Scottish baby boy names are among the boldest and most memorable around. Some are rooted in the country’s proud history, language, and mythology, while others give a loving nod to the people and places that make Scotland so special.
So, whether you visited once and fell in love, or you simply want to honor your family’s Scottish heritage, choosing a Scottish boy name for your little lad is a great way to show your appreciation.
Here we’ve compiled the ultimate list of Scottish baby boy names to help in your baby-naming quest.
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Popular Scottish boy names and meanings
According to the National Records of Scotland, the top 5 boys names in Scotland for 2020 were Jack, Noah, James, Leo, and Oliver. Very on-trend, these are popular boy’s names just about anywhere.
However, rounding out the top 10, we’ve got more traditional Scottish boy names with links to Scotland’s history and geography:
- Harris: If you’re smitten with the idea of honoring your Scottish roots, Harris is a wonderful choice. It means, simply, “son of Harry,” but it’s also the name of a beautiful Scottish island in the Outer Hebrides – a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland. Home to sandy beaches, rugged mountains, and a whiskey distillery, you’d be channeling the very essence of Caledonia with this name.
- Rory: A classic Gaelic name, Rory is tailor-made for fiery-haired little guys with Celtic connections. It means “red-haired king.”
- Alexander: A common name the world over, Alexander (“defender of men”) is often shortened to “Alec” or “Alex” in Scotland.
- Finlay: A name of both Irish and Scottish origin, Finlay means “fair-haired hero.” Once an ancient Scots royal name (Macbeth’s father was Findlaech mac Ruaidri), today it’s making a modern comeback, with its alternative spelling “Finley” proving to be a popular gender-neutral choice.
- Archie: The short (and adorable) version of “Archibald,” Archie means “truly brave.” In the States, the name is associated with the comics, but thanks to Harry and Meghan’s royal baby, it’s taken on a more regal tone of late.
So, we’re off to a good start – but we hear you. You want even more Scottish baby names!
What are good Scottish boy names?
The options are almost endless when it comes to choosing a Scottish name for your baby boy. To make things easier, we’ve grouped them by letter below. Scroll down to discover your favourite.
Scottish baby boy names: A – E
- Alasdair
- Alastair
- Alastaire
- Alistair
- Alister (FYI, this and the four above are all Scots versions of “Alexander”)
- Arran
- Athol
- Avery
- Bac
- Balloch
- Baird
- Bairn
- Balfour
- Barclay
- Bartley
- Bean
- Bearnard
- Blaine
- Blair
- Boyd
- Braden
- Bram
- Bruce
- Bryce
- Bryson
- Calan
- Calder
- Caley
- Callum
- Cam
- Camden
- Cameron
- Campbell
- Camron Carmichael
- Cawley
- Chalmer
- Christie
- Clyde (The Clyde is a river running through the heart of Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city)
- Colin
- Cory
- Dalziel
- Davis
- Donal
- Donald
- Dougal
- Douglas
- Drummond
- Duncan
- Elliot
- Errol
- Erskine
- Evan
Scottish baby boy names: F – N
- Farlan
- Fergus
- Ferguson
- Finn
- Fletcher
- Forbes
- Fraser
- Fyfe (A variation on “Fife,” one of Scotland’s most historical regions)
- Fyn
- Gavan (Like the more common spelling “Gavin,” this one also means “white hawk”)
- Gil
- Gilmore
- Gilroy
- Gordan
- Gordon
- Gowan
- Graeme
- Graham
- Grant
- Gregor
- Gunn
- Hamilton (Fan of the musical? Hamilton is also a town in Scotland)
- Hamish
- Hay
- Haye
- Henderson
- Houston
- Iain (The Gaelic form of the English name “John,” Iain means “God is gracious”) Ian
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- Irvin
- Irving
- Iver
- Jackie
- Jamie
- Jamieson
- Jock (A Scottish variation of the name “Jack”)
- Kai
- Kameron
- Keith
- Kendrick
- Kennedy
- Kenneth
- Kenzie
- Keir
- Kerr
- Kin
- Kinney
- Kirk
- Knox (A Scottish surname given first name duty by Angelina & Brad. Very cool) Lachlan (“From the land of lochs,” does it get any more Scottish than that?)
- Lamont
- Laurence
- Leith (A port in Edinburgh, Leith could also be a unique boy’s name)
- Lennox
- Lewis (Along with Harris, Lewis forms the main island of the Outer Hebrides)
- Lindsay
- Logan
- Lyall
- Mac
- Mack
- Malcolm
- Maxwell
- Mitchell
- Murdoch
- Ness
- Niall
- Nicol
Scottish baby boy names: O – W
- Ogilvy
- Paton
- Payton
- Quarrie
- Quinn
- Rae
- Ramsay
- Ray
- Reed
- Robert
- Robertson
- Rodrick
- Ronald
- Ross
- Roy
- Sandy (Another name that’s short for Alexander)
- Scot
- Scott
- Shaw
- Sinclair
- Sloan
- Stewart
- Tavish (A Scottish version of “Thomas,” which means “twin.”)
- Thane
- Todd
- Tor
- Torrence
- Tyree
- Urquhart
- Wallace (This could be a nod to Scottish hero William Wallace)
How about Scottish Gaelic boy names?
Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic language from Scotland, is also known as Gaelic. Although it’s not as widely spoken as it once was (only 57,000 out of 5 million are fluent), it’s still a hugely important part of Scottish culture, particularly in the Highlands and Islands.
Gaelic’s influence can also be seen across a variety of popular Scottish names. Here are a few names with Gaelic-origins we think you’ll like:
- Angus: Meaning “one strength,” Angus is the English version of the Gaelic name Aonghus. A trendy choice, it can be shortened to the infinitely cute “Gus.” And if you have more general Celtic roots, Angus pops up in Irish mythology – Aonghus was the god of love and youth.
- Callen: Solid, dependable, strong, this one simply means “rock.”
- Innes: A variation on the Gaelic spelling of the word “Innis,” meaning “island,” the name Innes means “from the river island.” It was initially a clan name long before it became a first name. It’s not a well-known name in the US, so if you’re looking for a truly unique name, this could be it.
- Struan: A name growing in popularity in Scotland, Struan (“stream”) is another that’s little known in the States. We think it’s time that changed.
Get more baby-naming inspiration with Peanut
There you have it! Some of the best Scottish boy names for your bonnie little.
Are you still looking for the right name? Complete your tour of the UK & Ireland with these 141 English names for boys, these 80 Welsh baby boy names, and these 109 Irish baby boy names.
Or, if you want a second, third, or fourth opinion, share your current favorite names with your fellow mamas-to-be on Peanut.
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