Scottish Boy Names

Find the best selection of Scottish boy names right here.

Boy Names From Scotland

Here's a hand-picked selection of Scottish boy names, some of them are traditional (ancient Celtic or Gaelic, or Olde English) baby names, others reflect the influence of other European countries such as France, Germany, Greece and more.

I've also added the meaning of each Scottish name so that you can find the perfect name quickly and easily.

(If you're looking for Scottish Girl Names click here).

Have fun!

Scottish Boy Names

When you're browsing through the list of Scottish boy names below, you'll probably notice that the majority of them are Gaelic, and that many of them are also popular Scottish last names, or well-known clan names.

This is because the way in which names in Scotland changed and developed over the centuries. Originally the 'pool' of names was very limited, and most people had only one - which eventually became their last name (or surname). However, many of them were 'interchangeable' and could be used as either first or last names.

The prefix 'Mac' and the suffix 'son' were both added to Scottish boy names and meant 'son of'.

As an added 'bonus' you'll also find a list of the 'Top 10 Boy Names in Scotland' for the year 2009 below this table,. Enjoy....

Name	Origin & Meaning
Adair	*Gaelic* Meaning 'ford of the oaks' or 'oak grove'.
Ailbeart	*Gaelic* Scottish Gaelic form of Albert, meaning 'bright nobility'.
Alastair	*Gaelic* Scottish Gaelic form of Alexander, meaning 'defender' or 'defending man'.
Alban	*Gaelic* From 'Alba',the Gaelic name for Scotland. Meaning 'rock'.
Alexander	*Greek* Ancient name meaning 'defender' or 'defending man'. Made popular by Scottish kings, Alexander I, II and III.
Alpin	*Gaelic* Meaning 'white'.
Andrew	*Greek* Meaning 'a brave man'. St. Andrew is the Patron Saint of Scotland.
Angus	*Gaelic* Meaning 'unique choice'. Seen in Scotland as early as the 6th century.
Archibald	*Old German* Meaning either 'noble and bold', or 'bright gold'. Popular with Campbell clan members due to 12th century link. Also used as a surname.
Baldwin	*Old German* Meaning 'bold friend'.
Boyd	*Gaelic* Meaning 'blond' or 'yellow'. Also seen as a Scottish surname.
Bryce	*Celtic* Meaning 'pied' or 'speckled'.
Calum	*Gaelic* Meaning 'dove'. May be Gaelic derivative of Malcolm. Often spelled as 'Callum'.
Cameron	Gaelic Meaning 'crooked nose'. Dates back to at least the 15th century. Unisex name. Popular Scottish surname.
Campbell	*Gaelic* Meaning 'crooked mouth'. Also popular Scottish surname.
Cinead	*Gaelic* Meaning 'born of fire'.
Craig	*Gaelic* From Gaelic word 'creag' meaning' 'rock'. Recorded as early as 11th century. Also popular Scottish surname.
Diarmid	*Gaelic* From Irish Gaelic Diarmuid. Meaning 'without envy' or 'free man'.
Donald	*Gaelic* From Irish Gaelic 'Domhnall'. First seen in Scotland during 9th century. Meaning 'world mighty'.
Donnan	*Gaelic* Meaning 'brown'.
Douglas	*Gaelic* From Gaelic 'dubh' meaning 'black', and 'glas' meaning 'water'. Popular surname in Scotland. Unknown as forename before the 16th century.
Drummond	*Gaelic* From Gaelic 'drum' and 'onde', meaning 'high ground' or 'ridge'. Popular as surname.
Dougal	*Gaelic* From Gaelic 'dubh' for 'black' and 'gall' for 'stranger'. Meaning 'dark stranger'. Also seen as Dugal. Also seen as Scottish last name.
Duncan	*Gaelic* From Gaelic 'dun' - 'brown, and 'chadh' - 'warrior'. Meaning 'dark/brown warrior'. Seen in 11th century Kings Duncan I and Duncan II.
