Scottish (Gaelic) names belong to the Scottish (Gaelic) language tradition. This collection contains 236 Scottish (Gaelic) names with their meanings, cultural backgrounds, and pronunciation guides. You'll find 140 names traditionally given to boys and 81 names for girls, reflecting naming patterns from regions where Scottish (Gaelic) is spoken. These names carry the linguistic heritage and cultural values of Scottish (Gaelic)-speaking communities. Common themes include noble, nature, warrior, showing what Scottish (Gaelic) cultures have valued across generations.
The given name Logan derives from the Scottish surname “Logan,” which, in turn, derives from a place name. This surname’s likely origin is a place near Auchinleck (Scottish Gaelic: Achadh nan Leac), in Ayrshire, Scotland. The place-name derives from the Gaelic “lagan,” which is a diminutive of “lag,” which in turn means “hollow.” Males and females bear the given name.
⭐ PopularSkye is both a surname and a given name and derives from “Skye” or “the Isle of Skye,” the largest and most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Skye is also a variant of Sky, which derives from the Germanic and Old Norse “*skiwją / *skiwô > ský,” meaning “a cloud, cloud, cloud cover.”
⭐ PopularA Laird is a member of the gentry. The Scots and Northern English dialectal variant Laird has been recorded in writing since the 13th-century, as a surname, and in its modern context since the middle of the 15th-century. It is derived from the Northern Middle English laverd, itself derived from the Old English word “hlafweard,” meaning “warden of loaves.” However, Lord and Lady have since become words primarily associated with the dignity of peers in Scotland, so the term “Laird” has taken on a separate meaning.
Carson is a unisex given name. It comes from an Irish and Scottish surname, which is of unknown meaning. The development seems to be from Maurice Acarson, bailiff of the isle of Man, but this is uncertain. What is certain is that 'the Corsans or Carsans were an ancient Galloway family whose lineage ended in the direct line of James IV in the late 15th-Century. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 2010, the name Carson ranked 80th of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This name means “crooked nose.” The name derives from the Scottish surname “Cameron,” from a Scottish Clan “Clan Cameron.” In the Scottish Highlands, the surname is thought to be derived from the Gaelic “cam sròn,” meaning “crooked nose”; in the Scottish Lowlands, the name is believed to be derived from a form of Norman baronial name from Cambernon, in Normandy. Cambernon is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. The English-language surname can be rendered into Scottish Gaelic as Camarran (masculine), Chamarran (feminine), or as Camshron (masculine) and Chamshron (feminine).
This name means “meadow dwelling.” Dallas is a surname of Scottish and English origin. 1) From Scottish origin, the name is a habitational name, derived from Dallas near Forres. This place-name is likely derived from the Brittonic “dol” (meadow) plus “gwas” (dwelling) (Gaelic: dail fas). This name also appears in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. 2) From the English origin, the name is a habitational name, derived from the Old English “dæl” (valley) plus “hus” (house). Dallas is the ninth-largest city in the United States and the third-largest city in the state of Texas.
With over twenty recordings in the “Dictionary of National Biography,” this famous surname is of Anglo-Saxon and Scottish origin. It is a locational place from any of the various sites so-called in Britain. The place-names are derived from the Old Saxon “hōh,” Old English “hēah”, Proto-Germanic “*hauhaz” (high) plus “tūn” (enclosure, settlement). In turn, the name means “the city in the high ground”.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “leamhan ach > Leven-ach,” meaning “of the elm, lives near the place abounding in elm trees.” The Clan Lennox is a Lowland Scottish clan. The ancient earldom of Lennox once covered the whole of Dumbartonshire, as well as large parts of Perthshire, Renfrewshire, and Stirlingshire. In Scottish Gaelic, Leven-ach means a smooth stream. The ancient Celtic Mormaers of Levenax became the Earls of Lennox.
Karson is a unisex given name. It comes from an Irish and Scottish surname, which is of unknown meaning. The development seems to be from Maurice Acarson, bailiff of the isle of Man, but this is uncertain. What is certain is that 'the Corsans or Carsans were an ancient Galloway family whose lineage ended in the direct line of James IV in the late 15th-Century. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 2010, the name Carson ranked 80th of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This name derives from the English “cadence” meaning, “rhythm, flow,” from the Middle French “cadence,” from the Italian “cadenza,” which in turn derives from the Latin “cadentia > cădĕre > cădo,” meaning “fall, get off, drop.” It has risen in popularity in the United States, where it ranked at no. 214 in popularity for baby girls in 2006, having jumped 745 places up the chart since 2002 when it was ranked at No. 959. It peaked in 2007 when it reached no. 199. This name is also linked to the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), in turn from the Old Irish “cath” from the Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years.
This name derives from the English “cadence” meaning, “rhythm, flow,” from the Middle French “cadence,” from the Italian “cadenza,” which in turn derives from the Latin “cadentia > cădĕre > cădo,” meaning “fall, get off, drop.” It has risen in popularity in the United States, where it ranked at no. 214 in popularity for baby girls in 2006, having jumped 745 places up the chart since 2002 when it was ranked at No. 959. It peaked in 2007 when it reached no. 199. This name is also linked to the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), in turn from the Old Irish “cath” from the Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years.
This name derives from the Scottish Gaelic “dromainn”, meaning “ridge, or high ground”, from the Old Irish “druimm,” meaning” back, ridge”. This great and noble name is of Scottish territorial origin from any of the various places, including Drymen near Stirling. Clan Drummond is a Highland Scottish clan. The name is rendered “Druimeanach” in modern Scottish Gaelic. The first chief of Clan Drummond to appear in written records was Malcolm Beg, Chamberlain of Lennox, who married a daughter of the Earl of Lennox, named Ada, before 1260.
