Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
While naming a baby, most parents prefer including a little of their family history to ensure the child remembers where they come from. You can give a Scottish baby name to your child if you wish to pass your heritage to the next generation. All thanks to Scotland’s eventful history, Scottish names have varied origins. Invasions and battles have been a large part of the country’s past, from the Roman Empire's arrival to the Vikings' migration from Norway and Denmark (1). After the emigration of the Celtic tribes in 900 BCE, the history of Scotland was marked by stages of unrest and turmoil. However, with the arrival of the Celts, ironwork was introduced to Scotland, helping it transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age (2). This transition is where the inspiration for most baby names comes from. The origins of Scottish names range from traditional Celtic, Gaelic, and Old English to influences from neighboring countries like Italy, France, and Norway. However, a hefty chunk of Scottish baby names originates from Gaelic. During the early Middle Ages, Gaelic Scotland and Ireland had shared name pools. With time, the name pools separated, but certain names no longer popular in one culture were still widely used (3). The Lowland and Highland areas have different names, depending on the regions. While Scottish boy names reflect strength and masculinity, Scottish female names are delicate and incredibly feminine. This distinction is a characteristic trait of Celtic and Gaelic names. The Scots also follow a specific naming pattern for their children. The firstborn son inherits his paternal grandfather’s name, while the firstborn daughter derives her name from her maternal grandmother. The second son takes his name from his maternal grandfather, and the second-born daughter gets hers from her paternal grandmother. The third son and daughter inherit their names from their mother and father. From the motherland of bagpipers, the Loch Ness monster, and of course, Johnnie Walker, we bring you an extensive collection of Scottish baby names with meanings. You are sure to fall in love with these gorgeous names, whether you are Scottish or not. Keep scrolling!
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Emily |  |  Girl | Hardworking; Dilligent; Industrious person |
| Emrick | |  Boy | Powerful; Ruler |
| Emrie | |  Unisex | Industrious leader; Home ruler |
| Emslie | | Unisex | God's promise |
| Eppie | | Girl | Auspicious speech or good repute |
| Erskine | | Unisex | A Scottish surname |
| Erv | | Boy | High cliff; Fresh water |
| Ervin | | Boy | Fresh water or beautiful |
| Ervine | | Boy | A beautiful friend |
| Erving | | Boy | A descendant of Eiramhon |
| Ervins | | Boy | Green fresh water; Beautiful friend |
| Erwin | | Boy | Army friend |
| Erwina | | Girl | Someone who is a beautiful friend |
| Euan | | Boy | Born of the Yew tree |
| Euna | | Girl | Lamb; Hunger |
| Even | | Boy | God is gracious; Born of yew; Youth |
| Ever | | Boy | Strong as a boar |
| Everallin | | Girl | A 3rd century historic figure |
| Everard | | Boy | Wild boar; Brave; Hardy |
| Ewan | | Boy | Born of the yew tree |
| Ewen | | Boy | One who is of the yew tree |
| Ewin | | Boy | He who is born of the yew tree |
| Ewing | | Boy | The children of the yew trees |
| Fang | | Boy | A pen for sheep |
| Farquhar | | Boy | A friendly and dear one |
| Feerouzah | | Boy | Turquoise; A semi-precious stone of Turkish origin |
| Ferris | | Boy | One who makes the best choices |
| Fia | | Girl | One who makes a dark peace; Daughter in Italian |
| Fie | | Boy | Darkness of peace |
| Fife | | Boy | A Scottish surname, meaning a man from the ancien Kingdom Fife |
| Fifer | | Unisex | A person who plays the fife, a small high-pitched flute |
| Fina | | Girl | One who shall add |
| Finlee | | Unisex | Fair-Haired hero |
| Finleigh | | Unisex | Fair-haired hero |
| Finnea | | Girl | Wood of the Ford |
| Firouzah | | Boy | With reference to Turquoise, a semi-precious stone of Turkish origin |
| Firoz | | Boy | A victorious and blessed individual; Turquoise, the precious gem |
| Firth | | Boy | A small inlet or estuary of a sea |
| Forsyth | | Unisex | Man of peace |
| Fraser | | Boy | Men from the forest; Strawberries; A man with curly hair |
| Frasier | | Boy | Forest men; Strawberry; Variant of Fraser |
| Fyfe | | Unisex | Derived from Fife |
| Gadsden | | Unisex | Fortunate; Bold; Patriotic |
| Galiene | | Girl | Woman; Damsel |
| Gara | | Girl | Height; Dark |
| Gardiner | | Boy | One who protects the garden |
| Gawen | | Boy | White colored bird; Hawk which is used as a weapon in the battle field |
