Scottish Gaelic Girl Names
Scottish Gaelic female names come from the Gaelic language of Scotland, often adapted from Christian saints’ names and long-standing native forms. Common feminine morphology includes diminutives in -ag or -eag (as in Beathag) and endings in -a and -e. Spelling reflects Gaelic phonology, with lenition marked by h (bh, dh, gh) and grave accents for vowel quality. Many female forms correspond to international names: Catrìona/Caitir (Catherine), Aigneis (Agnes), Eilidh/Eilean/Aileana (Helen), Eilionoir (Eleanor), Cairine (Katherine), Christeinne (Christina).
Today, Scottish Gaelic girls’ names are used alongside Anglicized spellings, with Eilidh and Catrìona/Catriona among the best known, while historical names such as Dervorguilla and Beathag appear less frequently.
Showing 50
of 113 names
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makenna | Descendant of Cionaodh; often interpreted as 'born of fire' or 'child/beloved of Aodh'. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 7,463 #1 | |
| Aila | Multiple origins - in Finnish/Scandinavian linked to Helga meaning "holy, blessed"; in Scottish/ Gaelic related to Eileen/Isla; in Hebrew (Eilah) "oak"; in Turkish (Aylā/Ayla) "halo of the moon". | Finnish, Hebrew, Norse, Scandinavian, Scottish Gaelic, Turkish | Girl | 2,984 #2 | |
| Ailyn | Likely a modern variant of Eileen/Helen meaning "bright, shining light"; in Gaelic roots can be linked to "little rock" - meaning varies by origin. | English, Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 1,492 #3 | |
| Eilidh | Gaelic form of Helen; often interpreted as “light” or “torch.” | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 1,491 #4 | |
| Iona | From the Scottish island name Iona; possibly 'yew island' or simply 'island' (exact origin uncertain) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 1,185 #5 | |
| Islay | From the Scottish island of Islay - essentially an island name (exact etymology uncertain) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 387 #6 | |
| Tammy | Twin; date palm | Aramaic, English, Greek, Hebrew, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 366 #7 | |
| Mairead | Pearl | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 295 #8 | |
| Aili | Varies by origin - commonly 'holy/blessed' (from Helga), 'light' (from Helen/Eilidh), or 'noble' (from Alice/Adela). | Finnish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 283 #9 | |
| Muriel | Bright sea (from Irish muir 'sea' + geal 'bright') | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 240 #10 | |
| Eily | Diminutive/anglicized form of Irish Eibhlín or Scottish Eilidh; generally associated with 'bright, shining' or 'light' (linked to Helen). | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 185 #11 | |
| Mairi | From Mary/Miriam - commonly interpreted as 'bitter' or 'beloved' | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 139 #12 | |
| Sorcha | Brightness | Irish, Old Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 86 #13 | |
| Torrie | Victory | English, Latin, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 78 #14 | |
| Mairim | Gaelic form of Mary/Miriam. Meaning uncertain - traditionally linked to 'sea of bitterness', 'rebellion' or 'beloved'. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 56 #15 | |
| Ailia | Variant of Ailidh/Helen - 'light' or 'torch' (often interpreted as 'bright' or 'shining') | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 40 #16 | |
| Seona | God is gracious | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 39 #17 | |
| Aileana | Bright, shining; often associated with Eileen/Helen | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 33 #18 | |
| Morag | Diminutive of Gaelic Mòr, meaning "great" or "large" | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 28 #19 | |
| Marsaili | Pearl (derived from Margaret) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 20 #20 | |
| Peigi | Pearl | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 8 #21 | |
| Lashonda | God is gracious | English, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh | Girl | 5 #22 | |
| Aigneis | Pure; chaste; holy | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Ailayna | A modern variant often interpreted as 'precious' or 'beautiful' with associations of 'light' (from Elaine/Helen); sometimes rendered as 'precious light.' | English, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Airdsgainne | Etymology uncertain. Possibly contains the Gaelic element 'ard' (high/height); overall meaning is unclear. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Bairrfhoinn | Fair-haired; fair-headed | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Beathag | 'Little life' (from Gaelic beatha 'life' + diminutive suffix -ag) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Cairine | Little dark one; dark-haired | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Caith | Likely "pure" (by association with Catherine) | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Caitir | Pure | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Caitrínn | Pure | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Calumyna | Feminine form of Calum; 'dove' (little dove) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Camhlaidh | Derived from 'cam' meaning 'crooked' or 'bent' (possibly 'little crooked one' or a local Gaelic variant) | Irish (Gaelic), Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Caolabhuinn | From Gaelic elements caol 'slender, narrow' + bhinn 'melodious, sweet-sounding' - 'slender and melodious'. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Catrionah | Pure | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Catrionna | Pure | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Catrìona | Gaelic form of Katherine, commonly associated with the meaning "pure" | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Ceilidhe | Social gathering, traditional dance; literally 'visit' or 'gathering' | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Christeinne | Follower of Christ; Christian | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Coireall | Uncertain - possibly a Gaelic form/variant related to 'Coral' or to the name Cora; exact historical meaning not well documented | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Colinah | Likely a feminine form of Colin; meanings associated include 'young one' or 'whelp' (Gaelic), 'victory of the people' via Nicholas/Colin, or 'hill' from Spanish 'colina'. | English, Latin, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish | Girl | — | |
| Derorie | Most likely linked to Gaelic Rory meaning "red king" (as a feminized form); alternatively may be influenced by Dorie/Dorothy meaning "gift of God" - generally treated as a modern diminutive/variant. | English, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Dervorguilla | From Old Irish derb 'true' + forgaill 'foreigner/exile' - 'true foreigner' | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Dolaidh | No well-established meaning recorded. Possibly a Gaelic diminutive or local form related to 'Dolly' or adapted from names such as Dorothy ('gift of God') or Dolores, but this is uncertain. | Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Eairrsidh | Uncertain - no widely attested, agreed-upon meaning; may be a Gaelic adaptation of an older name or an Anglicized form, but exact meaning is unclear. | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Eilean | 'island' in Gaelic; also used as a Gaelic form/variant of Helen/Eileen (associated with 'light') | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Eileana | Light, torch; bright or shining one | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Eileane | Likely a variant of Eileen/Eilidh; generally associated with 'bright, shining' (from Helen/Helena) or linked to Gaelic 'island'. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Eili | Light, torch | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — | |
| Eilid | Gaelic form of Helen - 'light' or 'torch; shining one' | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | — |
Scottish Gaelic Girls name popularity over time
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Scottish Gaelic-origin name in our dataset.
113
Names in this origin
19
With data in 2024
1,630
Births 2024
3,525
Peak year 1964