Scottish names have a special mix of grit and softness. Some feel rugged and outdoorsy (think islands, rivers, and glens), while others sound polished enough for a boardroom, a book character, or a tiny new baby. If you want a name that feels rooted and memorable, Scotland gives you plenty of options.
Here’s the wide range of options you can choose from:
Popular Scottish Names
- Isla: island (Scottish place name)
- Skye: Isle of Skye (Scottish place name)
- Harris: from Harris (Scottish island name)
- Arran: Isle of Arran (Scottish island name)
- Iona: from Iona (Scottish island name)
- Orkney: Orkney Islands (Scottish place name)
- Lewis: Isle of Lewis (Scottish place name)
- Shetland: Shetland Islands (Scottish place name)
- Clyde: River Clyde (Scottish river name)
- Tay: River Tay (Scottish river name)
- Lomond: from Loch Lomond (Scottish place name)
- Logan: little hollow (Scottish place name and surname)
- Blair: plain, battlefield
- Ross: headland, promontory
- Cameron: crooked nose
- Campbell: crooked mouth
- Douglas: dark river, dark stream
- Fraser: strawberry (from the surname)
- Gordon: great hill
- Grant: great, tall
- Scott: from Scotland, a Scot
- Stewart: steward, house guardian
- Stuart: steward, house guardian
- MacKenzie: son of Coinneach
- MacLeod: son of Leod
- MacDonald: world ruler (from Domhnall)
- Sinclair: Saint Clair (from the surname)
- Buchanan: house of the canon
- Kerr: rough, jagged
- Boyd: blond, yellow (from the surname)
- Murray: settlement by the sea
- Innes: from the river island
- Lennox: elm grove
- Ramsay: wild garlic island
- Hay: hedge, enclosure
- Graham: gravelly homestead
- Wallace: foreigner, Welshman
- Brodie: ditch, mire (place name and surname)
- Sutherland: southern land
Best Scottish Names for Boys
- Callum: dove
- Angus: one strength
- Duncan: brown warrior
- Alastair: defender of mankind
- Ian: God is gracious
- Hamish: supplanter (Scottish form of James)
- Ewan: born of the yew tree
- Euan: born of the yew tree
- Lachlan: from the land of the lakes
- Finlay: fair warrior
- Finley: fair warrior
- Malcolm: devotee of Saint Columba
- Fergus: man of vigor
- Gavin: white hawk
- Gregor: watchful, vigilant
- Bruce: from the brushwood thicket
- Craig: rock, crag
- Keir: dark
- Tavish: Scottish form of Thomas
- Murdo: sea warrior
- Murdock: sea warrior
- Kenneth: handsome
- Colin: puppy, young hound
- Archie: genuine, bold
- Archibald: genuine, bold
- Barclay: birch meadow
- Calder: rocky water
- Davie: beloved (Scottish form of David)
- Dougal: dark stranger
- Ivor: yew, archer
- Ramsay: wild garlic island
- Roderick: famous ruler
- Ross: headland, promontory
- Struan: stream
- Wallace: foreigner, Welshman
Best Scottish Names for Girls
- Fiona: fair, white
- Isla: island (Scottish place name)
- Skye: Isle of Skye (Scottish place name)
- Iona: from Iona (Scottish island name)
- Ailsa: Ailsa Craig (Scottish place name)
- Eilidh: Gaelic form of Helen
- Mairi: Gaelic form of Mary
- Maisie: pearl (Scottish diminutive of Margaret)
- Effie: well-spoken
- Morag: great (Gaelic form of Sarah is sometimes used, but Morag is its own Scottish Gaelic name)
- Shona: God is gracious (Scottish Gaelic form of Joan)
- Catriona: pure
- Katrina: pure
- Kirsty: follower of Christ
- Flora: flower
- Heather: heather plant
- Bonnie: pretty
- Kenna: born of fire (from Kenneth)
- Elspeth: pledged to God
- Isobel: pledged to God
- Ishbel: pledged to God
- Jean: God is gracious
- Jeanie: God is gracious
- Rhona: rough island (often linked to the place name Rona)
- Sheena: God is gracious
- Lorna: fox
- Aileen: bright, shining one
- Mirren: drop of the sea (linked to Saint Mirin)
- Moira: bitter (Gaelic form of Mary)
- Marsali: pearl (Scottish form of Marjorie)
- Seonaid: God is gracious
- Una: one (also linked to lamb in some traditions)
- Nairne: from Nairn (Scottish place name)
- Leana: bright one (often used as a Scottish variant of Helen)
- Skara: from Skara (place name)
- Eira: snow
Classic Scottish Names
- Agnes: pure, holy
- Andrew: manly
- Arthur: bear
- Beatrice: bringer of joy
- David: beloved
- Edith: riches, blessed
- Eliza: my God is an oath
- Elizabeth: my God is an oath
- Euphemia: well-spoken
- George: farmer
- Helen: torch, light
- James: supplanter
- John: God is gracious
- Margaret: pearl
- Mary: bitter
- Robert: bright fame
- Thomas: twin
- William: resolute protection
- Christina: follower of Christ
- Victoria: victory
Unique Scottish Names
- Aonghus: one strength (Gaelic form of Angus)
- Coinneach: handsome (Gaelic form of Kenneth)
- Donnchadh: brown warrior (Gaelic form of Duncan)
- Domhnall: ruler of the world (Gaelic form of Donald)
- Ruairidh: red king
- Sorley: summer traveler
- Torquil: Thor’s cauldron
- Ranald: ruler’s advisor
- Gilleasbuig: servant of the bishop (Gaelic form of Archibald)
- Eachann: horse lord (Gaelic form of Hector)
- Fionnlagh: fair warrior (Gaelic form of Finlay)
- Padruig: noble (Gaelic form of Patrick)
- Seumas: supplanter (Gaelic form of James)
- Eoghann: born of the yew tree
- Uilleam: resolute protection (Gaelic form of William)
- Mhairi: Gaelic form of Mary
- Sileas: blind (Gaelic form of Cecilia)
- Mhairi-Anna: Gaelic form of Mary Anne
- Beathag: life
- Oighrig: meaning uncertain
- Gormlaith: blue princess
- Liusaidh: light (Gaelic form of Lucy)
- Peigi: pearl (Gaelic form of Peggy)
- Elspet: pledged to God (Scottish form of Elizabeth)
- Morven: great gap (Scottish place name)
If you want the quickest way to narrow this down, pick the style first. Do you want a name that feels like the Highlands (Skye, Arran, Harris), a classic that never needs explaining (Malcolm, Fiona, Andrew), or something more Gaelic and distinctive (Ruairidh, Donnchadh, Liusaidh)? Then say your top five out loud with your last name. The name that still sounds good when you are tired and saying it for the tenth time is usually the one worth keeping.