Scottish boy names, with their rich, rugged burr, make great contenders for your baby's given name – whether you have some Scottish heritage of your own or you just love the land of glens and lochs and munros and castles.

Advertisement

Finding the right Scottish baby name for your wee bairn is not easy, though – with so many thousands of names to trawl through and whittle down. So, we’ve done some of the heavy lifting for you, by scouring the baby-name registers and compiling a big list for you here of the best 220 Scottish baby boy names – each with their own meaning.

We've included the most popular Scottish boy names in the UK, a glorious selection of Scottish Gaelic boy names and traditional Scottish boy names, as well as some more modern, cool and unusual, even unique Scottish boy name choices. And, to give you even more inspiration, we've also compiled some great selections of short Scottish boy names, strong Scottish boy names and nature-inspired Scottish boy names.

For more baby name inspiration, check out our articles on Scottish girls' names and their meanings, featuring charming and historic choices, and African baby names for boys and girls, filled with vibrant and meaningful options

Here's our list of Scottish boy names to inspire you...

Most popular Scottish baby boy names | Traditional Scottish baby boy names | Modern Scottish baby boy names | Unusual Scottish baby boy names | Scottish Gaelic baby boy names | Cool Scottish baby boy names | Strong Scottish baby boy names | Short Scottish baby boy names | Nature-inspired Scottish baby boy names

The official lists of the most popular boy names in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland feature a good number of Scottish boy names. We've combed through the top 100 most common baby boy names, as registered by the Office for National Statistics (for England and Wales), the National Records of Scotland and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency in 2021 (the 2022 list will be released towards the end of 2023) to find the most popular boy names with a Scottish origin. Top of the heap are Arthur and Archie, with Brodie, Callan and Carson coming up the ranks strongly in the past year.

1. Arthur

  • Origin: Scottish/Celtic
  • Meaning: bear
  • Trend: going down

2. Archie

  • Origin: Scottish/Germanic
  • Meaning: brave
  • Trend: no change

3. Finley

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: blonde warrior
  • Trend: moving down

4. Rory

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: red-haired
  • Trend: moving up

5. Finlay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: blond warrior
  • Trend: moving up

6. Logan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: little hollow
  • Trend: moving down

7. Hunter

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: one who hunts
  • Trend: moving down

8. Finn

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fair-haired or fair; short form of Finbar
  • Trend: moving up

9. Elliot

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: with strength and right
  • Trend: moving down

10. Brody

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ditch, muddy place
  • Trend: moving up

11. Brodie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ditch, muddy place
  • Trend: moving up

12. Carson

  • Origin: Scottish/Irish
  • Meaning: son of the marsh-dwellers
  • Trend: moving up

13. Struan

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: small stream
  • Trend: moving up

14. Callan

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: battle, rock; descendant of Cathalán
  • Trend: moving up

Traditional Scottish baby boy names

Baby boy names that have long been associated with Scotland have a lovely solid, old-fashioned charm. Some of the suggestions here are classic Scottish boy names in regular use today, like Alasdair and Angus; some are less well known but have a long and rich heritage, like Bothan and Coire. If you'd like to tip your baby-name hat to Scotland's proud history and culture, you can't go wrong with one of these traditional picks...

15. Alasdair

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: defender of the people
  • Also: Alaster

16. Angus

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: one strength, one choice
  • Also: Aonghus

17. Bothan

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: from the stone house
  • Also: Bothain

18. Cameron

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: crooked nose
  • Also: Camron

19. Chalmer

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: servant of the chambers

20. Coire

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: whirlpool

21. Dallas

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from Darras (in Morayshire)

22. Dempster

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: judge

23. Dougal

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: dark stranger
  • Also: Dubhghall, Dùghall

24. Douglas

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: black stream
  • Also: Douglass, Doug, Dougie, Duggie

25. Donald

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: proud chief

26. Domhnull

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: world ruler, king of the world
  • Also: Donal

27. Duncan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: brown-haired
  • Also: Donncheann, Donnchadh

27. Drummond

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ridge; from Drummond (which could be the modern Scottish village Drymen)

29. Eachann

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: keeper of horses

30. Ewart

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: wealthy guardian

31. Fletcher

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: arrowsmith

32. Forbes

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: field; after the Scottish Forbes clan

