629 Scottish Baby Names With Meanings

From the land of castles and bagpipers, bestow an enlightened name on your baby.

Written by Angela Alex, MA Specialty: Baby NamesExperience: 2 years

Angela is an honors student with a master's degree in Linguistics from The English and Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History from St. Stephen’s Col... more

Edited by Srija Chanda Burman, MA, PG Dip. Specialty: Relationships, Baby NamesExperience: 3 years

Srija holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Calcutta and a PG Diploma in Editing and Publishing from Jadavpur University. Her interest in editing ranges across niches, including aca... more

Fact-checked by Ratika Pai, M.Com Specialty: Love, Marriage and RelationshipsExperience: 6 years

Ratika holds a master's degree in commerce and a post-graduate diploma in communication and journalism from Mumbai University. She has 6 years of experience writing in various fields, such as finance,... more

• Aug 21, 2023

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!

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Name	Gender	Meaning
Aaran	Boy	Exalted; Strong; Teacher; Mountain of strength
Aberdeen	Girl	A woman who is from the city in northeast Scotland
Aberdine	Girl	Woman from a city of Aberdeen; reliable
Abernathy	Boy	Beginning or starting point of the river
Abott	Boy	The father or the priest
Abree	Unisex	Strong; Independent; Free-spirited
Addison	Boy	Son of Adam
Aed	Unisex	A fire; Flame; Burning fire
Aedh	Unisex	From the Scottish word Aodh; Fire
Aerion	Girl	Powerful; Bold; Charismatic

Aftyn	Unisex	Derived from Afton; A place in Scotland; Feminine strength
Agan	Unisex	Beautiful or handsome and intelligent; Pearl; A precious stone that is very expensive
Agravain	Boy	Brother of Gawain
Aileana	Girl	Noble, graceful, strong
Ailsa	Girl	Consecrated to God
Ailsi	Girl	From Ailsa Craig, a rocky islet in the Scottish Firth of Clyde
Ailsie	Boy	Devoted to God
Aisla	Girl	From Ailsa Craig; A rocky islet in the Scottish firth of Clyde
Aklen	Boy	One who is a little rock; A Scottish version of Alan
Alasdair	Boy	Defender of men; A variant of names Alexander and Alistair

Alaster	Boy	Defender of men
Albe	Girl	White rock or a crag; Stable and responsible
Alexander	Boy	Defender of mankind
Alish	Girl	Of a noble kin
Alistair	Boy	Gaelic form of Alexander
Allistair	Boy	Defender of mankind
Amelia	Girl	Hardworking and industrious
Anabel	Girl	Lovable; Beautiful; Grace
Anabell	Girl	A lovable person; Problem solver
Annabel	Girl	Graceful; Beloved

Aodh	Boy	Fire; Brightness; Splendour
Aonghas	Boy	One Choice; A variant of name is Angus
Aonghus	Boy	One Choice; A variant of name is Angus
Arable	Girl	An angel who is the messenger of almighty God
Aran	Boy	Enlighted; mountain of strength; exalted; A variant of name Aaron
Archibold	Boy	Truly Brave; A variant of the name Archibald
Aria	Girl	Lioness; Air; Melody
Athol	Boy	From a surname derived from a Scottish language
Aurie	Unisex	Golden; Gold
Ava	Girl	Guarantee

Ayson	Unisex	Blessed by God
Baine	Unisex	White; Fair
Bair	Boy	Strong; Son of the sea
Baird	Boy	The son of Bard
Bairn	Boy	One who is a child at heart
Baye	Unisex	Strong, independent, and unique
Bedivere	Boy	Birch men; Living among Birch trees
Bellangere	Boy	son of alexandre
Bercilak	Boy	Green knight; Mighty and powerful
Berlynn	Unisex	Strong and graceful

Binnie	Unisex	Hill of the birds
Blair	Girl	Field; Plain
Blaire	Girl	Dweller on the plain
Blane	Boy	Little yellow one
Bonelle	Girl	A beautiful woman with good nature
Bonie	Girl	A woman who is gorgeous; Beautiful
Bonni	Girl	A woman of many charms and great beauty
Bonnibel	Girl	Beautiful; Cheerful
Bonnie	Girl	Beautiful; Cheerful; Good
Bonny	Girl	She who is beautiful and very charming

Bowie	Boy	Yellow-haired Boy; Blond-haired boy
Brack	Unisex	Someone who lived near a stretch of uncultivated land
Breland	Unisex	Strong; Brave; Leader
Breydon	Unisex	Vibrant and spirited
Brice	Boy	Freckled
Brichtrede	Girl	Scottish female name
Broc	Boy	One who is like a badger
Broca	Girl	A Badger-like person
Brocagni	Boy	He who is badger-like
Brodee	Boy	Spirited; Descendant of Bradach

Broden	Boy	One who comes from the Brodie Castle in Scotland
Brodi	Boy	Strong, dynamic, and charismatic
Brodie	Boy	Muddy place; Ditch; Second son
Brody	Boy	Broad island; Ditch; Muddy place
Bruce	Boy	Willowlands
Bryelle	Unisex	Feminine; Unique; Modern
Brynnleigh	Unisex	Strong and courageous
Brysen	Boy	A son of a freckled man
Bryshon	Boy	A male child of the freckled man
Bryson	Boy	Son of a nobleman; Freckled

Cadin	Unisex	Spirit of battle; Fighter
Cadyn	Boy	Cadan's son
Cailean	Boy	One who is triumphant
Cailin	Boy	Girl
Caillen	Girl	Potent and powerful individual
Cairn	Unisex	A pile of stones used as a marker or monument
Caisyn	Unisex	Unique; Modern
Caitir	Girl	Pure-hearted woman
Calan	Boy	A child who is a contemporary
Calen	Boy	People's victory

Caley	Boy	A young child who is a contemporary
Callam	Boy	Dove
Calton	Boy	Fierce; Ambitious; Determined
Cam	Boy	A man with a crooked nose
Cambell	Unisex	Warlike, crooked mouth
Camdyn	Boy	One who comes from the winding valley
Cameran	Unisex	Twisted; Bent
Carlan	Unisex	Strong and determined
Carron	Unisex	Rock; Stony place
Carson	Boy	Son of marsh dwellers

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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

MomJunction's articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy.

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/

Look Up For Many More Names

Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.