This name derives from a Scottish surname “Irvine,” meaning “green water,” from the river Irvine in Dumfriesshire. The name, in turn, is composed of two Celtic elements: “ir” (green, fresh) plus “afon” (river, water). However, wherever found, the surname can also be a developed form of the Old English pre 7th century given name “Irwyn,” originally composed of the elements “eofor,” meaning “wild boar,” and “wine,” meaning “a friend.” Clan Irvine is a lowland Scottish clan. Sometime between 1124 and 1125, Gilchrist, son of Erwini, witnessed a charter of the Lords of Galloway. The first lands by the name of Irvine were in Dumfriesshire. According to family tradition, the clan chief’s family’s origin is connected with the early Celtic monarchs of Scotland.
Sky is both a surname and a given name and derives from “Skye” or “the Isle of Skye,” the largest and most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Skye is also a variant of Sky, which derives from the Germanic and Old Norse “*skiwją / *skiwô > ský,” meaning “a cloud, cloud, cloud cover.”
This name means “crooked nose.” The name derives from the Scottish surname “Cameron,” from a Scottish Clan “Clan Cameron.” In the Scottish Highlands, the surname is thought to be derived from the Gaelic “cam sròn,” meaning “crooked nose”; in the Scottish Lowlands, the name is believed to be derived from a form of Norman baronial name from Cambernon, in Normandy. Cambernon is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. The English-language surname can be rendered into Scottish Gaelic as Camarran (masculine), Chamarran (feminine), or as Camshron (masculine) and Chamshron (feminine).
A male given name transferred from the surname. The name comes from the Scottish (Gaelic) river, running through Glasgow, which in turn comes from the Gaelic “caol abhainn” (narrow water).
This name means “crooked nose.” The name derives from the Scottish surname “Cameron,” from a Scottish Clan “Clan Cameron.” In the Scottish Highlands, the surname is thought to be derived from the Gaelic “cam sròn,” meaning “crooked nose”; in the Scottish Lowlands, the name is believed to be derived from a form of Norman baronial name from Cambernon, in Normandy. Cambernon is a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France. The English-language surname can be rendered into Scottish Gaelic as Camarran (masculine), Chamarran (feminine), or as Camshron (masculine) and Chamshron (feminine).
The given name Logan derives from the Scottish surname “Logan,” which, in turn, derives from a place name. This surname’s likely origin is a place near Auchinleck (Scottish Gaelic: Achadh nan Leac), in Ayrshire, Scotland. The place-name derives from the Gaelic “lagan,” which is a diminutive of “lag,” which in turn means “hollow.” Males and females bear the given name.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: The name “Rona” may come from “hraun-øy,” Old Norse for “rough island,” a combination of “ròn” plus “øy,” Gaelic and Old Norse for “seal” and “island” respectively, or it may have been named after Saint Ronan. The English language qualifier “North” is sometimes used to distinguish the island from Rona off Skye.
This name means “kernel of a nut or seed,” but it may also be related to Aidan, meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithne’s. One 6th-century St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba. Before the birth of her son, an angel appeared to her, displaying a beautifully colored cloak covered with beautiful flowers. When she reached for the mantle, it rose into the air, and spreading out, floated over land and sea until it seemed to rest upon the hills of a distant land. This vision foretold that her little son was to travel over the waters and win high distinction and honor.
Initially recorded as “Buschebi” in the Domesday Book of 1086, This name derives from the Old Norse “buskibýr” composed of two elements: “buski” (Wood woodland) plus “býr” (farmhouse, farmstead). Finally, the name means “from the farmhouse of the woods.” Busby is also the English name for the Hungarian “prémes csákó” or “kucsma,” a military head-dress made of fur, worn initially by Hungarian hussars.
This name means “kernel of a nut or seed,” but it may also be related to Aidan, meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithne’s. One 6th-century St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba. Before the birth of her son, an angel appeared to her, displaying a beautifully colored cloak covered with beautiful flowers. When she reached for the mantle, it rose into the air, and spreading out, floated over land and sea until it seemed to rest upon the hills of a distant land. This vision foretold that her little son was to travel over the waters and win high distinction and honor.
Lyne is a variant form of Lynn and Lynnie, a pet form of Linda. It is of Germanic and Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the following roots: (LINþIA > LINDI) and (LINNE > LLYN).
Cady is a diminutive of Catherine and Cadence. It is of Latin, Irish, Scottish (Gaelic) and Greek origin and comes from the following roots: (CADENCE) (MAC CADÁIN) and (AIKATERĪ́NĒ).
This name may be an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic “O’ Cathain”, meaning “descendant of Cathan,” a personal name from the diminutive “Cath,” meaning “battle.” 2) It may be a nickname for a brave or proud person deriving from the Middle English “kene,” Old English pre 7th Century “cene.” 3) The name could derive from the Middle English given name “Kene”, a short form of any of the various old English pre 7th Century personal names with the first element “cene / cyne,” meaning “royal”, linked to “Cyning,” meaning “chieftain, king”.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “buidh”, meaning “fair, yellow, owner’s blonde hair color”. 1) Clan Boyd is a Scottish clan and is recognized as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The chief of the clan was raised in the Peearge under the title Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock by James II of Scotland. On the death of that king, Robert Boyd, 1st Lord Boyd, was appointed as one of the regents to the young James III of Scotland. 2) Boyd is a Scottish surname. It originated from a habitational name from the island of Bute, located in the Firth of Clyde. The surname was widespread in Edinburgh in the 17th-century. The Scottish Gaelic form of the surname is Boid (masculine), and Bhoid (feminine).
