AHEAD: The ultimate list of Scottish names for boys—plus their meanings and popularity.

On the hunt for an amazing Scottish boys’ name that’s cool in the United States?

You’re in the right place!

Below, I’ve rounded up every single male Scottish name that’s even the slightest bit modern and cool.

Let’s go check out this huge list of Scottish boy names and find the perfect one for your son!

Feel free to use the Table of Contents to jump to a specific style, or keep on scrolling and view all of these Scottish names for boys.

Related: Irish Boy Names

Popular Scottish boy names

These names of Scottish origin are ranking in the top 200 here in the United States.

Unless otherwise noted, the popularity data throughout this article is for names in the United States.

Arthur

• Name meaning: Bear-like.
• Popularity: #155

Brody or Brodie

• Name meaning: Broad island.
• Popularity: Brody ranks #186 and Brodie is #808. FYI: Brodie ranks #11 in Scotland!

Camden or Kamden or Kamdyn

• Name meaning: Winding valley.
• Popularity: Camden ranks #175, Kamden is #475, and Kamdyn is #963.

Cameron

• Name meaning: Crooked nose.
• Popularity: #62

Carson

• Name meaning: Son of marsh dwellers.
• Popularity: #98

Gavin

• Name meaning: White hawk.
• Popularity: #173

Graham

• Name meaning: Gravel.
• Popularity: #161

Ian

• Name meaning: Scottish version of John, meaning graced by God.
• Popularity: #81

Logan

• Name meaning: Little hollow.
• Popularity: This Scottish L name ranks #21 for boys and #310 for girls.

Maxwell

• Name meaning: Mack’s spring (or stream).
• Popularity: #163

Rowan or Rowen

• Name meaning: Reddish-brown tree known for its scarlet berries and mystical history.
• Popularity: For boys, Rowan ranks #106 and Rowen is #539. For girls, Rowan ranks #241 and Rowen isn’t ranking.

If you like these popular Scottish boy names you might also like this list of earthy boy names.

Cool Scottish names for boys

While not quite as popular as the Scottish boys’ names in the first batch, all of these names feel fresh and cool.

Blaine

• Name meaning: Slender.
• Popularity: #986

Callum or Calum or Kallum

• Name meaning: Dove.
• Popularity: Callum ranks #273, Calum is #838, and Kallum isn’t ranking.

Grant

• Name meaning: Tall.
• Popularity: #212

Houston

• Name meaning: Hugh’s town. A large city in Texas.
• Popularity: #629

Hutton

• Name meaning: Ridge enclosure.
• Popularity: This Scottish H name isn’t ranking.

Kendrick

• Name meaning: Greatest champion. Family ruler.
• Popularity: #429

Kieran

• Name meaning: Little dark one.
• Popularity: #517

Knox

• Name meaning: Round-topped hill.
• Popularity: #221

Kylo

• Name meaning: A variation of Kyle, which means narrow land.
• Popularity: #526

Lyle

• Name meaning: Island dweller.
• Popularity: This (totally underrated) Scottish boys’ name last ranked in 2019.

Mack or Mac

• Name meaning: Son of.
• Popularity: Mack ranks #470 and Mac is #673.

Tristan

• Name meaning: Noise or sadness. (You may want to make up another meaning haha).
• Popularity: #208

If you like these modern Scottish boy names you might also like this list of edgy names.

Unique Scottish boy names

The following Scottish baby names are unique but not obscure—all of them are ranking in the top 1000.

Related: 700+ Unique Boy Names

Alistair

• Name meaning: Defender. (Scottish version of Alexander).
• Popularity: #898

Bowie

• Name meaning: Light-haired.
• Popularity: #950

Kelvin

• Name meaning: A river in Scotland. A unit of thermodynamic temperature.
• Popularity: #908

Lachlan or Lochlan

• Name meaning: War-like. Lake land.
• Popularity: Lachlan ranks #724 and Lochlan is #790.

Turner

• Name meaning: Many possible meanings: maker of objects of wood or metal, nickname for a fast runner, an official in charge of a tournament.
• Popularity: #942

Wallace

• Name meaning: Welshman, stranger, or foreigner.
• Popularity: #897

Watson

• Name meaning: Son of Walter.
• Popularity: #596

Wilson

• Name meaning: Desire, helmet, protection. Son of Will.
• Popularity: #714

If you like these unique Scottish boy names you might also like this list of 2-syllable names.

Gender-neutral Scottish baby names

These Scottish names would work for a boy or a girl.

Campbell

• Name meaning: Crooked mouth.
• Popularity: This Scottish C name last ranked for boys in 2005 and for girls in 2013.

Carrington

• Name meaning: A place in the UK.
• Popularity: This neutral English and Scottish name isn’t ranking for either gender.

