Campbell

The seventh most popular surname in Scotland and an alternative to Camryn, Cameron, and Camila, Campbell is a cool, contemporary unisex choice — a no-frills sort of name that nevertheless offers feminine nicknames like Cammie and Belle. It was one of the fastest rising choices in 2025, rising 338 places up the charts for girls, and 159 for boys.

Traditionally used for as a masculine (given) name — and still used as such in the UK — it first started appearing in the US stats for girls in the late-80s. By the 2000s, it began to lean more feminine, perhaps owing to the journalist and TV news correspondent Campbell Brown (born Alma), who began appearing on TV around the same period.

As a surname, Campbell is connected to philosopher-writer Joseph, singer Glen, actress Neve, model Naomi, GB Shaw muse Mrs. Patrick, and to Andy Warhol's soup cans — and the soup company more generally.

Derived from a Scottish nickname, it means "crooked or wry mouth", though if you strongly dislike this meaning, it has additionally been written as de bello campo in Latin documents, giving it the more pleasant meaning "of the fair field".

Occasionally spelled as Cambell too, Campbell ranked as a gender neutral choice in a recent year, featuring in the Top 1000 for both boys and girls. Given to 337 boys and 474 girls, it is split 42:58.

Pronounced KAM-bul.

As of October 2026, Campbell ranked #617 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #876.