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish (Gaelic) “Gleann,” meaning “(from the) valley” the name also refers to “Glynn,” a small village and civil parish in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Besides, “Glen” is a Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. In Sweden, Glenn is a popular first name in the western parts of the country, but especially Gothenburg, originally due to a large and influential population of emigrated Scotsmen, especially in the city’s early centuries.
Lenn is a short form of Lennox, Leonard, Lennard, and Lennon. The name is of Scottish (Gaelic), Germanic and Irish origin and comes from the following roots: (LEVEN-ACH) (LEONHARD) (Ó LEANNÁIN) and (Ó LEANNÁIN).
This name may be an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic “O’ Cathain”, meaning “descendant of Cathan,” a personal name from the diminutive “Cath,” meaning “battle.” 2) It may be a nickname for a brave or proud person deriving from the Middle English “kene,” Old English pre 7th Century “cene.” 3) The name could derive from the Middle English given name “Kene”, a short form of any of the various old English pre 7th Century personal names with the first element “cene / cyne,” meaning “royal”, linked to “Cyning,” meaning “chieftain, king”.
This given name originates from the Scottish surname Gordon. The origin of this surname is debated. While it is considered to be derived from a place name, it is not sure that Gordon's place name, in Berwickshire, Scotland, is the origin of the surname. Berwickshire was once the home of Clan Gordon, and the earliest member of the family on record is Richer de Gordun, who was lord of Gordon's barony in the mid 12th century. The given name is thought to have been used in honor of Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833–1885), who was killed at Khartoum.
This name derives from the English “cadence” meaning, “rhythm, flow,” from the Middle French “cadence,” from the Italian “cadenza,” which in turn derives from the Latin “cadentia > cădĕre > cădo,” meaning “fall, get off, drop.” It has risen in popularity in the United States, where it ranked at no. 214 in popularity for baby girls in 2006, having jumped 745 places up the chart since 2002 when it was ranked at No. 959. It peaked in 2007 when it reached no. 199. This name is also linked to the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), in turn from the Old Irish “cath” from the Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “dubh ghlas,” composed of two elements: “dubh” (dark, black) and “ghlas” (stream, river). The name means “black stream, one who comes from the dark river.” It is a male given name transferred from the surname. Douglas is a Scottish masculine given name that originated from the surname Douglas. Although today the name is almost exclusively given to boys, it was used as a girl’s name in the 17th and 18th-centuries, in the north of England. The Douglases are an Ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking their name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire; their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian, Moray in France, and Sweden. The Douglases were one of Scotland’s most powerful families, and indeed the most prominent family in lowland Scotland during the Late Middle Ages, often holding the real power behind the Stewart Kings’ throne.
The surname “Scott” and its variants, as opposed to its earlier unrelated usage, first appear in the 12th-century and derive from the Anglo-Scottish border and its medieval border clans. Scott is an ethnic or geographical name signifying a native from Scotland or a person who spoke Gaelic, derived from the Old English “Scotti,” originally a generic name given by the Romans to Gaelic raiders from Ireland.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish (Gaelic) “Gleann,” meaning “(from the) valley” the name also refers to “Glynn,” a small village and civil parish in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Besides, “Glen” is a Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. In Sweden, Glenn is a popular first name in the western parts of the country, but especially Gothenburg, originally due to a large and influential population of emigrated Scotsmen, especially in the city’s early centuries.
This name derives from the ancient Anglo-Scottish surname, probably of Norman-French origin. The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) From the Welsh Brythonic “Rhos,” meaning “moor or moorland.” 2) From the Old High German “ros / hros,” meaning “horse.” 3) The name may be of Old English origin, from any of the various places called Ross in Herefordshire, Northumberland, or Ross's region in Northern Scotland, Roos in the East Riding of Yorkshire, and Roose in the county of Lancashire. Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross. The first recorded chief of the Clan Ross was “Fearcher Mac an t' sagirt,” which in English meant “son of the priest,” alluding to his O'Beolan descent from the hereditary Abbots of Applecross.
This name derives from a Scottish surname “Irvine,” meaning “green water,” from the river Irvine in Dumfriesshire. The name, in turn, is composed of two Celtic elements: “ir” (green, fresh) plus “afon” (river, water). However, wherever found, the surname can also be a developed form of the Old English pre 7th century given name “Irwyn,” originally composed of the elements “eofor,” meaning “wild boar,” and “wine,” meaning “a friend.” Clan Irvine is a lowland Scottish clan. Sometime between 1124 and 1125, Gilchrist, son of Erwini, witnessed a charter of the Lords of Galloway. The first lands by the name of Irvine were in Dumfriesshire. According to family tradition, the clan chief’s family’s origin is connected with the early Celtic monarchs of Scotland.
This name derives from a Scottish toponym of unknown origin, probably from the old Celtic “loverno,” meaning “fox.” Lovern, in Celtic mythology, was a 1st-century Druid healer, called “the fox.” R.D. Blackmore invented the name Lorna or Lornah for his novel “Lorna Doone,” from the Scottish place name Lorn(e) in Argyll. Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata who may have lived in the 5th-century.
Lynn is a diminutive of Lynnie and a short form of Linda. It is of Germanic and Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the following roots: (LINþIA > LINDI) and (LINNE > LLYN).