Finn or Finley or Finnley or Finlay

• Name meaning: Fair-haired hero.
• Popularity: Finn ranks #184, Finley is #265, Finnley is #593, and Finlay isn’t ranking. For girls, Finley ranks #211. FYI: Finlay ranks #6 and Finn is #18 in Ireland!

Jaime or Jamie

• Name meaning: Supplanter
• Popularity: For boys, Jaime ranks #616 and Jamie is #624. For girls, Jamie ranks #698.

Kameron or Kamryn

• Name meaning: Crooked nose.
• Popularity: For boys, Kameron ranks #343 and Kamryn is #462. For girls, Kameron hasn’t ranked since 2000 and Kamryn currently ranks #462.

Karson or Karsyn or Karsen

• Name meaning: Son of marsh dwellers.
• Popularity: Karson ranks #304, Karsyn is #954, and Carson is #98. Karsen last ranked in 2012. Karsyn ranks #608 for girls.

Kennedy

• Name meaning: Helmeted chief. Presidential name.
• Popularity: This K name hasn’t ranked for boys since 2005. It currently ranks #70 for girls.

Kennon or Kennan

• Name meaning: Ancient or distant.
• Popularity: Neither spelling of this Scottish baby name is ranking for boys or girls.

Lennox

• Name meaning: Elm field.
• Popularity: This tree name ranks #254 for boys and #599 for girls.

Mckinley

• Name meaning: Child of the fair hero. Presidential name.
• Popularity: This Scottish name isn’t ranking for boys but ranks #543 for girls.

Monroe

• Name meaning: Mouth of the Roe river. Presidential name.
• Popularity: This M name isn’t ranking for boys but ranks #525 for girls.

Wylie

• Name meaning: Clever.
• Popularity: This W name isn’t ranking for either gender.

If you like these gender-neutral Scottish first names you’ll also like this list of nonbinary names or these Scottish girl names.

Timeless Scottish boy baby names

The following male Scottish baby names have been around for ages and don’t tend to evoke any particular decade.

Most are currently ranking in the top 1000.

Brett

• Name meaning: From Brittany, France.
• Popularity: #923

Bryce

• Name meaning: Freckled. Bryce Canyon is a national park in Utah.
• Popularity: #250

Cedric

• Name meaning: Loved one. War chief.
• Popularity: #970

Clyde

• Name meaning: Warm. A river in Scotland.
• Popularity: #733

Craig

• Name meaning: Rock.
• Popularity: This male Scottish name hasn’t ranked since 2017.

Douglas

• Name meaning: Dark stream. A Douglas fir is a type of pine tree.
• Popularity: #739

Duncan

• Name meaning: Dark warrior.
• Popularity: #983

Gordon

• Name meaning: A place name in Scotland or in France.
• Popularity: #925

Keith

• Name meaning: Forest.
• Popularity: #597

Kenneth

• Name meaning: Fire-born. Handsome.
• Popularity: #258

Kyle

• Name meaning: Narrow land.
• Popularity: #364

Malcolm

• Name meaning: Devotee of Saint Columba.
• Popularity: #282

Ross

• Name meaning: A narrow piece of land that projects from a coastline into the sea. Might also mean horse.
• Popularity: This R name hasn’t ranked since 2012.

Scott

• Name meaning: From Scotland.
• Popularity: #607

If you like these timeless Scottish boy names you might also like this list of one-syllable names.

Rare Scottish names for boys

If you’re looking for an awesome Scottish baby name that no one else has, these uncommon monikers are fantastic choices.

Conway

• Name meaning: Might mean chief of the water.
• Popularity: This Scottish boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Dashiell or Dashell or Dashel

• Name meaning: Meaning unknown.
• Popularity: None of these spellings are ranking.

Dixon

• Name meaning: Son of Richard.
• Popularity: This great southern boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Edmond or Edmund

• Name meaning: Wealth or fortune. Prosperous. Guardian or protector.
• Popularity: This royal E name isn’t ranking.

Evander

• Name meaning: Good man. Also a South African town.
• Popularity: This 3-syllable boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Falkner

• Name meaning: Falcon trainer
• Popularity: This Scottish boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Frazier or Fraser

• Name meaning: Unknown meaning.
• Popularity: Neither spelling of this F name is ranking.

Hamilton

• Name meaning: Treeless hill or crooked hill.
• Popularity: This badass boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Holmes

• Name meaning: Might mean someone who lives next to a holly tree.
• Popularity: This Scottish baby name isn’t ranking.

Irvin or Irving

• Name meaning: The River Irvine flows through Scotland.
• Popularity: Irvin last ranked in 2011 and Irving last ranked in 2005.

Kirk

• Name meaning: Church.
• Popularity: This short boys’ name last ranked in 2002.

Macallister

• Name meaning: Son of Alasdair.
• Popularity: This super Scottish boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Morris

• Name meaning: Several possible meanings, such as of the marsh.
• Popularity: This boys’ name isn’t ranking.