| Geordie | | Boy | The person who is working in a farm |
| Gib | | Boy | Servant of St.Bridget; Bright pledge |
| Gibb | | Boy | Servant of St.Bridges |
| Gibbes | | Boy | Bright hostage; Bright desire |
| Gillan | | Unisex | Divine beauty or fair one |
| Gilleabart | | Boy | Pladge |
| Gillean | | Boy | The servant of St.John |
| Gilleasbuig | | Boy | Sacred and blood |
| Gilmer | | Boy | Sword bearer |
| Gordan | | Boy | Large fortification |
| Gordana | | Girl | Large fortification |
| Gorden | | Boy | Large fortification |
| Gowan | | Boy | Rainmaker |
| Grace | | Girl | Goodness; Generosity |
| Graeham | | Boy | A boy from the gray house |
| Graeme | | Boy | Gravelly homestead; Gray home |
| Graent | | Boy | A great person |
| Greig | | Boy | A dynamic and restless being |
| Grier | | Boy | Fast and alert person; A person can watch everything very clearly and can act upon instantly |
| Grisell | | Girl | Variation of Griselda; Grey battle |
| Gus | | Boy | Exalted; Majestic; Great; Venerable |
| Guss | | Boy | Coolest kid you have ever met |
| Hacket | | Boy | Norman personal name |
| Hackett | | Boy | Scottish and Norman person's name |
| Hackit | | Boy | The names of Scottish personnel |
| Hackitt | | Boy | The old name of Norman and Scottish person |
| Haddow | | Boy | One who came from Haddo; A location name from Aberdeen |
| Hagrid | | Boy | Struck by a storm; Have a bad night; Fitting for a character who often faces challenges |
| Halleigh | | Girl | Variation of Hailey which means hay's meadow |
| Hamel | | Boy | Home-lover's Estate, Hill with Grass |
| Hamish | | Boy | Supplanter |
| Hammill | | Boy | Scarred; Has wound marks |
| Harris | | Boy | Son of Harry |
| Harry | | Boy | Ruler of the household |
| Hay | | Boy | One who is from a stockade |
| Hayee | | Boy | A person who lives in a stockade |
| Hendley | | Unisex | Meadow by the hill |
| Hendries | | Boy | Varian of Henry |
| Hendry | | Boy | Scottish variation of Henry |
| Hinsley | | Unisex | A variant of Ensley with prosthetic H |
| Hogg | | Boy | A Scottish surname; Shepherd |
| Hume | | Boy | come from den |
| Iain | | Boy | God is gracious |
| Idella | | Girl | Industrious and noble |
| Ilka | | Unisex | Every; Each one |
| Imrie | | Unisex | Ruler of the home |
| Innes | | Unisex | Island; From the island |
| Irvine | | Unisex | Green water; Beautiful |
| Ishbel | | Boy | Strong-willed and industrious |
| Isla | | Girl | Island |
| Islay | | Unisex | The Queen of Hebrides; Island |
| Isobel | | Girl | Devoted, creative, independent |
| Isobella | | Boy | Beauty, grace, strong-willed |
Scottish baby names are loaded with history, enabling your child to always hold on to their roots. Despite the country's turbulent past, Scottish names have their unique appeal. The Scottish naming system allows families to be interlinked through their names, making it easier to trace one’s ancestry. Whether you are looking for a robust name for a boy or a delicate name for a girl, this comprehensive list of Scottish names has everything you need to find the perfect fit for your little one.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some names that mean Princess in Scottish?
Sarah is a feminine name that means princess in Scottish, while Aurla means golden princess. If you are looking for names borne by princesses, Ada is a great choice. Ada, also known as Ada of Huntingdon, was a member of the Scottish royal house.
2. What Scottish name means freedom and peace?
The masculine name Wallace can also be connected to the meaning of freedom because of Sir William Wallace, a Scottish knight and hero who fought against England for freedom. Calum or Callum is a masculine name that means dove, a symbol of peace and freedom. Goraidh, the Scottish Gaelic variation of Godfrey, means peace of God.
3. What are some Scottish baby names that have a royal connection?
Names like Áed, Eochaid, Amlaíb, and Lulach have Scottish origins. They are also the names of Scottish monarchs over the years.
4. Who are some famous people with Scottish names?
Some famous people with Scottish names include Alexander Fleming, a physician who discovered penicillin, and Alexander Graham Bell, a famous scientist who invented the telephone. Bonnie Wright, an English actress with a Scottish name, famous for playing Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter film series.
References
- The Birth of Scotland.
https://www.scotland.org/about-scotland/history - Ancient Scotland.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Scotland_(Ancient)/ - Quick and Easy Gaelic Names.
https://medievalscotland.org/scotnames/quickgaelicbynames/