This name derives from the Scottish place name “Islay,” from Old Celtic “*ili,” meaning “swelling island,” but probably pre-Celtic or Old Norse. Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island and the seventh-largest island surrounding Great Britain, with a total area of almost 620 square kilometers (239 sq mi).
This name derives from the Scottish and Irish (Gaelic) “beatha” (Welsh: bywyd), which in turn derives from the Proto-Celtic “*bivo-tūts,” meaning “life.” Saint Beanus was a bishop in Leinster, one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland.
This name means “kernel of a nut or seed,” but it may also be related to Aidan, meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithne’s. One 6th-century St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba. Before the birth of her son, an angel appeared to her, displaying a beautifully colored cloak covered with beautiful flowers. When she reached for the mantle, it rose into the air, and spreading out, floated over land and sea until it seemed to rest upon the hills of a distant land. This vision foretold that her little son was to travel over the waters and win high distinction and honor.
This name means “kernel of a nut or seed,” but it may also be related to Aidan, meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithne’s. One 6th-century St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba. Before the birth of her son, an angel appeared to her, displaying a beautifully colored cloak covered with beautiful flowers. When she reached for the mantle, it rose into the air, and spreading out, floated over land and sea until it seemed to rest upon the hills of a distant land. This vision foretold that her little son was to travel over the waters and win high distinction and honor.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “Dubhghall,” composed of two elements: “dubh,” meaning (dark, black) and “gall,” meaning (stranger). The name means “Dark foreigner.” Dubgaill and Finngaill, Middle Irish terms used to denote different rival groups of Vikings in Ireland and Britain. Dub-Finngaill is translated as “dark and fair foreigners” or “black and white foreigners.” Similar terms are found in Welsh chronicles, probably derived from Gaelic usage. The first known use of these terms in the chronicles is from 851 when it is noted that “The Dubhghoill arrived in Ath Cliath (Dublin), and made a great slaughter of the Finnghoill.” The word Gaill (plural of Gall) etymologically originates from “Gauls,” who in pre-Viking Gaelic history were the archetypal “foreigners.”
new Ireland
This given name originates from the Scottish surname Gordon. The origin of this surname is debated. While it is considered to be derived from a place name, it is not sure that Gordon's place name, in Berwickshire, Scotland, is the origin of the surname. Berwickshire was once the home of Clan Gordon, and the earliest member of the family on record is Richer de Gordun, who was lord of Gordon's barony in the mid 12th century. The given name is thought to have been used in honor of Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833–1885), who was killed at Khartoum.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
This name is of Scottish locational origin from a place called “Carnie” near Skene in Aberdeenshire. The name derives from the Scots “cairn”, from the Scottish Gaelic “carn”, meaning “a cairn, or pile of stone erected as a memorial or marker”.
This name means “kernel of a nut or seed,” but it may also be related to Aidan, meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithne’s. One 6th-century St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba. Before the birth of her son, an angel appeared to her, displaying a beautifully colored cloak covered with beautiful flowers. When she reached for the mantle, it rose into the air, and spreading out, floated over land and sea until it seemed to rest upon the hills of a distant land. This vision foretold that her little son was to travel over the waters and win high distinction and honor.
This name derives from the Irish (Gaelic) “Lochlann” (Norrænt, Norðurlöndin), meaning “one who dwells at the fjord-land.” It was the Irish term for invaders from Scandinavia. Lochlann is a geographical region in Classical Gaelic literature and the history of Early Medieval Ireland. The modern Gaelic and Welsh (Llychlyn) languages signify Scandinavia, and more specifically, Norway. In Irish Gaelic, the adjectival noun “Lochlannach” (person belonging to Lochlann) has the additional sense of “raider,” specifically, Vikings. It was the Gaeilge name for Scandinavia but was adopted as a personal name. It may have been initially Mac Lochlainne, meaning “son of Scandinavia.” Muircheartach Mac Lochlainn was king of the Cenél nEógain, Tyrone, and High King of Ireland from around 1156 until he died in 1166. He succeeded Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair, who died in 1156.
This name derives from the Goidelic “leas celyn,” a place name in Aberdeenshire, originally Lesslyn, meaning “garden of hollies.” From the Scottish (Gaelic) surname derives a male given name, popular in the United Kingdom during the first half of the 20th-century. Later began the use also as a feminine form, widespread both in America and in Scotland.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish (Gaelic) “Gleann,” meaning “(from the) valley” the name also refers to “Glynn,” a small village and civil parish in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Besides, “Glen” is a Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. In Sweden, Glenn is a popular first name in the western parts of the country, but especially Gothenburg, originally due to a large and influential population of emigrated Scotsmen, especially in the city’s early centuries.
Blair is an English language name of Scottish Gaelic origin. The surname is derived from any of the numerous places in Scotland named Blair. These place names are derived from the Scottish Gaelic “blàr”, meaning "plain" and "field". The given name Blair is derived from the surname.
This name derives from the river Clyde (in Scottish Gaelic: Abhainn Chluaidh), a river to Scotland's west. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom and the third-longest in Scotland. Crossing Glasgow's principal city, it was an important river for naval construction and trade in the British Empire. Clud is a goddess, a patron deity of Clyde (Brythonic *clōta), both river and regional. The name of the goddess is related to the Irish deity Clothra, one of the four daughters of Eochad Feidlech and Medb's sister. Clōta / Clutida seems to be a Mother Goddess and the divine source of a sacred river.
The surname “Scott” and its variants, as opposed to its earlier unrelated usage, first appear in the 12th-century and derive from the Anglo-Scottish border and its medieval border clans. Scott is an ethnic or geographical name signifying a native from Scotland or a person who spoke Gaelic, derived from the Old English “Scotti,” originally a generic name given by the Romans to Gaelic raiders from Ireland.