33. Gilleasbuig

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: sacred and bold, servant of the bishop

34. Gilmat

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: sword bearer

35. Gilmore

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: servant of the virgin Mary

36. Gilroy

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: red-haired boy

37. Goraidh

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: peaceful, God's peace

38. Gordon

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: spacious, fort

39. Gunn

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: battle; after the Scottish clan Gunn

40. Hamish

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: Gaelic form of James

41. Harailt

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: leader

42. Iain

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: God is gracious; Scottish version of Ian

43. Jock

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: God is gracious; Scottish form of John

44. Keir

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ancient fort; from a place in Dunblane
  • Also: Kier

45. Keith

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: woodland, forest

46. Laird

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: lord of the land

47. Lamond

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the Scottish clan Lamont
  • Also: Lamont

48. Lachlann

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: warrior, from the land of the lochs
  • Also: Lachlan

49. Mungo

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: beloved, my pet; the name of the patron saint of Glasgow

50. Murdoch

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: leader of the sea, sailor
  • Also: Murdock

51. Nechtan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: pure; after a king of the Picts

52. Norval

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the northern town

53. Rab

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: bright, shining; Scottish Gaelic form of Robert
  • Also: Rabbie

54. Tearlach

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: strong

54. Teigue

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: poet, philosopher

56. Wallace

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: foreigner, from Wales

Modern Scottish baby boy names

Looking for a Scottish boy name with a bit more of a contemporary vibe? We've found you loads to choose from. Some of them, like Conall and Cory, are names that had almost fallen into disuse before they gained present-day popularity. Others, like Fraser and Campbell, have been re-purposed from traditional names Scottish surnames to give them a fresh first name appeal...

57. Alastair

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: defender of men; a modern variant of Alasdair
  • Also: Alistair, Alastair

58. Blair

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: meadow, field

59. Bryce

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: speckled, freckled

60. Callum

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: dove
  • Also: Calum, Kallum

61. Campbell

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: crooked mouth; after the Scottish clan Campbell

62. Carmichael

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: Michael’s fort

63. Caol

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: slender, narrow

64. Conall

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: strong wolf
  • Also: Conal

65. Corran

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: little spear, spear carrier

66. Cory

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the hollow

67. Craig

  • Origin: Scottish/Gaelic/Welsh
  • Meaning: rocklike, dependable

68. Fife

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: after the Scottish district of Fife
  • Also: Fyfe

69. Findlay

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: fair-haired warrior

70. Fraser

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: strawberry flowers; of the forest men; after the Scottish clan Fraser
  • Also: Frazer, Frazier, Frasier

71. Grant

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: large, tall

72. Gregor

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: vigilant

73. Kameron

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: crooked nose; variant of Cameron

74. Kennedy

  • Origin: Scottish/Irish
  • Meaning: helmeted chief

75. Kenneth

  • Origin: Scottish/Irish
  • Meaning: handsome; after the Scottish king
  • Also: Ken, Kenny

76. Kirk

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: of the church

77. Knox

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: round-topped hill

78. Lennox

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: with many elm trees, from the region of Glasgow

79. Lindsay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: island of linden trees; after the Scottish clan Lindsay

80. Lomond

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: beacon mountain

81. Lorne

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fox
  • Also: Lorn

82. Lyle

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the island, the name has been traced to Radulphus de Insula, an 11th-century Lord of Duchal Castle in Scotland

83. Macaulay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: son of righteousness

84. Mackenzie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fair; variant of Mackenzie

85. Malcolm

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: disciple of saint Columba
  • Also: Mal, Malk, Malkie

86. Maxwell

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: Mack's stream or spring; from the place on the river Tweed

87. Monroe

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: mouth of the river
  • Also: Munro, Munroe

88. Murray

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the land by the sea; from the area of Moray
  • Also: Moray

89. Rowan

  • Origin: Scottish & Irish
  • Meaning: little redhead

90. Stuart

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: steward
  • Also: Stewart

91. Sinclair

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: renowned, illustrious

Unusual Scottish baby boy names

Maybe you're after a boy name that's not only Scottish but special: something that's so uncommon, it will mark your baby boy out as unique. We've found some brilliant unusual baby boy names with Scottish origins: some of them have always had an awesome exclusivity about them; others have had moments of popularity decades ago but are now wonderfully rare and extraordinary.