Eachann	*Gaelic* Meaning 'horse'.
Erskine	*Gaelic* From the Scottish Gaelic 'Ard Sescenn' meaning 'projecting height' or 'high marsh'. Popular Scottish last name.
Ethan	*Hebrew* Meaning 'strength' or 'long lived'
Ewan	*Celtic* Meaning 'born of the yew tree' or 'youth'. Also seen as Euan.
Fergus	*Gaelic* Ancient name, meaning 'man of strength' or 'brave chieftain'. Royal name in Pictish and Celtic society. Root of Scottish surname Ferguson.
Fingal	Gaelic Meaning 'white stranger'.
Finlay	*Gaelic* Meaning 'fair headed' or 'white warrior'.
Fraser	*Norman/French* Meaning 'strawberry bearer' or 'grower of strawberries'. Popular as surname in Scotland.
Gavin	*European* Meaning 'white hawk' or 'hawk man'. Popular during the middle ages.
Gordon	*Gaelic* From Gaelic 'gor-dun' meaning 'hill fort'.
Graham	*Olde English* From 'grand' - 'gravel' and 'ham' - 'home'. Meaning 'gravel home'. Popular as surname in Scotland.
Grant	*French* Meaning 'large or tall'. In French 'grand' means 'big'. Popular last name.
Gregor	*Greek* Meaning 'watchful' or 'vigilant'.
Hamilton	*Olde English* Meaning 'flat topped hill' or 'place of the hill'.
Hamish	*Gaelic* Gaelic form of James, meaning 'one of supplants'.
Hew	*Old German* Brought to Scotland by the Normans. Meaning 'heart, mind or spirit'. Now often seen as Hugh.
Iain	*Gaelic* Gaelic form of John, meaning 'God is gracious'.
Irvine	*Gaelic* Meaning 'green water'. Often used as surname.
James	*Roman* Meaning 'one who supplants'. Often seen in Scotland since 13th century. Popular with Scottish royals - there were 7 Scottish King James'. Also seen in Gaelic form as 'Hamish'.
Kennedy	*Gaelic* Meaning 'helmet wearer' or 'ugly headed'.
Lachlan	*Gaelic* Irish Gaelic originally. Meaning 'lake habitation'. Popular since 13th century, especially in the Scottish Highlands.
Leslie	*Gaelic* Meaning 'one who lives by the garden pool'. First seen in 11th century. Also seen as surname.
Lewis	*Old German* Meaning 'noted warrior'.
Malcolm	*Gaelic* From Gaelic 'maol calium' meaning 'follower of the dove' ie Saint Columba. Can also mean 'man of Columb'. Scottish Gaelic version is Calum.
Muir	*Gaelic* Meaning 'sea warrior'. Also popular last name.
Mungo	*Celtic* Ancient name meaning 'dear one' or 'beloved'.
Owen	*Gaelic* Irish Gaelic originally. Meaning 'well born' or 'born to nobility'. Goes back to the time of the Picts in Scotland.
Raibert	*Old German* Meaning 'bright flame'. Brought to Scotland by the Normans.
Rory	*Gaelic* Ancient name. From the Gaelic 'ruadh' - 'red' and 'ri'- 'king'. Meaning 'red king'. Popular with Highland clans.
Ross	*Gaelic* From the Gaelic 'ros' meaning 'headland'. Seen in Scotland since the 12th century.
Stuart	*Gaelic* From the Gaelic 'sti-weard', meaning 'a steward' or 'animal warden'. Also seen as Stewart. Very popular Scottish surname.
Tamhas	*Gaelic* Gaelic form of Thomas. Meaning 'twin'.
William	*Old German* Meaning 'strong protector'. Came to Scotland with the Normans in 11th century. Popular during the Middle Ages.

I hope you've enjoyed this list of Scottish boy names, and that you managed to find one (or more) that you love!

If you want to see what names are popular today, here's a list of the Top 10 Scottish Boy Names for 2009 (according to the Scottish Registry Generals' Office).

You'll see that some of the very traditional Scottish boy names in the table above, are still in the 'Top 10' today.