Scots Names
English has been spoken in Scotland for several centuries now. Because of this, it has become Scots, the form spoken in Scotland. As a result, many new names have been coined, not in Gaelic, but in English, but by Scots speakers.
Click here for Men's Names
Women's Names
| Name | origin | meaning | notes/other forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aileen | Germanic | Hazlenut | Evelyn, Avelina |
| Ailie | Germanic | noble | Alice, Eilidh |
| Ailsa | Norse | Alfsigr's island | modern Scottish place name. |
| Alison | Germanic | noble | dim. of Alice |
| Alva | Scots | from a place name meaning 'rock plain" | Its popularity may be because of an association with the Latin name Alma meaning "nourishing"-- popularized after the Crimean war to commemorate the Battle of Alma (1854) |
| Andrina | Greek | feminine forms of Andrew, from Greek meaning 'Man" | Andrewina |
| Annabel | Latin | probably from Latin, amabilis, meaning "lovable" | Anapul, Anabal |
| Arabella | Latin | yielding to prayer? | from 'orabilis' could also be an alteration of Annabel(la) |
| Arline | Gaelic? | pledge?- name coined by Michael W. Balfe for a 1843 opera | Arlene |
| Bethia | Hebrew | oath of God | derivative of Elizabeth, influenced by the Gaelic Beathag |
| Bonnie | Scots | pretty, fine | from a Scots vocab word, Bonnie was not used in Scotland until recently, but popular in the USA |
| Brenda | Norse | sword, brand | this name originated in the Shetland Isles. |
| Catriona | Greek | traditionally associated with the word 'pure' | Catherine- please pronounce this name like Katrina! |
| Cathella | Scots | a blend of Catherine + -ella | |
| Colina | Gaelic | young hound- modern fem. of Colin | - |
| Davina | Hebrew | beloved | feminine form of David, originating in Scotland |
| Dolina | Gaelic | world-mighty | feminine form of Donald |
| Dona | Gaelic | world-mighty | feminine form of Donald |
| Donaldina, Donalda | Gaelic | world-mighty | feminine form of Donald |
| Edana | Gaelic | ? | an Irish saint who came to Scotland. Edinburgh was originally called Dun Edana (Edana's fortress) |
| Effie | Greek | I speak well | short form of Euphemia |
| Elspeth | Hebrew | oath of God | Elizabeth |
| Ena | Scots | possibly derived from names ending in -ina, or a form of the name Eithne meaning "kernal." | Ina |
| Fenella | Gaelic | fair shoulders | Fionnghuala |
| Fiona | Gaelic | white/wine | This name was invented in the 16th century by Scottish writer James MacPherson. It is mentioned once in his Ossianic poems, in Fingal- Book 1. However, it is only mentioned once in passing. It was brought into the public spotlight by the 19th century by Scottish author William Sharp, who used "Fiona McLeod" as his pen name. The name probably represents a Latinate feminization of Fionn, meaning "white." However, the word fiona in Gaelic means "wine." It is pronounced FEE uh na, though, not like the name, which is generally pronounced fee-OH-na. |
| Gillian | Gaelic/Hebrew | servant of St. John | Giolla Iain. This name is pronounced with a hard "g" (as in "goat"), not like Jillian. |
| Greer | Greek | watchful | originally a surname, from a Gaelic form of Gregory. It was brought into the spotlight as a name by the American movie actress Greer Garson. |
| Heather | English | the heather plant | often used in the USA after a predominant Scottish landscape feature. It's fairly popular in Scotland as well. |
| Ina | Scots | various | originally a pet form of -ina names (Donaldina etc) which became a name on its own |
| Iona | Gaelic | ? | name of a monastic Scottish island |
| Isla | ? | ? | Name of a Scottish island. This name is pronounced EYE-la. |
| Janet | Hebrew | God is gracious | feminine form of John |
| Jean | Hebrew | God is gracious | This fem of John was limited to Scotland until about the 1800s |
| Jinty | Hebrew | God is gracious | Nickname for Janet |
| Kenna | Celtic/Pictish? | fair one? | Ceana, feminine form of Kenneth |
| Kentigerna | Gaelic | head lord | a saint's name. Also used in honor of St. Kentigern, patron of Glasgow. Kentigern is a Saxon name, which was used as an anglicization of Caointeorn. |
| Kirsty | Latin via Scandinavian | Kirsten, Christine | |
| Lilias | Latin | the lily flower | Lileas |
| Lorna | Gaelic? | ? | name invented by the Scottish author RD Blackmore. Probably a feminization of Lorne, a Scottish place name. |
| Mairi | Hebrew | fullness, complete | Mary, Miriam |
| Malvina | ? | ? | name invented by Scottish writer James MacPherson |
| Mariota | Hebrew | full; complete | dim. of Mary |
| Marsali | Latin | from the Roman god of war | Marcella |
| Morna | Gaelic | beloved | Muirne |
| Morven | Gaelic | big peak? | mountains in NW Scotland |
| Nessa | Gaelic/Latin | holy | An old Irish name. Popularized as a Also a diminutive of Agnes |
| Nessie | Latin | holy | nick name for Agnes, made famous by the Loch Ness Monster |
| Osla | Norse | God-consecrated | Island name |
| Rhona, Rona | Norse | rough island | Island name |
| Selma | ? | ? | invented by the Scottish writer James MacPherson. This name caught on in Scandinavia, favored by a king who was a fan of MacPherson's Ossianic poems. Because it was used often in Scandinavia, it is often thought to be a Nordic name. |
| Senga | Gaelic/Latin? | slender/holy | from an Gaelic word, but its popularity derives from the fact it is Agnes spelled backwards |
| Sheena | Hebrew | God is gracious | anglicization of Sine, Scottish feminine of John, cognate with Jane. |
| Shona | Hebrew | God is gracious | anglicization of Seonaid, Scottish fem. Of John, cognate with Joan. |