92. Athol

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from Atholl, a district in Scotland
  • Also: Atholl

93. Aulay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ancestor's descendant
  • Also: Auley

94. Bac

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: sand bank

95. Baird

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: poet, singer of ballads

96. Balloch

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: village on the loch

97. Boyd

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: yellow, blonde

98. Calder

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: rough waters or streams

99. Dalziel

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: bright meadow or valley

100. Dinsmore

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fortified hill

101. Eachan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: brown horse
  • Also: Eachaun and Eacheann

102. Errol

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: nobleman, wanderer

103. Erskine

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: high cliff

104. Farlan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: son of the furrows

105. Farquhar

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: very dear one

106. Fingal

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: blonde stranger

107. Gilchrist

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: Christ’s servant
  • Also: Gil

108. Kelso

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: chalk ridge

109. Kerr

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: marsh dweller

110. Mingus

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: tenants of a manor

111. Lochlin

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the land of lakes

112. Lockie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: warlike, from the land of the lochs; short form of Lachlan

113. Nairn

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: river with alder trees

114. Ogilvy

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: high place
  • Also: Olgilvie

115. Oisein

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: little deer
  • Also: Ossian

116. Paton

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: royal
  • Also: Payton

117. Quany

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: proud

118. Quarrie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: proud
  • Also: Quare, Quarry

119. Roban

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: bright fame, a person from Peeblesshire

120. Robertson

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: son of Robert

121. Rosston

  • Origin: Scottish/Gaelic
  • Meaning: headland, cape

123. Ruairidh

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: red king
  • Also: Ruaridh, Ruairi, Ruaraidh, Rhuairidh, Ruairi, Ruari

124. Ruskin

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from a family of tanners

125. Seumas

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: the Gaelic form of James

126. Sholto

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: sower

127. Tavish

  • Origin: Scottish/Gaelic
  • Meaning: a Gaelic form of Thomas

128. Torquil

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: Thor’s helmet

129. Tor

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the craggy hill

130. Urquhart

  • Origin: Scottish/Gaelic
  • Meaning: thicket, by a rowan wood
  • Also: Urchardan

131. Wiley

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: resolute protection

What are the most popular baby boy names in Scotland? 

Here are the 20 most popular boy names in Scotland, according to the official list from the National Records of Scotland.

As you'll see, they're not all Scottish in origin, with Scottish parents drawing inspiration from Greek or Latin-origin names, as well as traditionally English ones:

  • Jack. Origin: English; Meaning: God is gracious 
  • Noah. Origin: Hebrew; Meaning: rest or repose
  • Leo. Origin: Latin; Meaning: lion
  • Oliver. Origin: Latin, French; Meaning: olive tree planter
  • Harris. Origin: Greek, Meaning: son of Harry
  • Finlay. Origin: Scottish; Meaning: blonde warrior
  • Lewis. Origin: English; Meaning: renowned warrior 
  • James. Origin: Hebrew; Meaning: supplanter 
  • Rory. Origin: Scottish; Meaning: red-haired
  • Alexander. Origin: Latin; Meaning: man's defender, warrior 
  • Brodie. Origin: Scottish; Meaning: ditch, muddy place
  • Alfie. Origin: English; Meaning: elf, counsel, wise
  • Charlie. Origin: English; Meaning: free man
  • Theo. Origin: Greek; Meaning: God's gift
  • Archie. Origin: Scottish/German; Meaning: brave
  • Lucas. Origin: Latin; Meaning: bringer of light 
  • Mason. Origin: English; Meaning: stone worker
  • Finn. Origin: Scottish; Meaning: fair-haired
  • Thomas. Origin: Hebrew; Meaning: twin
  • Freddie. Origin: German; Meaning: peaceful ruler

Scottish Gaelic baby boy names

Scottish or Scots Gaelic is a language that developed out of Old Irish and has been spoken and written in Scotland since the 13th century, and until at least the 17th century, was the common language of most Scots. There are many fewer native speakers these days but Scottish Gaelic baby boy names remain popular choices both inside and outside Scotland for their tough, rugged sound and the proud centuries of history they evoke.

