Scottish Boy Names

  1. Nairn
    • Origin:

      Scottish
    • Meaning:

      "river with alder trees"
    • Description:

      Scottish nature name that could prove a tongue- twister for the younger set.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

  5. Torquil
    • Origin:

      Scottish from Norse
    • Meaning:

      "Thor's cauldron"
    • Description:

      Torquil, is a quirky but intriguing option that evolved from an ancient Scandinavian nameand was imported into Scotland by the Vikings. The Gaelic form of the name is Torcaill.
  6. Ruairi
    • Kenzie
      • Origin:

        Short form of Mackenzie, Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "son of Kenneth"
      • Description:

        Overwhelmingly feminine in the US, where parent name Mackenzie is wildly popular, but masculine in the UK, where Kenzie ranks among the Top 1000 names for baby boys.
    • Kelso
      • Origin:

        Scottish place and surname
      • Meaning:

        "chalk ridge"
      • Description:

        This name of a town in Scotland, one of the earliest recorded surnames in the whole British Isles, has more vitality than Kelsey.
    • Ruskin
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "from a family of tanners"
      • Description:

        British-sounding literary surname choice.
    • Lockie
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "from the fjord"
      • Description:

        Lively Scottish short form of Lochlan.
    • Graeme
      • Origin:

        Scottish variation of Graham
      • Meaning:

        "gravelly homestead"
      • Description:

        An interesting vowel combination lightens up Graham.
    • Barclay
      • Origin:

        English and Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "where birches grow"
      • Description:

        Americans may not realize Barclay is the phonetic spelling of the British Berkeley -- though both sound like old-fashioned butler names.
    • Munro
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "mouth of the river Ro"
      • Description:

        Takes Monroe out of the Dead Presidents category and gives it new life.
    • Dugald
      • Origin:

        Variation of Dougal, Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "dark stranger"
      • Description:

        Dugald is a Harry Potter name. In fact, there are not one but two characters name Dugald in the Harry Potter books.
    • Kerr
      • Origin:

        Scottish
      • Meaning:

        "someone who lived near wet ground"
      • Description:

        When actress Deborah Kerr entered the scene, there was a great debate over her name's pronunciation. Car or Ker. Your choice.
    • Roban
      • Rab
        • Ninian
          • Origin:

            Scottish and Irish, meaning unknown
          • Description:

            Ancient Irish saint's name that's unlikely, because of its similarity to "ninny," to join cousin Finian in popularity.
        • Christie
          • Origin:

            Scottish and Irish diminutive of Christopher
          • Meaning:

            "bearer of Christ"
          • Description:

            Kit and Topher are the Christopher nicknames du jour, thanks to actors Harington and Grace. But now that Chris is feeling less ubiquitous, this jaunty Scottish and Irish short form has a certain charm.
        • Lomond
          • Origin:

            Scottish place name
          • Meaning:

            "elm or blaze"
          • Description:

            Lomond is one of those names that exists mainly in one place in the world, Scotland, thanks to its famous Loch Lomond (with its bonnie bonnie banks).