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Scottish Boy Names

Sophie Kihm
By Sophie Kihm
Updated Sun Jun 21 2026
Scottish Boy Names

Scottish boy names are a handsome group, including familiar choices that have traveled far beyond Scotland's shores as well as rare boy names. Familiar Scottish names for boys, such as Douglas and Malcolm and the nouveau Knox, along with many names that are still most at home in the Highlands, from Hamish to Kelso to Baird, are all worthy of consideration.

Along with Malcolm and Knox, other Scottish boy names in the US Top 1000 include Callum, Douglas, Duncan, and Lachlan. Baby boy names popular in Scotland include Oliver — also a popular name in the US — Jack, James, and Logan.

Other Scottish names for boys trending now include Campbell, Graeme, Teague, and Wiley. While boys' names from Scotland have not traveled as widely as Irish names for boys, they certainly have the same potential.

Our favorite Scottish boy names in the Nameberry database include the choices here.

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Scottish Names

Scottish Girl Names

Popular Names in Scotland

  1. Callum

    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Columba, Latin

    • Meaning:

      "dove"

    • Description:

      Callum is a gentle, charming name of Scottish origin, that is a popular choice across the UK. In the US, it was a rare option until the late 2000s, however, since 2017 it's been rising up the ranks. Complete with easy, breezy and cool nickname Cal, it climbed more than 60 places in the US in 2024, placing it just outside the Top 150.
  2. Maxwell

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "great stream"

    • Description:

      A happy medium between the weighty Maximilian and the laid-back Max, Maxwell is one of the most classic and attractive Scottish names. Early influences on the name's revival include Maxwell Smart of the television show, and then movie, Get Smart, and the Beatles song about Maxwell's Silver Hammer.
  3. Tate

    • Origin:

      English from Norse

    • Meaning:

      "cheerful"

    • Description:

      A strong single-syllable surname with a joyful meaning, Tate is finding a place on more and more birth certificates.
  4. Knox

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "round hill"

    • Description:

      Knox is an old Scottish surname that Brad Pitt (whose great-great-grandfather was named Hal Knox Hillhouse) and Angelina Jolie took out of the back cupboard, dusted off, and elevated to coolness--to the point where it entered the popular baby names list in 2009. Knox now ranks among the most influential celebrity baby names.
  5. Finn

    • Origin:

      Irish

    • Meaning:

      "fair or white"

    • Description:

      Finn is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish mythology, Finn MacCool (aka Fionn mac Cuumhaill), an intrepid warrior with mystical supernatural powers, noted as well for his wisdom and generosity.
  6. Grant

    • Origin:

      Scottish from French

    • Meaning:

      "large"

    • Description:

      One-time beach-boy compadre of Glenn, Greg, and Gary that originated as a nickname for a tall person, Grant has become a no-nonsense, career-oriented grown-up and one that is seeing new appreciation. It was chosen for his son by actor Morris Chestnut. It has cultural cred via artist Grant Wood, whose best known painting is 'American Gothic.'
  7. Malcolm

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "devotee of St. Colomba"

    • Description:

      Malcolm is a warm and welcoming Scottish appellation (originally Mael-Colium) that fits into that golden circle of names that are distinctive but not at all odd. A royal name in Scotland, Malcolm is also a hero name for many via radical civil rights activist Malcolm X.
  8. Lennox

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "elm grove"

    • Description:

      Lennox is an aristocratic and powerful Scottish surname name made truly special by that final x. The worldwide fame of British boxer--World and Olympic champion--Lennox Claudius Lewis brought the name into the spotlight as a first name, while as a last it's tied to Eurythmics singer Annie L.
  9. Archie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Archibald, Teutonic

    • Meaning:

      "truly brave"

    • Description:

      Archie made global news as the surprise first name of the newborn royal baby, son of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aka Harry and Meghan. Archie has now officially transcended Archie Bunker and Riverdale's Archie to take the, um, throne as the quintessential retro nickname name.
  10. Blake

    • Origin:

      English

    • Meaning:

