Scottish names offer a variety of beautiful and unusual names for a new baby. Many are the same as English names: Archie, Janet, Diana, and Agnes are common appellations for children in both countries. Probably the most Scottish-sounding names are those that reflect the Gaelic heritage of the country. Many Gaelic names can be seen today on movie marquees, television credits, and CD covers. Avril, Kirstie, Fiona, Emma, Heather, Glenn, Jean, Glynis, Laura, Bruce, Andrew, Gillian, Grant, Cameron, David, Donald, Alison, Hugh, Kirk, Neil, Malcolm, Neville, and Christopher all have Scottish origins.
Ordinary English names can be translated into Gaelic with unusual results. Elizabeth becomes Beitidh (Betty) or Isobel. The Gaelic version of Elizabeth is Elasaid, Elisaid, or Beatha which means "life." Elsbeth, yet another Gaelic version of Elisabeth, was used by Sir Walter Scott in his works "Guy Mannering" and "Rob Roy." Other names use Gaelic variations. Barbara becomes Barabell, or variations such as Arabella and Annella. Christine is Cariristiona, and Catherine or Katherine is Catriona - or Cat as a nickname. The numerous spelling variations offer still more choices as in a common name such as Alice, which morphs into Allison, Alyson, Allyson, and nicknames Allie and Ally.
Clan names are a creative way to select an unusual first name. Adam, Arthur, Bruce, Craig, Glen, Gordon, Graham, Grant, Hope, Hunter, Keith, Leslie, Lindsay, Lyle, Malcolm, Scott, Ross, and Rose are common names given that they reflect Scottish clan names, but rarely used clan names include Barclay, Baxter, Boyd, Brodie, Burnett, Calder, Chisholm, Cochrane, Colville, Crawford, Darroch, Dewar, Dunbar, Durrie, Elliot, Erskine, Fleming, Gorsyth, Garden, Gray, Guthrie, Hepburn, Houston, Hunter, Irvine, Jardine, Kerr, Kincaid, Kinnear, Lamont, Lennox, Logan, Lumsden, Mar, Menzies, Mercer, Moffat, Munro, Paisley, Reston, Rollo, Shaw, Wallace, Watson or Weir. The Scots often use the mother's maiden name as the middle name, and family and clan names can make interesting middle names, even for females.
Geographic names make interesting personal names. Monroe is taken from the mouth, or mon, of the Roe River. Athol, originally a surname indicating the person was from Atholl, was a common name in 19th century Scotland. Caridland is a name that tells people that the individual comes from the land between the streams. The River Clyde is a strong image of Scotland, and many historic figures are named Clyde. Iona is taken from an island in the Hebridean chain, as is Skye. Lennox is a district in Scotland, as are Lome, Thurso, Murray (male) and Moray (female), Camden and Dallas. Using a map for the mountainous Highland region of Scotland, a list can be made of many historic names. William, Glencoe, Oban, Morvern, Tobermory, Sunart, Lorne, Katrine, Rannoch, Tioram, Tor, Lyon, and Coe are all located in the Highlands.
Not all Scottish babies were given Gaelic names, but when they were, to avoid confusion, male children were given first name and then an article between the first and what would later become the surname. "Mac" or "son of" is the male article as in MacDonald, meaning the son of Donald. Magee, with the "c" removed, means "son of a handsome man." "Inghean" or "daughter of" was used for females.
Sometime after the 16th Century it became popular in the United Kingdom to add names to honor family members. Prince Charles, himself christened Charles Phillip Arthur George Windsor, named his first son William Arthur Philip Louis Mountbatten-Windsor, but he is now known to all by "Will." His second son, who prefers to be called Harry, was christened Henry Charles Albert David Windsor. If there are difficulties narrowing down a name, add several, as did Charles, who serves as the Great Steward of Scotland.
Scottish spelling can provide added interest in given names. For instance, William can be written as Uilleam or Uilliam; Ian as Ewan, Ewen or Euan. Jennifer is another name for Guinevere. Beathan is the Gaelic form of Benjamin. Due to differences in character translation, parents have numerous choices in spelling: Moira or Moire, Shona or Shonah, Beathag or Bethoc.
If you are looking for an uncommon Scottish name, less common female names include: Maisie, Isobel, Beatrix, Ina, Myra, Ailsa, Annot, Bethia, Bethoc, Ismay, Mairi, Morag, Moire, Seona, Shonah, Sinnie, and Thora. Rarer male Scottish male names are: Aedh, Aeneas, Aindreas, Cuthbert, Eachann, Finlay, Ivor, Keir, Lawren, Muir, Murdoch, Sim, and Torqui.
Scots are also fond of using female versions of male names including Glenn, Georgina, Thomasina, Leslie, Alexina, Angusina, Davida, Davina, Franca, Jacobina, and Robena or Robina. Gawain or Gwayne, the literary figure of medieval lore, has Gaelic counterparts in Gavan for males and Gavenia for females.
Diarmid Cuthbert Toqui Aindreas might have a nice look when written, but remember your child must learn to spell their name in school and their teachers will need to pronounce a new name each year. Perhaps a Scottish name, one that can be shortened to a single syllable, would be one that a child would enjoy for a lifetime. The Scots are known for nicknames.