132. Aibne

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: river

133. Ailbeart

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: noble, bright, shiny; Scottish Gaelic name for Albert

134. Aillig

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: from a rocky location

135. Aindrea

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: man of warrior; Scottish Gaelic name for Andrew

136. Aonghas

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: one choice; Scottish Gaelic name for Angus
  • Also: Aenghus, Aonghus

137. Balgair

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: fox

138. Bothain

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: person who lives in a stone house

139. Cailean

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: pup, young dog; Scottish Gaelic name for Colin
  • Also: Cailin

140. Coinneach

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: handsome

141. Daibhidh

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: beloved; Scottish Gaelic name for David

142. Deorsa

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: farmer

143. Donal

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: brown-haired fighter; Scottish Gaelic name for George

144. Ewan

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: born of youth, God is gracious
  • Also: Ewen, Euan, Euoghan

145. Fearghas

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: the strong one
  • Also: Fergus

145. Griorgair

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: vigilant; the Scottish Gaelic name for Gregor

146. Nathair

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: a snake

147. Raghnall

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: ruler’s adviser; the Scottish Gaelic name for Ronald
  • Also: Ranald

148. Raibeart

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: bright fame; Scottish Gaelic name for Robert

149. Somhairle

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: summer wanderer
  • Also: Sorley

150. Ualan

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: strength, health; the Scottish Gaelic name for Valentine

151. Uarraig

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: fierce pride

152. Uisdean

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: forever stone, intelligent

Cool Scottish baby boy names

If you like the Scottish burr but you're wanting boy names with more style than tradition, this next group of super-cool names is for you. All of them have their origins firmly in Scotland but they are names that slide off the tongue in smooth, chilled style.

153. Adie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: noble; a variant of Adam

154. Alick

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: defender of men; Scottish version of Alec
  • Also: Ainsley, Annesly

155. Ansley

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: one's own meadow
  • Also: Ainsley, Annesly

156. Blaine

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: yellow

157. Braden

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: salmon

158. Brice

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: speckled or freckled

159. Bryson

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: son of Brice

160. Camden

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: meander valley

161. Chatton

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: after the Scottish clan Chatton

162. Clyde

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: after the Scottish river Clyde

163. Darach

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: oak

164. Drew

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: manly; short form of Andrew

165. Ellar

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: a butler

166. Evander

  • Origin: Scottish/Greek
  • Meaning: good man, strong man

167. Innes

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: one strength; variant of Angus

168. Kai

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fire, keeper of keys

168. Kester

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: carrier of Christ; short form of Christopher

169. Ludo

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: famous warrior; short form of Ludovic

17o. Lyall

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: loyal

171. Niven

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: little saint

172. Quinn

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: descendant of the chief

173. Ramsay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: wild island
  • Also: Ramsey

174. Ross

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: headland

175. Scotty

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from Scotland; after the Celtic name Scott

Strong Scottish baby boy names

These Scottish boy names are all bold choices, with a ring of power and authority. Some, like Bhaltair and Caiden, have meanings that describe courage and vigour in battle, while others, like Acair and Tremaine have meanings that speak of inner firmness and fortitude.

176. Acair

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: anchor

177. Arran

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ridged island; after the Scottish isle

178. Bhaltair

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: strong warrior

179. Caelen

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: victorious people

180. Caiden

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: battle, fighter, fiery

181. Carrick

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: a rock; from the district Carrick

182. Dand

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: warrior

183. Iver

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: archer, bow warrior

184. Laith

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: lion

185. Magnus

  • Origin: Scottish/Scandinavian
  • Meaning: great, mighty, important

186. Manas

  • Origin: Scottish/Scandinavian
  • Meaning: great, mighty, important; a shortened form of Magnus

187. Marcus

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: hammer

188. Murdo

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: son of the sea warrior

189. Niall

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: a champion

190. Neilan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: champion; a variant of Niall

191. Ritchie

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: brave, strong; a shortened version of Richard

192. Rodric

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: rule; after the last king of the Goths
  • Also: Rodrick

193. Ronald

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: ruler’s adviser
  • Also: Ron, Ronnie

194. Shaw

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: wolf

195. Sloan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: military leader

196. Taggart

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: son of the priest
  • Also: Teggart, Tegart, Tagart

197. Tasgal

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: god, cauldron

198. Torran

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: chief
  • Also: Torin

199. Tremaine

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: settlement stone

When do I have to choose my baby boy's name by?

