v, ch is the throaty sound in loch, and s before e or i sounds like sh. That is why Seumas is SHAY-mus.
Honor family tradition
Scottish families often named sons after grandfathers. A classic like Alasdair or Duncan can carry a family story and still feel fresh.
Save this list for later
Pin it to a naming board, or tap the heart next to any name to keep it in your favorites on this device.
Scottish boy names: Scotland's 2025 top 10, fifty years of change, the naming pattern for sons, and the Scottish names Americans use
By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 26, 2026 · How we research names
Noah was Scotland's top boys' name in 2025 with 318 babies, and Rory was the highest name of Scottish origin, at No. 3. Boys' names are more varied than ever: Scottish parents used a record 3,957 different boys' names in 2025, and 8% of boys had a name ending in -ie, up from under 1% in 1974.
America had its Scottish-name boom earlier: Donald was No. 6 for US boys in 1934. The kit above finds the Gaelic form of a first name and works out the old naming pattern for a family's sons, and the tags show each name's 2025 US rank or count.
Scotland's top 10 boys' names in 2025
- Fastest risers. In the 2025 top 100, Vinnie rose 70 places to 95th, Cooper 42 to 79th and Ruaridh 33 to 52nd (NRS).
- Fifty years of change. David is Scotland's top boys' name of the past half century, with more than 40,000 babies; in 1974 more than 1,700 boys were called David, while Noah topped 2024 with only 366. Andrew, the patron saint's name, is third over the 50 years but fell out of the 2024 top 100 (NRS).
| Rank in Scotland | Name | US, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noah (318 babies) | #2 |
| 2 | Luca | #14 |
| 3 | Rory | #199 |
| 4 | Muhammad | #239 |
| 5 | Oliver | #3 |
| 6 | Theo | #82 |
| 7 | Leo | #19 |
| 8 | Archie | #301 |
| 9 | Finlay | 50 boys; Finley is #333 |
| 10 | Harris | 150 boys |
Sources: National Records of Scotland, published May 2026; US Social Security Administration.
How Scottish boys were named
- The naming pattern for sons. By tradition the first son was named after his father's father, the second after his mother's father and the third after his father; the custom gradually declined during the 1800s (ScotlandsPeople). The kit above works out the pattern for a family.
- Old records use pet forms. Donald and Daniel were used interchangeably, Alexander might be written Sandy or Eck, and George Dod, so family historians should search every form (ScotlandsPeople).
- What registrars discourage. Scottish registrars talk parents out of titles such as Sir or Lord, rude or whimsical names, odd spellings and initials that stand for nothing, and can briefly postpone a registration; a name that is not offensive, a title or bare initials is then registered (National Records of Scotland).
Scottish boy names in the US
- Some have switched to girls in the US. In 2025, Blair went to 1,806 US girls and 70 boys, Mackenzie to 1,343 girls and 99 boys, and Rory to 1,332 girls as well as 1,768 boys. In Scotland they are still boys' names.
| Name | US peak | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Donald | #6 in 1934 | #690 |
| Scott | #10 in 1971 | #534 |
| Kenneth | #13 in 1939 | #294 |
| Douglas | #23 in 1942 | #807 |
| Callum | #118 in 2025 | Its best ever |
| Rory | #199 in 2025 | Its best ever |
| Lachlan | #606 in 2025 | Its best ever |
Source: US Social Security Administration, births 1880 to 2025.
Sources
- National Records of Scotland: Babies' First Names 2025
- National Records of Scotland: Freya tops Scotland's baby name chart
- National Records of Scotland: fifty years of baby names (March 2025)
- National Records of Scotland blog: what's in a name?
- ScotlandsPeople: forenames guide
- US Social Security Administration: baby names
Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Scottish boy name?
Noah was the most popular boys' name in Scotland in 2025, given to 318 babies. The top name of Scottish origin was Rory, third, with Finlay ninth and Harris tenth (National Records of Scotland).
What are traditional Scottish male names?
Alasdair, Angus, Duncan, Hamish, Iain, Malcolm, Fergus and Murdo are traditional Scottish male names. Donald and Malcolm were names of Scottish kings more than a thousand years ago, while Hamish and Alasdair are later Gaelic forms of James and Alexander.
What does Hamish mean?
Hamish comes from Sheumais, a Gaelic form of Seumas, which is James. It means supplanter or holder of the heel, from Hebrew.
What is the difference between Callum and Calum?
They are the same name. Calum is the Scottish Gaelic spelling and Callum the common English one; both come from Latin columba, dove, after Saint Columba.
Are Scottish clan names good first names?
Many are: Cameron, Campbell, Douglas, Ross, Grant and Murray all work well. Check the meaning first, since several clan names describe a feature such as a crooked nose.
What was the Scottish naming pattern for sons?
The first son was named after his father's father, the second after his mother's father and the third after his father, according to ScotlandsPeople. The custom was never universal and faded during the 1800s.
Are there names you can't register in Scotland?
Registrars discourage titles such as Sir or Lord, offensive or fanciful names, odd spellings and initials that stand for no name. They explain the problems and may postpone briefly, but a name that is not offensive, a title or bare initials is registered as the parents choose.
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