Scottish Names: All Names from A-W
A B C D E F G H-I J K L M N O-P R S T U-W
The abbreviations in the "category" column are: A=anglicization Tr=translation of a foreign name, L=primarily a last name, P=place name, S=Scots name, T=traditional native Gaelic name
B
| Name | category | pronunciation | meaning | other forms & related names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babag; Babaidh (f) | Tr | BOB ik; BOB ee | dim. Of Barabal | Barb; Barbie |
| Baird | L | BAYRD | possibly, "a bard" | Mac a'Bhaird |
| Baodan (m) | T | BOO tun | A saint's name meaning, perhaps "vain; reckless, foolish" | - |
| Baoithein (m) | T | BOOY en | A saint's name of meaning, perhaps "vain; reckless, foolish." St. Baoithein was a cousin of St. Colum Cille (Columba) | Bothan |
| Barabal (f) | Tr | BAR uh bal | from Greek Barbara, meaning "stranger." | Barbara |
| Barclay | L | BAR klee | From the place name Berkeley in England | |
| Barra (m) | T | BAR ra | dim. of Barrfhionn ("fair head") | - |
| Bealag (f) | Tr | BEL ak | dim. of Iseabail, a form of Isobel (Elizabeth) | Bella, Iseabail |
| Bearach (m) | T | BEH ruch | spear; pointed weapon | - |
| Bearchan (m) | T | BER chan, BAR chan | dim. of Bearach | - |
| Beasag; Eilispidh (f) | Tr | BES ik; AY lus pee | dims. Of Ealasaid (Elizabeth) | Bessie, Betsy |
| Beatan (m) | T | BEH tan | A historical name belonging to a famed physician | - |
| Beathag (f) | T | BEH ak | "life" | Bethia, Sophia, Rebecca, Beatrice |
| Beathan (m) | T | BEH un | "life" | - |
| Beisdean (m) | T | BAES tchan | dim. of Gilleasbaig | Gillespie |
| Beitris (f) | Tr | BEE tu rish | from Latin Beatrice, meaning possibly "voyager through life" | |
| Bethia (f) | S/A | BETH ee a | A Hebrew name meaning "daughter of Jehovah." This name was used in Scotland as an anglicization of the Gaelic Beathag. Its similarity to Beathag also contributed to its use on its own, or as a pet form of Elizabeth. | Bathia, Elizabeth, Beathag |
| Bhàididh (m) | Tr | VAW jee | Dim. of Bhaltair | Wally |
| Bhaltair; Bhàtair; Bàtair (m) | Tr | VAL tar; VA tar; BA tar | Old German, ruler of people | Walter |
| Billean; Buillidh (m) | Tr | BIL yin; BOOL ee | Dim. of Uilleam (William) influenced by Bill(y) | Bill, Billy |
| Blair | L | BLARE | plain, field-- refers to a battlefield | blar |
| Blane (m) | S/A | BLAIN | yellow | Blan |
| Blàr (m) | T | BLAWR | plain, field-- refers to a battlefield | Blair |
| Blàthan (m) | T | BLAW un | The name of a 6th century saint. | Blane |
| Boisil (m) | T | BO shil | The name of a 7th century abbott. The name's origins are unknown. | Boswell |
| Bonnie (f) | S/A | BON nee | from a Scots vocab word, meaning "good; fine," Bonnie is not used in Scotland, but popular in other countries with high Scottish immigrant populations. | Bonny |
| Borgach (f) | T | BOR guch | ? | Victoria |
| Boyd (m) | S/A | BOID | originally a nickname for a fair haired man. Also a surname | buidhe |
| Bran (m) | T | BRAN | This mythological name means "raven" among its most famous bearers was Fionn Mac Cumhaill's dog. | - |
| Branan (m) | T | BRAN an | dim. of Bran | - |
| Brandubh (m) | T | BRAN doow | black raven | Branduff |
| Breandan (m) | T | BREN dun | modern form of Breannan | Brendan, Breannan |
| Breannan (m) | T | BREN un | from Welsh, " prince" | Brendan |
| Breannan; Brianan (m) | Tr | BREN nun; BREE un nan | from Welsh, "prince" | Brendan, Breandan, Breannan |
| Brenda (f) | S/A | BREN da | sword, brand | this name originated in the Shetland Isles. |
| Brian (m) | T | BREE un | from a Celtic word meaning "sterngth." Also used as a pet form of Breannan (Brendan). | - |
| Brianag (f) | T | BREE uh nak | strength. Celtic goddess name | Briana |
| Brianan (m) | T | BREE un an | dim. of Brian | - |
| Brìghde (f) | T | BREE ju | strength. Celtic goddess name | Bridget |
| Brodie | L | BRO dee | This name is possibly from a Pictish word, or from the Gaelic meaning "rampart." | Brothaigh, Brody |
| Bruce | L | BROOS | This name is derived from one of several French place names (Le Brus, Brix etc.) It is often given to boys in honor of Robert the Bruce, known for defeating the British at Bannockburn. However, it was seldom used as a forename unti lthe 20th century. | Brus |
| Bryce | L | BRICE | possibly derived from a French word meaning "speckled" | Brice |
| Bryson | L | BRY sun | son of Bryce? | |
| Buchanan | L | byoo KAN in | canon's seat | Canonach |