Scottish Boy Names

  1. 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.
  2. Campbell
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "crooked mouth"
    • Description:

      The seventh most common surname in Scotland, once associated only with soup, is now being considered as a last-name-first choice, accessible but unusual.
  3. Laurie
    • Origin:

      English diminutive of Laurence
    • Meaning:

      "from Laurentum or bay laurel"
    • Description:

      A sweet and sophisticated nickname which feels fresh again after many years in style limbo. For literature lovers, it brings to mind Theodore "Laurie" Laurence from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Another famous bearer is English actor Hugh Laurie.
  4. Mungo
    • Origin:

      Scottish nickname
    • Meaning:

      "my pet"
    • Description:

      Mungo is one of the most classic Scottish names but perhaps also among the most difficult names to carry. There is a St. Mungo whose proper name was Kentigern; he is the patron saint of Glasgow.
  5. Sholto
    • Origin:

      Scottish from the Gaelic
    • Meaning:

      "sower"
    • Description:

      Sholto is a traditional Scottish first name, especially within the Douglas clan. It's an Anglicized form of Sìoltach, meaning "sower".
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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.
  9. Innes
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "from the river island"
    • Description:

      Innis is the name of an island (and Gaelic word for island) which became a Scottish surname and clan name before being used as a first. It hasn't been heard much in the U.S., but could attract more attention with the growing popularity of Latin s-ending boys' names such as Atticus.
  10. Leith
    • Origin:

      Scottish river name
    • Meaning:

      "wet"
    • Description:

      This is an unusual surname and geographical name of medieval Scottish origin that might serve as a possible alternative to the aging Keith, though it's a bit tough on the tongue. More popularly spelt Laith in Scotland itself, which happens to correspond to an Arabic name meaning 'lion'.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Arran
    • Origin:

      Scottish place name
    • Meaning:

      "ridged island"
    • Description:

      Arran Island (not to be confused with the Aran Islands in Ireland) is a large island in Scotland's Firth (or bay) of Clyde. Attractive name, long popular in Scotland, but elsewhere would be forever be mixed up with Aaron.
  14. Macaulay
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "son of righteousness"
    • Description:

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

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "little saint"
    • Description:

      Excellent candidate for use as an undiscovered surname name. Niven is the Anglicized spelling of the Irish name Naomhan, a diminutive of the word naomh which means saint. This handsome but unusual name was given to only six boys in the US last year. Your parents may be familiar with actor David Niven.
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. Kester
    • Origin:

      Scottish form of Christopher
    • Meaning:

      "one who carries Christ"
    • Description:

      Nearly unknown outside the British Isles, this old Scottish variation has a sleek surname feel that can make an excellent update of the flagging Christopher.
  20. Thorfinn
    • Origin:

      Norse
    • Meaning:

      "Finn of Thor"
    • Description:

      An ancient Norse name that is still in regular use in the Orkney Islands in Scotland. A famous historical bearer is Thorfinn Sigurdsson (or Thorfinn the Mighty), an 11th century Earl of Orkney.