      "fair-haired, dark"

    • Description:

      Blake -- an early unisex option -- dropped out of the Top 100 in 2017 for the first time since 1988, but remains a sophisticated choice. And yes, both conflicting meanings of Blake are accurate. It originated as a surname in England derived from a nickname. Much of its masculine image was influenced by the wealthy, silver-haired character Blake Carrington in the massively popular 80s TV series Dynasty. Rosie O'Donnell has a son named Blake.
  11. Colin

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Nicholas or Irish and Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "people of victory; pup"

    • Description:

      Thanks to its dashing Anglo-Irish image — due partly to Colins Firth and Farrell — and its C-initialed two-syllable sound, Colin and its cousin Collin have enjoyed a long run of popularity, reaching as high as Number 84 in 2004.
  12. Hector

    • Origin:

      Greek

    • Meaning:

      "holding fast"

    • Description:

      Previously used primarily by Latino families, this name of the great hero of the Trojan War as related in Homer's Iliad is beginning to be considered more seriously by others seeking noble ancient hero names as well--it was also the name of the knight who raised King Arthur as his own son.
  13. Lewis

    • Origin:

      English variation of Louis

    • Meaning:

      "renowned warrior"

    • Description:

      Lewis is the best spelling to choose if you want this pronounced with the S. It was a Top 100 name in the US from 1880 to 1930, reaching Number 30 in 1880 and while it has declined in use, it has remained in the Top 1000 since stats began.
  14. Callen

    • Origin:

      Gaelic

    • Meaning:

      "rock"

    • Description:

      Callen is a unisex Gaelic name growing in popularity here. Its newfound trendiness is possibly related to the Chris O'Donnell character on "NCIS: Los Angeles", known only as G. Callen. Jazz musician Cal Tjader's full name is Callen.
  15. Jamie

    • Origin:

      Diminutive of James

    • Meaning:

      "supplanter"

    • Description:

      The cool form of James in the 1970s and '80s for both sexes. Still a more stylish short form than Jimmy, though many parents will want to call James by his entire, not-very-long name.
  16. Lachlan

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "from the fjord-land"

    • Description:

      Lachlan is as Scottish as haggis and tartan plaid kilts—a favorite used throughout England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand—and just beginning to be noticed in the US: it reached the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013. An ancient name, Lachlan was originally used to describe the Viking invaders of Scotland, those from the land of the lochs.
  17. Mac

    • Origin:

      Scottish or Irish

    • Meaning:

      "son of"

    • Description:

      In Ireland and Scotland, Mac and Mc mean "son of"; here, Mac is a generic fella, or a short form cooler than either Matt or Max. Mac can be a nickname of any longer Mac or Mc starting name such as McCoy or Macalister. If you want to make it feel more complete, you can always spell it Mack.
  18. Evander

    • Origin:

      Scottish; Greek

    • Meaning:

      "bow warrior; strong man"

    • Description:

      Evander is a name that could build on the popularity of shorter form Evan, and could work and play well with schoolmates like Zander and Xander.
  19. Campbell

    • Origin:

      Scottish

    • Meaning:

      "crooked mouth"

    • Description:

      The seventh most common surname in Scotland, for a time associated only with soup company and the Andy Warhol's iconic painting, Campbell is once again being considered as an accessible but rarer alternative to Cameron in the US. Traditionally given as a masculine first name in the 20th-century — and still used as such in the UK — it is now a unisex choice in the States. In fact, 2025 saw it appear as one of the fastest rising names across the board, climbing 338 places for girls and 159 for boys.
  20. Magnus

    • Origin:

      Scandinavian from Latin

    • Meaning:

      "greatest"

    • Description:

      Magnus is a Latin name, literally meaning "greatest," that has a Scandinavian feel. It dates back to Charlemagne being called Carolus Magnus, or Charles the Great. Norwegian king Magnus I, named after Charlemagne, introduced it to his culture, and thus Magnus was the name of six early kings of Norway and four of Sweden. It is still a highly popular name in Denmark and Norway.

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