Scottish Last Names
- Macallister
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"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.
- Albany
Origin:
Scottish place nameDescription:
A capital place-name possibility.
- Conn
Description:
Conn is a masculine name with ancient Irish origins, derived from the Gaelic word 'conn' meaning 'wisdom' or 'chief.' In Irish mythology and history, Conn of the Hundred Battles was a legendary High King of Ireland. The name's brevity gives it a strong, direct quality while its history provides substantial cultural depth. Though uncommon in modern usage outside of Ireland, Conn has maintained a presence in Irish families and among those with Irish heritage. The name's simplicity makes it easy to pronounce and remember, while its historical significance gives it gravitas. Conn offers an authentic connection to Irish heritage in a concise, powerful form that contrasts with longer Celtic names.
- Loudon
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"from the low valley"Description:
Singer Wainwright is the third in his family to carry this unusual name.
- Maine
Origin:
Place-nameDescription:
Strong and spare state name, maybe better in the middle -- or for a boy.
- Lesley
Origin:
Variation of Leslie, ScottishMeaning:
"garden of holly"Description:
Lesley runs a distant second to more popular sister Leslie, used for about 30 baby girls in one recent year vs. Leslie's 400+. And interestingly, no baby boys were named Lesley though about 40 were named Leslie. Once one of the most widely-used girl names starting with L, Lesley and Leslie now trail behind trendy L-starting girl names like Layla and Lily.
- Erwin
Origin:
GermanMeaning:
"respected friend"Description:
One of the many names with a strong "er" sound, like Bertram and Ernest, that was huge in the 1920s and is languishing in style limbo now. One famous bearer is the physicist Erwin Schrödinger, as in Schrödinger's cat.
- Wood
Origin:
English word nameDescription:
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.
- Tyree
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"from Tyrie"Description:
Hundreds of families have adopted this Scottish name, attracted by its trendy Ty beginning and upbeat second syllable. (Tyrell and Tyrese are also increasing in popularity. ) Tyree Glenn was a great jazz trombonist.
- Crosby
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"village with crosses"Description:
This musical surname, associated with Bing Crosby and David Crosby of Crosby, Stills, & Nash could easily be used for girls, as names like Jagger and Bowie have been.
- Frazier
Origin:
Variation of FraserMeaning:
"strawberry"Description:
Stylish way to name your son after basketball great Walt -- though Walt is sounding fresh again too.
- Ralston
Origin:
EnglishMeaning:
"Ralph's settlement"Description:
Down-to-earth surname name with a drawl, also associated with cereal and dog food.
- Carrington
Origin:
English. Scottish surnameMeaning:
"from Carrington"Description:
Carrington is much more popular as a last name than a first, but it's one of those surnames we could see making the leap into first name territory. A few minor historical figures have carried the name, including Carrington T. Marshall, a judge at the Nuremberg Trials, and Carrington "C.B." Williams, an ecologist known for his studies on insect migration.
- Morice
Description:
Morice is a masculine name representing a medieval French variant of Maurice. Derived from the Latin name Mauritius, meaning "Moorish" or "dark-skinned," it has Roman origins and was popularized through Saint Maurice, a 3rd-century Roman soldier and Christian martyr. The name traveled through Europe, developing various forms including this distinctive spelling. Morice carries an air of antiquity and sophistication, appealing to those drawn to names with historical depth. While less common than Maurice in contemporary usage, Morice offers a subtle twist on the classic name. Its connection to Saint Maurice gives it religious significance while maintaining its aristocratic French character and sophisticated sound pattern.
- Mccartney
Origin:
Scottish surnameMeaning:
"son of Artan"Description:
McCartney is a widely familiar surname that is infrequently given as a first name. It first appeared on the charts for girls in 1996 but has never been given to more than 21 baby girls in a single year. McCartney meets our definition of a unisex name, although it used more often for girls.
- Glenn
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"a narrow valley"Description:
While actress Glenn Close didn't inspire many parents to give their daughters her name in particular, she did help launch a general trend toward boy names for girls.
- Mccartney
Origin:
Scottish surnameMeaning:
"son of Artan"Description:
This highly recognizable surname means "son of Artan," an Irish derivative of the name Art. It's most closely tied to Beatle Paul McCartney — we'd be willing to bet that some of the parents who give this name to their children each year are fans.
- Maclain
Description:
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.
- Balfour
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"the village by the pasture"Description:
Historically interesting via the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which supported the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine.
- Hume
Origin:
Scottish variation of HolmesDescription:
Distinguished actor Hume Cronyn (who shared his father's name) put this unusual choice in the lexicon.