Various meanings to the name Brodie and Brody have been advanced, but given the Brodies uncertain origin, and the varying ways Brodie has been pronounced/written, these remain but suppositions. Some of the suggestions that have been advanced as to the meaning of the name Brodie and Brody are: 1) From the Gaelic “brodie”, meaning “ditch, a little ridge, a brow, a precipice”. 2) From the old Irish word “broth”, meaning “ditch, mire”. 3) From the Gaelic word “brothach”, meaning “muddy place”. 4) From the Gaelic word “brodha”, meaning “muddy place”. Clan Brodie is a Scottish clan whose origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie chiefs were the Thanes of Brodie and Dyke in Morayshire. The Brodies were present in several clan conflicts, and during the civil war were ardent covenanters. They resisted involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, and the chief's family later prospered under the British Empire in colonial India.
This name comes from a Scottish surname derived from a Brythonic place named Ceiteach, meaning “wood, forest, a battleground.” The surname Keith has several origins. In some cases, it derives from Keith in East Lothian, Scotland. The surname was carried by a long-standing Scottish noble family and is used as a name since the nineteenth century. Keith was the 298th most common name given to newborn boys in the United States in 2007.
This name is of Scottish locational origin from a place called “Carnie” near Skene in Aberdeenshire. The name derives from the Scots “cairn”, from the Scottish Gaelic “carn”, meaning “a cairn, or pile of stone erected as a memorial or marker”.
This name derives from a Scottish toponym of unknown origin, probably from the old Celtic “loverno,” meaning “fox.” Lovern, in Celtic mythology, was a 1st-century Druid healer, called “the fox.” R.D. Blackmore invented the name Lorna or Lornah for his novel “Lorna Doone,” from the Scottish place name Lorn(e) in Argyll. Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata who may have lived in the 5th-century.
It is a male given name transferred from a Scottish locational surname, from any of the various places thus called, including Craig in North East Forfarshire, and Craig in South Ayrshire. The name derives from the Old Gaelic “creag,” meaning “rock,” a word that has been borrowed in Middle English as “crag.” In some instances, the name may be topographical, from residence by steep or precipitous rock. According to the United States Social Security card applications in 1960, Craig’s name ranked 42th out of the top 100 names chosen by parents for their baby boys.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
Initially recorded as “Buschebi” in the Domesday Book of 1086, This name derives from the Old Norse “buskibýr” composed of two elements: “buski” (Wood woodland) plus “býr” (farmhouse, farmstead). Finally, the name means “from the farmhouse of the woods.” Busby is also the English name for the Hungarian “prémes csákó” or “kucsma,” a military head-dress made of fur, worn initially by Hungarian hussars.
This name derives from the Goidelic “leas celyn,” a place name in Aberdeenshire, originally Lesslyn, meaning “garden of hollies.” From the Scottish (Gaelic) surname derives a male given name, popular in the United Kingdom during the first half of the 20th-century. Later began the use also as a feminine form, widespread both in America and in Scotland.
The origin of this name is still quite uncertain today. The theories include: The name “Rona” may come from “hraun-øy,” Old Norse for “rough island,” a combination of “ròn” plus “øy,” Gaelic and Old Norse for “seal” and “island” respectively, or it may have been named after Saint Ronan. The English language qualifier “North” is sometimes used to distinguish the island from Rona off Skye.
This name is a diminutive of Linda and a variant of Lynn. It is of Germanic and Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the following roots: (LINþIA > LINDI) and (LINNE > LLYN).
This name derives from the Scottish place name “Islay,” from Old Celtic “*ili,” meaning “swelling island,” but probably pre-Celtic or Old Norse. Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Islay is the fifth-largest Scottish island and the seventh-largest island surrounding Great Britain, with a total area of almost 620 square kilometers (239 sq mi).
This name derives from a Scottish toponym of unknown origin, probably from the old Celtic “loverno,” meaning “fox.” Lovern, in Celtic mythology, was a 1st-century Druid healer, called “the fox.” R.D. Blackmore invented the name Lorna or Lornah for his novel “Lorna Doone,” from the Scottish place name Lorn(e) in Argyll. Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata who may have lived in the 5th-century.
This name derives from a Scottish toponym of unknown origin, probably from the old Celtic “loverno,” meaning “fox.” Lovern, in Celtic mythology, was a 1st-century Druid healer, called “the fox.” R.D. Blackmore invented the name Lorna or Lornah for his novel “Lorna Doone,” from the Scottish place name Lorn(e) in Argyll. Loarn mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata who may have lived in the 5th-century.
This name derives from the Scottish and Irish (Gaelic) “beatha” (Welsh: bywyd), which in turn derives from the Proto-Celtic “*bivo-tūts,” meaning “life.” Saint Beanus was a bishop in Leinster, one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
son of the poet
According to the clan’s various histories, there is a legend that the original name holders came from Ireland in the 12th-century. The surname certainly appears to be Gaelic and could derive from the name “Maolruadh.” This name is composed of two elements: “maol” (bald) plus “ruadh” (red, brown). In turn, the name means “the red-haired tonsured one.” However, in Scotland, there is also a different claim that it derives From a Scottish surname meaning “from the Roe’s mouth.” The Roe is a river in Ireland. The surname’s two famous bearers were American president James Monroe (1758–1831) and American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962).
This name is a diminutive of Linda and a variant of Lynn. It is of Germanic and Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the following roots: (LINþIA > LINDI) and (LINNE > LLYN).
