Scottish Last Names

This is a both fresher and cooler spin on David. 

Davies

Johnston originated as an English and Scottish surname meaning 'son of John,' making it part of the patronymic naming tradition. As a given name, it represents the ongoing trend of using family surnames as first names, which became increasingly common in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom. The name carries a dignified, traditional quality and often serves to honor maternal family lines or maintain family naming traditions. Johnston projects strength and formality, fitting alongside other surname-as-first-name options like Harrison, Jackson, or Wilson. While never extremely common as a first name, it has maintained a steady if minimal presence in naming records. The name's substantial sound and historical connections make it an option for parents seeking something distinctive yet rooted in Anglo-Saxon naming traditions.

Johnston

Keir is a single-syllable name that packs a punch, but also has a endearing quality about it thanks to its similarity to the word care. Sometimes used as a short form of the more popular Kieran, it could be derived from the Irish ciar meaning "black, dark".
 
Alternatively, it may be viewed as a variation of the Scottish Kerr, itself from the Old Norse kjarr, linking it to thicket, marshland, and brushwood. Other sources identify it with keir, an Old Scots word referring to a fort.
 
Notable bearers include Keir Dullea, an American actor who starred in 2001: A Space Odyssey and Sir Keir Starmer, a British politician who was the head of the Labour Party between 2020 and 2026 and the Prime Minister of the UK between 2024 and 2026. 
 
The name ranked in the UK charts back in the 90s and 2000s, but fell out of the stats in 2024, coinciding with Starmer's election. In the US, it has been quietly used since the 1960s and saw a small spike in popularity between 1968 and 1972, around the time of Dullea's star role in 2001: A Space Odyssey. A more recent year saw it given to 7 boys, with Kieran or Kyaire being the preferred options.

Keir

Lyall is a masculine name of Scottish origin derived from the Old Norse 'Liulfr,' combining elements meaning 'wolf' and 'ancestor' or 'heritage.' This strong, compact name carries connotations of wilderness, loyalty, and noble heritage. In Scotland, it emerged as both a given name and surname, particularly in the highlands. While never extremely common, Lyall has maintained steady usage throughout English-speaking countries, particularly in Scotland, Canada, and Australia. Its single-syllable structure and distinctive 'L' sounds give it a sophisticated yet approachable quality. The name's connection to the wolf symbolism suggests qualities of protection, intelligence, and family devotion.

Lyall

MacRae -- or McRay or McCrae -- is a Scottish surname-name whose meaning is most often given as son of grace or sometimes son of luck. The hero of Lonesome Dove's last name was McCrae. A good honor name for a Ray or Rae, it can also be shortened to Mac.

Macrae

Down-to-earth surname name with a drawl, also associated with cereal and dog food. 

Ralston

A surname occasionally used as a first, as in former attorney general Ramsey Clark. This spelling is now closely associated with the psychopathic Game of Thrones villain Ramsay Snow (later Ramsay Bolton), and so is probably best avoided as long as the show and books are popular.

Ramsay

McKay is the Anglicized form of Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh" in Gaelic. Aodh is the origin of names such as Aidan and Hugh, making McKay a subtle way to honor people with those names. 
 
Alternatively, the name might be a variation of Mckayla, Michaela, and similar, making it a form of Michael, or, it could be translated as "song of Kay".

Mckay

Actor Wood Harris, best known for his role as Avon Barksdale in The Wire, brought this one into the lexicon. Wood is Harris's nickname -- his real name is Sherwin David -- but it's the name he's exclusively known by. And it fits right in with the current hot trend for woodsy names for boys.

Wood

Last name occasionally used as a first, can be seen as a Lance Armstrong athlete-hero name. 

Armstrong

The name of a type of nautical knot and the surname of an English soccer star feels very at home in a world of Kendricks and Merricks.

Carrick

Findlay is a masculine name of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Fionnlagh,' combining elements meaning 'fair' or 'white' and 'warrior' or 'hero.' Historically used as both a surname and given name in Scotland, Findlay maintains strong Celtic roots and evokes the rugged highlands. The alternate spelling Finlay is also common. The name experienced modest popularity in Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom before gradually spreading to other English-speaking countries. In recent years, Findlay has gained attention as part of the trend toward traditional surnames as first names. It offers the approachable nicknames Finn or Lay, and conveys a sense of strength and heritage while still feeling contemporary. Findlay presents an appealing option for parents seeking a name with historical depth and Scottish character.

