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 Women's Names
Men's Names
| Name | origin | meaning | notes/other forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan | Gaelic | spirit, elf | Aillil. Possibly also from a Breton name meaning "rock." |
| Alastair | Greek | defender of mankind | Alasdair, Alexander |
| Alban | Gaelic/Latin | rock/white | the Gaelic name for Scotland |
| Alpin | Gaelic/Latin | white | this name has consistently been used in Scotland from the earliest times to the present |
| Andrew | Greek | manly | St. Andrew is the patron of Scotland |
| Angus | Gaelic | one choice | Aonghus |
| Aulay | Norse | family descendant | Olaf |
| Blane | Gaelic | yellow | Blan |
| Boyd | Gaelic | blonde | originally a nickname for a fair haired man. Also a surname |
| Calum | Latin | dove | Columba |
| Clyde | mainly US- the river that runs through Glasgow | ||
| Coll | Gaelic | high | anglicization Of Colla |
| Derek | Norse | ruler of the race | Dirk, Theodoric |
| Donald | Gaelic | world-mighty | Domhnall |
| Donnan | Gaelic | brown | a Scottish saint's name |
| Dougal | Gaelic | dark stanger | dubh gall |
| Douglas | Gaelic | black stream | Dubh glas. Also a surname. |
| Duff | Gaelic | black | used as a nickname for a dark haired person. Also from the Scottish surname |
| Duncan | Gaelic | brown warrior | Donnchadh |
| Ewan | Gaelic | born of the yew | Eoghan |
| Farquar | Gaelic | very dear one | Fearchar |
| Fingal | Gaelic | white stranger | Fionnghall |
| Finlay | Gaelic | white warrior | Fionnlaoch |
| Gavin | Welsh | ? | also found as Gawain |
| Gillian | Gaelic/Hebrew | servant of St. John | Giolla Iain |
| Gillis | Gaelic/Hebrew | servant of Jesus | this name is popular in the Hebrides |
| Gordon | English? | Great hill fort? | from a place name |
| Greer | Greek | watchful | form of Gregory |
| Hamish | Hebrew | the supplanter? | form of James, via Gaelic Sheamais |
| Ian | Hebrew | God is gracious | John |
| Ivar | Norse | yew army | Iomharr |
| Kenneth | Celtic/Pictish? | fair one? | Kenneth |
| Kentigern | Gaelic | head lord | St. Kentigern is the patron of Glasgow |
| Kirk | Norse | church | from the word for church used in many Scottish place names |
| Kyle | Gaelic | narrow | |
| Lachlan | Gaelic | a Viking | |
| Lorne | ? | ? | Scottish place name |
| Malcolm | Gaelic/Latin | devotee of St. Columba | Mael Caluim |
| Mirren | Gaelic | ? | Meadhran- the patron saint of football |
| Mungo | Gaelic | my wolf | the medieval nickname for St. Kentigern |
| Neil | Gaelic | champion | Niall, Neal |
| Nevin | Gaelic | saint | Naomhain |
| Ranald | Norse | counsel rule | Raghnall, Ronald |
| Rory | Gaelic | red king | Ruaidhri |
| Ross | Gaelic | promontory | used as a fn in Scotland since the 12th century |
| Sholto | Gaelic | propagator | sioltaich |
| Somerled | Norse | summer wanderer | Somhairle, Sorley |
| Tavish | Hebrew | beloved | David |
| Torquil | Norse | Thor's kettle/helmet | Torcall, Thorkettil |
| Wallace | Old French | foreigner | Uallis, sometimes used in memory of Scottish patriot William Wallace |