Oswald

• Name meaning: Power of God.
• Popularity: This O name isn’t ranking.

Wright

• Name meaning: Craftsman.
• Popularity: This Scottish name isn’t ranking.

If you like these uncommon Scottish boy names you might also like this list of names for rainbow babies.

Scottish names that are past their prime

IMHO, these Scottish boy names have seen better days.

That said, clearly plenty of people disagree with me (as you’ll see by the fact that most of these are ranking in the top 1000).

Bruce

• Name meaning: The willowlands.
• Popularity: #535

Donald

• Name meaning: World ruler.
• Popularity: #592

Donnell

• Name meaning: Great chief.
• Popularity: This D name hasn’t ranked since 2001.

Donnie

• Name meaning: Great chief.
• Popularity: This Scottish boy name last ranked in 2000.

Melvin

• Name meaning: Might mean gentle lord.
• Popularity: #801

Roy

• Name meaning: King or red.
• Popularity: #551

Are you ready for one last batch of names?

Bonus List: Popular names in Scotland that *aren’t* actually Scottish

Here are a bunch of boys’ names that are currently popular in Scotland but originate from other parts of the world.

Alexander

• Name meaning: Defender.
• Popularity: #13  This Greek name ranks #10 in Scotland.

Related: Middle Names for Alex

Alfie

• Name meaning: Wise.
• Popularity: Alfie isn’t ranking in the U.S. but Alfredo ranks #707 and Alfred is #900. This Spanish and English name ranks #12 in Scotland.

Archie

• Name meaning: Truly brave.
• Popularity: #399  This German name ranks #15 in Scotland.

Charlie

• Name meaning: Free person.
• Popularity: Charles ranks #50 and Charlie is #189. This German and French name ranks #13 in Scotland.

Freddie

• Name meaning: Peaceful ruler.
• Popularity: Freddie hasn’t ranked in the U.S. since 2003. Frederick currently ranks #476. This German name ranks #20 in Scotland.

Harris

• Name meaning: Son of Harry.
• Popularity: #996  This English name ranks #5 in Scotland.

Jack

• Name meaning: God is gracious.
• Popularity: #11  This English name ranks #1 in Scotland!

James

• Name meaning: One who follows.
• Popularity: James ranks #5 and Jimmy is #758. This Hebrew name ranks #8 in Scotland.

Leo

• Name meaning: Lion.
• Popularity: #31 This Latin name ranks #3 in Scotland.

Lucas

• Name meaning: Man from Lucania, a historical region of Southern Italy.
• Popularity: Lucas ranks #8 and Lukas is #227. This Latin name ranks #16 in Scotland.

Lewis

• Name meaning: Warrior or knight.
• Popularity: Luis ranks #137, Louis is #251, and Lewis ranks #487. This English name ranks #7 in Scotland.

Mason

• Name meaning: One who works with stone.
• Popularity: #18  This Welsh name ranks #17 in Scotland.

Noah

• Name meaning: Motion. Or rest.
• Popularity: For boys, Noah ranks #2. For girls, Noah ranks #692 and Noa is #330. This Hebrew name ranks #2 in Scotland.

Oliver

• Name meaning: Olive tree.
• Popularity: #3  This English and French name ranks #4 in Scotland.

Rory

• Name meaning: Red king.
• Popularity: Rory ranks #295 for boys and #396 for girls. This Irish name ranks #9 in Scotland.

Theo

• Name meaning: God given. Divine gift.
• Popularity: Theodore ranks #10 and Theo is #142. This Greek name ranks #14 in Scotland.

Related: Middle Names for Theo

Thomas

• Name meaning: Twin.
• Popularity: Thomas ranks #46 and Tommy is #729. This Aramaic name ranks #19 in Scotland.

If you’re still searching for the perfect baby name for your son, check out the lists below…

More baby names for boys:

• 235 Irish Boy Names for Modern American Babies
• 121 Plant Names for Boys that are Actually Cool
• 63 Perfect 3-Letter Boy Names

Final thoughts on Scottish names for boys

Perhaps you’re looking to honor your Scottish heritage…

Or maybe you just happen to like anything and everything Scottish! (Totally valid, btw).

No matter your motivation, thankfully, Scottish names for boys are abundant!

I was actually stunned to see how many Scottish names are popular for baby boys in the United States. (There are far fewer “mainstream” options for girls.)

Here are the 10 most popular (in America) Scottish names in rank order:

#21 Logan
#62 Cameron
#81 Ian
#98 Carson
#106 Rowan
#155 Arthur
#161 Graham
#163 Maxwell
#173 Gavin
#175 Camden

Whether you choose to go with a moniker that’s popular or more obscure, all of the names on this enormous list of Scottish boy names are solid!

Congratulations and good luck choosing the perfect name for your little lad!

Scottish Boy Names