Findlay

A slight elaboration on Forrest, with the same woodsy charm.

Forrester

A Scottish surname, taken from Gregor and Gregory, this spelling is less popular as a given name than its more familiar counterpart, Greer. Given to 8 boys (and 18 girls) in the US in a recent year, for every one boy called Grier, there are three Greers. 
 
Meaning "alert, watchful", this distinctive sounding choice could appeal to fans of Bryer.

Grier

Guthrie, one of the most attractive <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/428/scottish-baby-names">Scottish names</a> that's also a surname, has a particularly romantic, windswept aura, with a touch of the buckaroo thrown in.
 Guthrie's folkie quality is tied to the father and son pair of singers Woody (born Woodrow Wilson) and Arlo. Other Guthries: Guthrie McClintic, a major figure in the Broadway theatre world of the early twentieth century, and Guthrie Govan, a guitarist with Asia and other bands.

Guthrie

Finlay is a Scottish royal name (it belonged to Macbeth"s father) that was revived by several celebrity parents who did a gender switch when they used it for their daughters. Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn, Daniel Baldwin and Lisa Marie Presley all named their daughters Finley. 

This is an interesting name in that different spellings have very different gender divides. The most popular form, Finley, is one of the most truly gender-neutral names today, used for about 1200 baby girls and 1200 boys in the US last year. Finlay, meanwhile, was used for TEN TIMES as many boys as girls, 50 to 5.

Tipping in the girls' direction are Finlee, used for about twice as many girls as boys, and Finleigh, which currently is exclusively female.

Finlay

This artistic surname name derives from a diminutive of Laurence/Lawrence, and was famously borne by the English painter LS Lowry.
 
Country singer Sam Hunt and his wife Hannah have a son named Lowry Lee, a combination of their middle names.

Lowry

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

Macarthur

Macauley is a masculine name of Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin, derived from the Gaelic surname Mac Amhalghaidh, meaning "son of Amhalghaidh" (an ancient personal name). Historically used as a family name, Macauley transitioned to use as a given name following the trend of adopting surnames as first names. The name carries associations with Celtic heritage and has variations including Macaulay, MacAuley, and McCauley. While never reaching top-tier popularity, Macauley saw increased usage in English-speaking countries during the late 20th century. The name received modest attention through association with actor Macaulay Culkin in the 1990s, though his spelling variant has been more recognized. Macauley projects strength and traditional masculine qualities while maintaining its distinctive Scottish roots.

Macauley

Maclain is a masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin, functioning as an Anglicized spelling variant of 'MacIain' or 'MacIan,' which literally means 'son of John.' As a surname-turned-first-name, it carries the strong heritage and clan associations common to Scottish patronymic naming traditions. The name has a distinguished, somewhat aristocratic quality while maintaining a contemporary sound. Though rare as a first name, Maclain appeals to parents with Scottish heritage or those seeking a distinctive name with clear cultural roots. The pronunciation may vary, with some saying 'mak-LANE' while others prefer 'mak-lin.' Maclain offers the trendy appeal of surnames as first names while providing a direct connection to Celtic heritage and history.

Maclain

Scottish last names have spread far and wide throughout the Global North, and are particularly common in the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand.

most common Scottish last names in the US

 include surnames that are exclusively Scottish, such as Scott and Campbell, along with those that count Scottish among multiple origins, including Allen and Morris. Other Scottish last names popular among Americans include Ross, Henderson, and Patterson.

 of Scottish origin include Campbell, Stewart, Scott, and MacDonald. Many 

 come from given names, such as Duncan, Fergus, and Gavin. You may recognize some 

 on this list, including Forbes, Gladstone, Cobain, and McQueen.

 are on the rise in the US, with choices like Blair, Campbell, and Paisley rising for girls, and Graham, Lennox, and Bowie moving upwards for boys. Many of these surname names can be considered 

On Nameberry, the top Scottish surnames used as first names include Callum, Logan, and Knox.

Last names that are Scottish in origin such as MacGregor and Drummond, including common Scottish surnames and unique Scottish last names (Page 10)