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “leamhan ach > Leven-ach,” meaning “of the elm, lives near the place abounding in elm trees.” The Clan Lennox is a Lowland Scottish clan. The ancient earldom of Lennox once covered the whole of Dumbartonshire, as well as large parts of Perthshire, Renfrewshire, and Stirlingshire. In Scottish Gaelic, Leven-ach means a smooth stream. The ancient Celtic Mormaers of Levenax became the Earls of Lennox.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish (Gaelic) “Gleann,” meaning “(from the) valley” the name also refers to “Glynn,” a small village and civil parish in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Besides, “Glen” is a Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. In Sweden, Glenn is a popular first name in the western parts of the country, but especially Gothenburg, originally due to a large and influential population of emigrated Scotsmen, especially in the city’s early centuries.
This name may be an Anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic “O’ Cathain”, meaning “descendant of Cathan,” a personal name from the diminutive “Cath,” meaning “battle.” 2) It may be a nickname for a brave or proud person deriving from the Middle English “kene,” Old English pre 7th Century “cene.” 3) The name could derive from the Middle English given name “Kene”, a short form of any of the various old English pre 7th Century personal names with the first element “cene / cyne,” meaning “royal”, linked to “Cyning,” meaning “chieftain, king”.
This given name originates from the Scottish surname Gordon. The origin of this surname is debated. While it is considered to be derived from a place name, it is not sure that Gordon's place name, in Berwickshire, Scotland, is the origin of the surname. Berwickshire was once the home of Clan Gordon, and the earliest member of the family on record is Richer de Gordun, who was lord of Gordon's barony in the mid 12th century. The given name is thought to have been used in honor of Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833–1885), who was killed at Khartoum.
Deedee is a diminutive form of Dee, Deirdre, and Diana. The name is of Latin, Greek, and Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the following roots: (DŌROTHÉA) (DĒLĬCĬA) (DERDRIU) and (DIANA).
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “Dubhghall,” composed of two elements: “dubh,” meaning (dark, black) and “gall,” meaning (stranger). The name means “Dark foreigner.” Dubgaill and Finngaill, Middle Irish terms used to denote different rival groups of Vikings in Ireland and Britain. Dub-Finngaill is translated as “dark and fair foreigners” or “black and white foreigners.” Similar terms are found in Welsh chronicles, probably derived from Gaelic usage. The first known use of these terms in the chronicles is from 851 when it is noted that “The Dubhghoill arrived in Ath Cliath (Dublin), and made a great slaughter of the Finnghoill.” The word Gaill (plural of Gall) etymologically originates from “Gauls,” who in pre-Viking Gaelic history were the archetypal “foreigners.”
This given name originates from the Scottish surname Gordon. The origin of this surname is debated. While it is considered to be derived from a place name, it is not sure that Gordon's place name, in Berwickshire, Scotland, is the origin of the surname. Berwickshire was once the home of Clan Gordon, and the earliest member of the family on record is Richer de Gordun, who was lord of Gordon's barony in the mid 12th century. The given name is thought to have been used in honor of Major-General Charles George Gordon (1833–1885), who was killed at Khartoum.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish (Gaelic) “Gleann,” meaning “(from the) valley” the name also refers to “Glynn,” a small village and civil parish in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Besides, “Glen” is a Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. In Sweden, Glenn is a popular first name in the western parts of the country, but especially Gothenburg, originally due to a large and influential population of emigrated Scotsmen, especially in the city’s early centuries.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “Dubhghall,” composed of two elements: “dubh,” meaning (dark, black) and “gall,” meaning (stranger). The name means “Dark foreigner.” Dubgaill and Finngaill, Middle Irish terms used to denote different rival groups of Vikings in Ireland and Britain. Dub-Finngaill is translated as “dark and fair foreigners” or “black and white foreigners.” Similar terms are found in Welsh chronicles, probably derived from Gaelic usage. The first known use of these terms in the chronicles is from 851 when it is noted that “The Dubhghoill arrived in Ath Cliath (Dublin), and made a great slaughter of the Finnghoill.” The word Gaill (plural of Gall) etymologically originates from “Gauls,” who in pre-Viking Gaelic history were the archetypal “foreigners.”
This name derives from a Scottish surname “Irvine,” meaning “green water,” from the river Irvine in Dumfriesshire. The name, in turn, is composed of two Celtic elements: “ir” (green, fresh) plus “afon” (river, water). However, wherever found, the surname can also be a developed form of the Old English pre 7th century given name “Irwyn,” originally composed of the elements “eofor,” meaning “wild boar,” and “wine,” meaning “a friend.” Clan Irvine is a lowland Scottish clan. Sometime between 1124 and 1125, Gilchrist, son of Erwini, witnessed a charter of the Lords of Galloway. The first lands by the name of Irvine were in Dumfriesshire. According to family tradition, the clan chief’s family’s origin is connected with the early Celtic monarchs of Scotland.
This name is a diminutive of Eluned and Luned. It is of Welsh and Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the roots: (eilun) plus (linne > llyn). In modern times it is also regarded as a diminutive of Lynn. Saint Eluned (Welsh: Eiliwedd) was a 5th or 6th-century virgin martyr from modern Brecon. The Catholic Encyclopedia (1909) calls her “the Luned of the Mabinogion and the Lynette of Tennyson’s Gareth and Lynette.” Her small chapel and holy well at what is now Slwch Tump were destroyed during the English Reformation.
