Scottish Names that Start With M

  1. Mingus
    • Origin:

      Scottish, variation of Menzies
    • Meaning:

      "tenants of a manor"
    • Description:

      Supermodel Helena Christensen named her son in honor of jazz great Charles Mingus, opening up a whole category of jazzy possibilities: Kenton, Calloway, Ellington, Gillespie, Mulligan, Tatum, and Thelonius.
  2. Malvina
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "smooth-browed one"
    • Description:

      An invention of the eighteenth-century romantic poet James Macpherson, in his epic cycle about Ossian, a legendary Celtic hero. In Poland, where it was popular at the start of the 20th century, the spelling is Malwina, and it's also had some use in other Eastern European countries.
  3. Mirren
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved"
    • Description:

      Mirren is a lively and attractive Scottish name, popular in its native country but best known outside Scotland as the surname of the English actor Dame Helen Mirren. It is thought to be a Scottish derivative of the name Marion, from Mary.
  4. Macallister
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Alasdair"
    • Description:

      Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander. Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.
  5. Mckinley
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of the fair hero"
    • Description:

      New Presidential name, if you're ready to move beyond Lincoln and Jefferson. At the turn of the last century, during the original McKinley's heyday, as a first name it almost reached the Top 100.
  6. Murray
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "from the land by the sea"
    • Description:

      An old-man name that sounds cute when used for a little girl, and is starting to seem cool again for boys too. For girls, it might be associated with Mina Murray (later, Mina Harker) from Bram Stoker's Dracula and its many adaptations.
  7. Mirin
    • Origin:

      Irish and Scottish, meaning unknown
    • Description:

      The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn, best known as the name of the seacoast town St. Merryn, is also related. The name is usually used for girls.
  8. Maclean
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "servant of Saint John"
    • Description:

      Whether you pronounce it Mac-cleen or Mac-clayn, this is one of the crispest and most appealing of the Mac names. The Scottish clan Maclean is one of the oldest of the Highland Scottish clans. Trivia tidbit: Sir Fitzroy Maclean is said to have been an inspiration for the Ian Fleming James Bond character.
  9. Mór
    • Origin:

      Scottish and Irish Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "great one"
    • Description:

      Simple ancient name of a Celtic goddess, but her friends might sound like they were asking for more.
  10. Melville
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "settlement on infertile land"
    • Description:

      All names ending in ville are in nowheresville.
  11. Muir
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "dweller near the moor"
    • Description:

      A common family name in Scotland, occasionally used as a first.
  12. Menzies
    • Origin:

      Scottish surname of Norman origin
    • Meaning:

      "to reside, abide"
    • Description:

      Traditionally pronounced "ming-iz" and thus the relationship to the jazzy Mingus, Menzies is an old Scottish surname related to the more common Manners.
  13. Muireall
    • Description:

      Muireall is a feminine Scottish Gaelic name with ancient Celtic roots. It derives from the Gaelic elements "muir" meaning "sea" and a diminutive suffix, essentially translating to "sea-bright" or "sparkling sea." Historically used in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, Muireall represents the cultural connection to the surrounding waters that shaped Scottish life. While never extremely common, the name has survived through generations of Scottish families preserving their heritage. Today, Muireall remains a distinctive choice that carries the lyrical quality characteristic of Gaelic names. Parents choosing this name often appreciate its authentic Scottish character and melodic pronunciation (usually moor-ee-el). Though rare outside Scotland, it resonates with those seeking a name with genuine Celtic origins and maritime associations.

  14. Moireach
    • Description:

      Moireach is a feminine Scottish Gaelic name with deep Celtic roots. Pronounced approximately as 'MOY-rakh,' it's the original Gaelic form of the more familiar Moira or Moyra. The name derives from the Gaelic 'Màiri,' the Scottish form of Mary, ultimately from Hebrew origins meaning 'bitter,' 'beloved,' or 'drop of the sea.' In Scottish culture, Moireach carries connections to the land and heritage of the Highlands. While relatively uncommon even in Scotland, it represents a strong cultural identifier for those with Scottish ancestry. The name has never achieved widespread popularity outside Gaelic-speaking communities, but it offers an authentic Celtic option for parents seeking a name with strong cultural roots and distinctive pronunciation.

  15. Macdonald
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Donald"
    • Description:

      Between "Old MacDonald" and Big Mac allusions, this would be a risky choice.
  16. Mcarthur
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Arthur"
    • Description:

      The Mc and Mac surnames are asserting themselves as first names and this is one of the most popular. Though outside the U.S. Top 1000, it's among the fastest rising names for boys.
  17. Macgregor
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Gregor"
    • Description:

      Interesting possibility for the son or grandson of a Gregory.
  18. Mcewan
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Ewan"
    • Description:

      Shows some promise via its connection to the growing interest in Ewan.
  19. Moibeal
    • Description:

      Moibeal is an extremely rare feminine name with Gaelic origins. It appears to be a variant spelling of Moibheal or possibly related to the Irish name Mobhí. The name's exact etymology is somewhat obscure but likely connects to ancient Celtic language roots. In Irish Gaelic naming traditions, Moibeal may relate to concepts of gentleness or sweetness, though definitive meanings are difficult to establish due to its rarity. The name has a melodic, flowing quality when pronounced, with its soft consonants and vowel combinations creating a musical effect. Moibeal remains exceptionally uncommon even in Ireland and Scotland, making it a truly distinctive choice. Its unusual spelling and pronunciation might present challenges outside Gaelic-speaking regions, but this also contributes to its unique character and cultural specificity.

  20. Macarthur
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of Arthur"
    • Description:

      The Mc and Mac surnames are asserting themselves as first names and this is among the most usable. MacArthur or McArthur makes a perfect honorific for an ancestral Arthur and leads directly to the nicknames Mac or Art

Introducing the Nameberry App

Nameberry App
Find your perfect baby name together with our new mobile app.
  • Swipe through thousands of names with your partner
  • Names you match on are saved to your shared list
  • Get personalized recommendations that learn based on your and your partner's preferences
  • Partner with friends and family to find names you all love
  • Backed by Nameberry's 20 years of data around name preferences.
Sign up to be notified when the app launches and to receive a discount on full access.
Nameberry App Logo