Scottish Boy Names

  1. Struan
    • Origin:

      Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "stream"
    • Description:

      A strong, eminently usable which is currently highly fashionable in its native Scotland, but little known elsewhere. With its cool two-syllable, n-ending shape and attractive nature meaning, Struan is a fresh Scottish name that feels ripe for import.
  2. Stewart
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "steward"
    • Description:

      This ancient royal Scottish name and its equally-correct spelling French variation Stuart had a brief vogue in midcentury America--it was Number 286 in 1955--dropped off the list completely in the nineties.
  3. Blaine
    • Origin:

      Irish and Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "yellow"
    • Description:

      Attractive Scottish and Irish surname name of a seventh-century saint, associated with the illusionist and escape artist David Blaine.
  4. Ivor
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Welsh Ifor
    • Meaning:

      "yew"
    • Description:

      Ivor, a favorite choice for upscale characters in Brit Lit novels by authors like P.G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh, is an interesting and unusual name just waiting to be discovered by parents in this country.
  5. Murray
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "settlement by the sea"
    • Description:

      Murray, you may be surprised to discover, is a Scottish surname name --that of an ancient noble clan--with a sea-swept meaning, and just could be in the next wave of reevaluated grandpa names. Currently Number 60 for baby boys born in its native Scotland; it was at its highest in the US in 1922, when it reached Number 208, but has been off the list since 1975. Could it be time for a comeback?
  6. 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.
  7. Kelso
    • Origin:

      Scottish place and surname
    • Meaning:

      "chalk ridge, lime mountain"
    • Description:

      This name of a town in Scotland, one of the earliest recorded surnames in the whole British Isles, has more vitality than Kelsey. Distinctive in sound with a cool -o ending and a stylish K initial, it feels part Kayce, Kairo, and Kolson, part Carlisle, Cosmo, and Jago, with just a touch of Marlowe and Casper about it too.
  8. Sandy
    • Origin:

      Scottish and English diminutive of Alexander
    • Meaning:

      "defending men"
    • Description:

      A sweet Scottish short form of Alexander which is feeling newly appealing now the era of Sandra is far behind us. Sandy would also work well as a nickname for a child with pale red or dark blond hair.
  9. Laith
    • Origin:

      Arabic, Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "lion; wet"
    • Description:

      With a distinctive sound and a robust feel, Laith is a name that also has a touch of breezy charm to it. Currently in the UK Top 1000, it is a cross-cultural boy name that's also on the rise in the US.
  10. 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.
  11. Euan
    • Origin:

      Gaelic, Anglicized form of Eoghann
    • Meaning:

      "born of the yew tree"
    • Description:

      The attractive Euan and Ewan are just coming onto the U.S. radar, via actor Ewan MacGregor and Harry Potter's Euan Abercrombie.
  12. Macaulay
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of righteousness"
    • Description:

      Made famous by former child star Macaulay Culkin, one of the more popular Mac names.
  13. Tavish
    • Origin:

      Scottish variation of Thomas
    • Meaning:

      "twin"
    • Description:

      This Scottish form of Thomas has a lot of charm, evoking images of men in plaid kilts playing the bagpipes. As for the 'ish' ending, it could either be seen as cozy and hamish, or a little wishy-washyish.
  14. Dougal
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "dark stranger"
    • Description:

      Heard in the Scottish highlands, and much more in tune with the present times than the dated Douglas — for which it could make a perfect tribute name.
Dougal was the Scottish nickname for invading dark-haired Danish Vikings, just as Fingal was given to the blonder Norwegians.
  15. Baird
    • Origin:

      Scottish occupational name
    • Meaning:

      "minstrel, poet"
    • Description:

      Meaning bard, this is an original choice with poetic and melodic undertones. Bard itself has also come into consideration, both names bringing to mind Shakespeare and other literary lights.

      The Scottish surname Baird's most notable bearer was John Logie Baird, the Scottish engineer and inventor of the televisor, the world's first practical television system in 1926, and also the world's first fully electronic color TV tube two years later. Some might also remember puppeteers Bil and Cora Baird.

  16. Ramsay
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "low-lying land"
    • Description:

      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.
  17. Brodie
    • Origin:

      Scottish surname
    • Meaning:

      "little ridge"
    • Description:

      This geographic Scottish surname is more often spelled Brody in the US. Both forms have seen decreasing popularity, which may be linked to its association with club-hopping Hills star Brody Jenner.
  18. Cairn
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "mound of rocks"
    • Description:

      In Scotland, a cairn is a heap of stones placed as a memorial or to support a beacon. This gives the name a rugged, timeless quality that is very appealing at present.
  19. Auley
    • Origin:

      Scottish and Manx
    • Meaning:

      "ancestor's descendant"
    • Description:

      Also spelled Aulay in Scotland, this is an attractive form of the Scandinavian name Olaf that blends several currently fashionable sounds.
  20. Lockie
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "from the fjord"
    • Description:

      Lively Scottish short form of Lochlan.

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