This name derives from a Scottish surname “Irvine,” meaning “green water,” from the river Irvine in Dumfriesshire. The name, in turn, is composed of two Celtic elements: “ir” (green, fresh) plus “afon” (river, water). However, wherever found, the surname can also be a developed form of the Old English pre 7th century given name “Irwyn,” originally composed of the elements “eofor,” meaning “wild boar,” and “wine,” meaning “a friend.” Clan Irvine is a lowland Scottish clan. Sometime between 1124 and 1125, Gilchrist, son of Erwini, witnessed a charter of the Lords of Galloway. The first lands by the name of Irvine were in Dumfriesshire. According to family tradition, the clan chief’s family’s origin is connected with the early Celtic monarchs of Scotland.
This name is of Scottish locational origin from a place called “Carnie” near Skene in Aberdeenshire. The name derives from the Scots “cairn”, from the Scottish Gaelic “carn”, meaning “a cairn, or pile of stone erected as a memorial or marker”.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
Various meanings to the name Brodie and Brody have been advanced, but given the Brodies uncertain origin, and the varying ways Brodie has been pronounced/written, these remain but suppositions. Some of the suggestions that have been advanced as to the meaning of the name Brodie and Brody are: 1) From the Gaelic “brodie”, meaning “ditch, a little ridge, a brow, a precipice”. 2) From the old Irish word “broth”, meaning “ditch, mire”. 3) From the Gaelic word “brothach”, meaning “muddy place”. 4) From the Gaelic word “brodha”, meaning “muddy place”. Clan Brodie is a Scottish clan whose origins are uncertain. The first known Brodie chiefs were the Thanes of Brodie and Dyke in Morayshire. The Brodies were present in several clan conflicts, and during the civil war were ardent covenanters. They resisted involvement in the Jacobite uprisings, and the chief's family later prospered under the British Empire in colonial India.
This name could be derived from two roots, and the hypotheses includes: From a Scottish surname “Irvine,” meaning “green water,” from the river Irvine in Dumfriesshire. The name, in turn, is composed of two Celtic elements: “ir” (green, fresh) plus “afon” (water). The name is also linked to the name “Irving,” from the Old English name “Eoforwine,” composed of two elements: “eofor” (wild boar) plus “wine” (friend). Érimón, (modern spelling: Éiremhón) son of Míl Espáine (and great-grandson of Breoghan, king of Celtic Galicia), according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions, was one of the chieftains who took part in the Milesian invasion of Ireland, which conquered the island from the Tuatha Dé Danann, and one of the first Milesian high kings.
Dougie is a diminutive of Douglas and Dougal. The name is of Scottish (Gaelic) origin and comes from the following roots: (DUBH GHLAS) and (DUBH GALL).
According to the clan’s various histories, there is a legend that the original name holders came from Ireland in the 12th-century. The surname certainly appears to be Gaelic and could derive from the name “Maolruadh.” This name is composed of two elements: “maol” (bald) plus “ruadh” (red, brown). In turn, the name means “the red-haired tonsured one.” However, in Scotland, there is also a different claim that it derives From a Scottish surname meaning “from the Roe’s mouth.” The Roe is a river in Ireland. The surname’s two famous bearers were American president James Monroe (1758–1831) and American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962).
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “dubh ghlas,” composed of two elements: “dubh” (dark, black) and “ghlas” (stream, river). The name means “black stream, one who comes from the dark river.” It is a male given name transferred from the surname. Douglas is a Scottish masculine given name that originated from the surname Douglas. Although today the name is almost exclusively given to boys, it was used as a girl’s name in the 17th and 18th-centuries, in the north of England. The Douglases are an Ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking their name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire; their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian, Moray in France, and Sweden. The Douglases were one of Scotland’s most powerful families, and indeed the most prominent family in lowland Scotland during the Late Middle Ages, often holding the real power behind the Stewart Kings’ throne.
This name probably means “strawberry flowers” or “of the forest men.” The Clan Fraser (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Frisealach, French: Clan Fraiser) is a Scottish clan of French origin. The Frasers are believed to have come from Anjou in France. The name Fraser may be derived from Freseau (Old French: Frézelière). Another suggestion is that the Frasers were a tribe in Roman Gaul, whose badge was a strawberry plant (French: fraisier). The first Fraser to appear in Scotland was in about 1160 when Simon Fraser held lands at Keith in East Lothian. The exact origin of the surname “Fraser” cannot be determined with any great certainty, although there is little doubt that it came from France.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish (Gaelic) “Gleann,” meaning “(from the) valley” the name also refers to “Glynn,” a small village and civil parish in the Larne Borough Council area of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Besides, “Glen” is a Scottish habitational surname for someone who lives in a valley. In Sweden, Glenn is a popular first name in the western parts of the country, but especially Gothenburg, originally due to a large and influential population of emigrated Scotsmen, especially in the city’s early centuries.
This name could be derived from two roots, and the hypotheses includes: From a Scottish surname “Irvine,” meaning “green water,” from the river Irvine in Dumfriesshire. The name, in turn, is composed of two Celtic elements: “ir” (green, fresh) plus “afon” (water). The name is also linked to the name “Irving,” from the Old English name “Eoforwine,” composed of two elements: “eofor” (wild boar) plus “wine” (friend). Érimón, (modern spelling: Éiremhón) son of Míl Espáine (and great-grandson of Breoghan, king of Celtic Galicia), according to medieval Irish legends and historical traditions, was one of the chieftains who took part in the Milesian invasion of Ireland, which conquered the island from the Tuatha Dé Danann, and one of the first Milesian high kings.