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland new parents have 42 days to register their baby’s name once they are born. In Scotland, you will be expected to register your baby’s birth (and name) within 3 weeks of their birth.

Once you've picked your newborn's name, contact your local register office for an appointment to go in and register their birth.

You will need to take some identification with you on the day to prove who you are and some registrars may ask to see your baby’s red book, which is their personal health record. When you register the birth, you will be asked your baby’s full name as well as details about when and where they were born.

The birth must be registered by the baby’s mother or father. If you are unmarried and go to the register office alone, you will need to bring a declaration of parentage form signed by the other parent with you.

Short Scottish baby boy names

If you're looking for a Scottish name that's short and punchy – maybe because your child will have a long, multi-syllabic surname– this next group is for you. All of the Scottish baby boy names in this next group are no more than 5 letters long, and have been selected for their strong but simple style. Some of them are diminutive versions of other Scottish names – like Gil, which comes from Gilchrist – but others are short but perfectly formed baby boy names in their own right.

200. Alan

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: Little Rock

201. Bean

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: life

202. Coll

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: chief

203. Doug

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: black river, dark stream

204. Dow

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: black-haired

205. Duff

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: dark-haired man

206. Evin

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: swift

207. Fyn

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: blonde warrior

208. Gil

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: Christ's servant; short form of Gilchrist

209. Gus

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: one strength; short form of Angus

210. Hay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: lives by an enclosure; after the Scottish clan Hay

211. Jim

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: heel, supplanter; short form of James

212. Kyle

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: a narrow piece of land

213. Mac

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: son

214. Mathe

  • Origin: Scottish Gaelic
  • Meaning: bear

215. Ness

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: from the headland

216. Rae

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: grace, shy

217. Ray

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: lives by the brook

218. Todd

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fox

219. Willy

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: resolute protector; shortened form of William

Nature-inspired Scottish baby boy names

Scotland is a land of wide, open highlands, lowlands and islands, all brimming with natural beauty – so it's no surprise that there are some lovely Scottish boy names that have meanings that reflect the natural world. We've gathered together a group of brilliant boy names that pay homage to the glorious Scottish landscape – plus one name, Gavan, that's named after a white hawk.

220. Annan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: water

221. Balfour

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: farmhouse with grass, village by the pasture

222. Barclay

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: birch tree meadow

223. Bruce

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: willow lands

224. Cullen

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: beyond the river

225. Culley

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: woodland

226. Irving

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: fresh water

227. Glen

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: valley
  • Also: Glenn

228. Gavan

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: white hawk
  • Also: Gavin

229. Kelvin

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: narrow water

230. Muir

  • Origin: Scottish
  • Meaning: moorland

How to choose the right Scottish name for your baby boy

So you've gone through our list and picked out all the baby boy names you like – but how do you narrow these picks down to the one that's right for your baby? To help you out, here are some tips to bear in mind when discussing your short (or long!) list with your partner:
  • Think about the impression it makes. Do you want the name to reflect tradition and honour your family history or be trendy, quirky or unusual?
  • Practise saying it out loud. See if you can imagine using it on a daily basis. Test it out with your surname and any middle name choices too. Don't forget to check what your child’s initials would be.
  • Think about nicknames. Would you mind people changing it or shortening it into a nickname or pet name? Or is it important to choose a name which cannot be shortened?
  • Consider the meaning. Is it important that the meaning has real significance to you and your partner?
  • Think about how other people will see it. Does it matter to you that it's easy to spell and pronounce? Will your or your child constantly be correcting people?
  • Check whether your favourite names appear on the most popular lists in the UK. If they do, this means you’re not alone in loving it, but it also means when you call your son's name in the playground, several other children might turn round too.
  • Don’t rush the decision. It’s fine to wait until you meet your baby to see whether your favourite name actually suits him. You could even test it out for a few hours before announcing it to the world and making it official.

Pic: Getty Images

Advertisement

Read more:

Authors

Helen Brown
Helen BrownHead of Content Delivery

Helen is author of the classic advice book Parenting for Dummies and a mum of 3. Before joining MadeForMums, she was Head of Community at Mumsnet and also the Consumer Editor of Mother & Baby.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement