Scottish Gaelic given names show distinct Gaelic phonology and spelling. Accented vowels mark length (à, è, ì, ò, ù). Common consonant letters reflect lenition and historical sounds: bh and mh often sound like v, while dh and gh can be weak or silent. Diminutive endings appear, especially -ag in feminine names and -an in masculine forms. Broad vs. slender vowels shape spelling around consonants, producing paired forms such as Calum and Chaluim in the vocative. Many names have Christian or medieval roots, including Gaelic forms of saints’ names, alongside Norse-influenced names in the Hebrides (for example Torcuil, Tormod, Somhairle).
Traditional surname patterns use Mac for men and Nic for women, with lenition of the following surname in Gaelic. Meanings frequently reference warfare, leadership, or the sea, as in Murchadh and Alasdair. Modern usage is mixed: Gaelic forms (Màiri, Iain, Seumas) coexist with Anglicized versions (Mary, John, James), and spellings often vary between Gaelic orthography and English-adapted forms.
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logan | Little hollow | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 117,851 #1 | |
| Cameron | Crooked (bent) nose | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 57,337 #2 | |
| Mackenzie | "Son of Coinneach" - son of the handsome/fair one | Scottish, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 22,611 #3 | |
| Kyle | Narrow, strait (channel) | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 13,024 #4 | |
| Callum | Dove | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 10,653 #5 | |
| Kameron | Crooked nose | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 10,482 #6 | |
| Mckenna | Originally 'son of Cionaodh' (Cionaodh linked to Aodh, 'fire') | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 9,941 #7 | |
| Malcolm | Devotee or follower of Saint Columba | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 9,503 #8 | |
| Camryn | Originally 'crooked nose' (also associated with place-name meanings like 'crooked river') | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 7,852 #9 | |
| Callan | Diminutive of Cathal - 'little battle' (battle-mighty) | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 7,651 #10 | |
| Makenna | Descendant of Cionaodh; often interpreted as 'born of fire' or 'child/beloved of Aodh'. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 7,463 #11 | |
| Sloan | Warrior/raider | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 5,234 #12 | |
| Donald | Ruler of the world | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 4,500 #13 | |
| Lachlan | From the land of lakes / land of the lochs (sometimes associated with 'Viking' or 'Norseman' in historical contexts) | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 3,921 #14 | |
| Campbell | Crooked mouth | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 3,836 #15 | |
| Kori | Variant of Corey meaning 'from the hollow' (Gaelic) or associated with Greek Kore 'maiden'; in Japanese forms can have different meanings depending on kanji. | English, Greek, Irish, Japanese, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 3,782 #16 | |
| Douglas | Dark stream or river (from Gaelic dubh 'dark' + glas 'stream, river') | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 3,419 #17 | |
| Ewen | Derived from Gaelic Eòghan/Eoghan; often given as "born of the yew (tree)" or interpreted as "youth/well-born" | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 3,227 #18 | |
| 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 #19 | |
| Finlay | Fair-haired hero / fair warrior | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 2,680 #20 | |
| Alistair | Defender of men | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 2,480 #21 | |
| Calum | Dove | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 2,427 #22 | |
| Duncan | From Gaelic elements meaning 'donn' (brown/dark or chief) + 'cath'/'chadh' (battle/warrior) - often rendered 'brown- or dark-haired warrior' or 'chieftain'. | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 2,385 #23 | |
| Ewan | Yew-born; 'born of the yew' (also associated with 'youth') | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 1,897 #24 | |
| Craig | Rock; crag | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 1,544 #25 | |
| 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 #26 | |
| Eilidh | Gaelic form of Helen; often interpreted as “light” or “torch.” | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 1,491 #27 | |
| Glenn | Valley; 'from the valley' | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 1,420 #28 | |
| Rori | Red king (from Gaelic ruadh 'red' + rí 'king'), often interpreted as 'red-haired king' | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 1,333 #29 | |
| Iona | From the Scottish island name Iona; possibly 'yew island' or simply 'island' (exact origin uncertain) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 1,185 #30 | |
| Alister | Defender of men | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 969 #31 | |
| Glen | Valley; 'from the valley' | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 737 #32 | |
| Cameryn | Crooked nose | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 582 #33 | |
| Cameran | From Gaelic cam 'crooked' + sròn 'nose' - 'crooked nose' (sometimes interpreted as 'crooked river' in place-name sources) | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 575 #34 | |
| Korie | From the hollow/cauldron; alternatively 'maiden' | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 558 #35 | |
| Allister | Defender of men | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 543 #36 | |
| Ken | 'handsome' (from Coinneach); alternatively associated with 'born of fire' (from Cináed) | English, Scottish, Scottish Gaelic, Vietnamese | Boy | 539 #37 | |
| Ruairidh | Red king (red-haired king) | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 518 #38 | |
| Kallum | Dove | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 490 #39 | |
| Kameryn | 'Crooked nose' (from Gaelic cam 'crooked' + sròn 'nose') | Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 454 #40 | |
| Alasdair | Defender of men / defender of mankind | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 428 #41 | |
| Corrie | Diminutive of Corinne/Cora: 'maiden' (Greek) or from Scottish Gaelic 'coire' meaning 'cauldron/hollow'. | Dutch, English, French, Greek, Latin, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 416 #42 | |
| Findlay | Fair-haired hero / fair warrior | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 405 #43 | |
| Islay | From the Scottish island of Islay - essentially an island name (exact etymology uncertain) | Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 387 #44 | |
| Tammy | Twin; date palm | Aramaic, English, Greek, Hebrew, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 366 #45 | |
| Lochlyn | From the land of lakes/lochs (originally from 'Lochlann', referring to lake/loch lands or Norse/Scandinavian lands) | Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 307 #46 | |
| Mairead | Pearl | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 295 #47 | |
| Aili | Varies by origin - commonly 'holy/blessed' (from Helga), 'light' (from Helen/Eilidh), or 'noble' (from Alice/Adela). | Finnish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 283 #48 | |
| Ness | Headland or promontory; also used as a short form of Vanessa | English, Irish, Norse, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 274 #49 | |
| Ailin | Diminutive of Gaelic 'Ail' meaning 'rock' - 'little rock'; also used as a feminine form related to Aileen/Eileen. | English, Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Spanish | Unisex | 267 #50 |
Aggregated births across United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany for every Scottish Gaelic-origin name in our dataset.