This name means “kernel of a nut or seed,” but it may also be related to Aidan, meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithne’s. One 6th-century St. Eithne was the mother of St. Columba. Before the birth of her son, an angel appeared to her, displaying a beautifully colored cloak covered with beautiful flowers. When she reached for the mantle, it rose into the air, and spreading out, floated over land and sea until it seemed to rest upon the hills of a distant land. This vision foretold that her little son was to travel over the waters and win high distinction and honor.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “donn cath / donn chadh > Donnchadh,” meaning “brown warrior, dark warrior, dark head, brown-haired man.” Donnchadh mac Crìonain (Duncan I), “the Diseased, the Sick” was king of Scotland (Alba) from 1034 to 1040. He was the son of Crínán, hereditary lay abbot of Dunkeld, and Bethoc, daughter of King Malcolm II of Scotland (Máel Coluim mac Cináeda). Duncan MacLeod is a fictional character from the Highlander multiverse. Duncan MacLeod is An Immortal character portrayed by British actor Adrian Paul.
This name derives from the Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname “Mac Cadáin” (son of Cadán), which in turn derives from the Old Irish “cath,” from Proto-Celtic “*katus,” meaning “battle.” Caden is a given name popular in the United States and Canada in recent years. It is used for both boys and girls but is currently most popular for boys. Its popularity is also increased by the popularity of similar-sounding names such as Aidan, Braden, Hayden, and Jaden.
This name derives from the Scottish (Gaelic) “buidh”, meaning “fair, yellow, owner’s blonde hair color”. 1) Clan Boyd is a Scottish clan and is recognized as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The chief of the clan was raised in the Peearge under the title Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock by James II of Scotland. On the death of that king, Robert Boyd, 1st Lord Boyd, was appointed as one of the regents to the young James III of Scotland. 2) Boyd is a Scottish surname. It originated from a habitational name from the island of Bute, located in the Firth of Clyde. The surname was widespread in Edinburgh in the 17th-century. The Scottish Gaelic form of the surname is Boid (masculine), and Bhoid (feminine).
Scottish (Gaelic) names developed within the Scottish (Gaelic) language tradition. The naming traditions from regions where Scottish (Gaelic) is spoken have evolved over centuries, shaped by migration, trade, religion, and cultural exchange. Today's Scottish (Gaelic) names carry this history.
Scottish (Gaelic) naming traditions reflect the values and beliefs of regions where Scottish (Gaelic) is spoken. Names served multiple purposes: identifying individuals, honoring ancestors, expressing hopes for a child's future, and marking religious or cultural affiliation. These functions shaped which names became popular and how they were used.
Today, Scottish (Gaelic) names appear far beyond regions where Scottish (Gaelic) is spoken. Immigration, global media, and cultural exchange have made many Scottish (Gaelic) names familiar worldwide. Parents choose these names to honor heritage, appreciate their meanings, or simply because they like how they sound. The 236 names in this collection range from ancient choices still popular today to names that have fallen out of use but retain historical interest.
Scottish (Gaelic) naming traditions have developed their own patterns and preferences. Names may honor family members, reflect religious beliefs, describe hoped-for qualities, or commemorate significant events. These patterns explain which names stayed popular.
These traditional patterns still matter, but modern parents also mix things up. Some combine traditional and contemporary elements, pick names from other cultures, or create unique variations of classic names.
This collection breaks down to 59% masculine names (140) and 34% feminine names (81). About 6% (15) work as gender-neutral or unisex options.
Scottish (Gaelic) names follow the phonetic rules of their language of origin. English speakers may need to adjust their pronunciation for sounds that don't exist in English. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide to help.
When in doubt about pronunciation, listening to native speakers helps more than reading transliterations. Each name page has a pronunciation guide. If you're considering a Scottish (Gaelic) name for your child, say it out loud and think about how others in your community will pronounce it.
Our collection includes 236 Scottish (Gaelic) names. While some are common choices, others are rare finds that could give a child a distinctive name with authentic cultural roots.
Scottish (Gaelic) names for boys outnumber those for girls at roughly 1.7:1 in our database. This reflects historical naming patterns, though modern naming trends are shifting.
Current naming trends show renewed interest in heritage names, with parents seeking meaningful connections to cultural roots. Some Scottish (Gaelic) names have crossed over to mainstream use, while others remain specific to Scottish (Gaelic)-speaking communities.
Popular Scottish (Gaelic) names for boys include Logan, Skye, Laird, Carson, Camryn. Our database contains 140 Scottish (Gaelic) names traditionally given to boys, ranging from classic choices to unique options.
Our collection includes 81 Scottish (Gaelic) names for girls. Popular choices blend traditional sounds with meaningful origins. Use the feminine tab to explore options organized by popularity.
Scottish (Gaelic) names carry meanings from the Scottish (Gaelic) language tradition. Common themes in Scottish (Gaelic) names include noble, nature, warrior, new. Each name in our database includes its specific meaning and cultural context.
Scottish (Gaelic) names follow the phonetic rules of their language. Each name page includes a pronunciation guide. When uncertain, listening to native speakers provides the most accurate reference.
This database contains 236 Scottish (Gaelic) names: 140 for boys and 81 for girls. This represents documented names that have been used historically or are in current use. The actual number of Scottish (Gaelic) names ever used is certainly higher.
Spelling difficulty depends on the specific name and your familiarity with Scottish (Gaelic) phonetics. Some Scottish (Gaelic) names have been adapted to English spelling conventions, making them straightforward. Others retain original spellings that may be unfamiliar. Consider how important easy spelling is to you when choosing a name.