Scottish Names

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Derivation Of Some Of The Principal, and Popular, Christian Names used in Scotland over the centuries:
EMMA - was the Top Scottish Girl's Name in 2003.
LEWIS - was the Top Scottish Boy's Name in 2003.

AARON - A mountaineer.
ABEL-Vanity.
ABRAHAM -The father of a great multitude.
ADAM - Man, earthly, red.
ADOLPHUS - Happy help.
AENEAS - Laudable.
ALBERT - Famous.
ALEXANDER - A benefactor.
ALFRED - All peace.
ALASDAIR - Gaelic form of Alexander.
ALISTER - The same as Alexander.
ALLAN - Fair, handsome.
ALPIN - Pictish king
ALWIN - All victorious.
AMBROSE - Immortal.
AMOS - Weighty.
ANDREW- A brave man.
ANGUS - Noble valor.
ANTHONY - Beautiful.
ARCHIBALD - Powerful, bold.
ARNOLD - Honest.
ARTHUR - A strong man.
AUBREY - Always rich.
AUGUSTUS - Noble, royal.
AULAY - A rock.
AUSTIN - Renowned.

ADA - Happiness.
ADELAIDE - Noble.
ADELINE - The same as Adelaide.
AGATHA - Good.
AGNES - Chaste.
AILEEN - Hazel Nut.
AILSA - Ailsa Craig
ALICE - The same as Adelaide.
AMY - Beloved.
ANDREA - feminine form of Andrew
ANN - Gracious.
ANNABELLA - Gaelic Anabla
ARABELLA - A fair altar.

BALDWIN - The speedy conqueror.
BANE - White, fair, pale.
BANQUO - A white dog.
BARDULPH - Fair help.
BARRY - from the placename Barry.
BARTHOLOMEW - A son that suspends the waters.
BASIL - Royal, kingly.
BEAN - Life.
BENEDICT - Blessed.
BENJAMIN - The son of the right hand.
BENNET - The same as Benedict.
BERNARD - Child-like.
BERTRAM - Fair and pure.
BLAIR - placename.
BOTOLPH - A sailor.
BOYD - yellow.
BRIAN - Nobly descended.
BRYCE - also as Brice.

BARBARA - A barbarian.
BEATRICE - Blessed, happy.
BERTHA - Bright and famous.
BLANCHE - White, fair.
BRENDA - Sword.
BRIDGET - A hostage.

CALLUM - form of St Columba.
CAMERON - crooked nose.
CAMPBELL - crooked mouth.
CAMUS - A harbor.
CARADOX - Dearly beloved.
CAIRNS - the lands of Cairns.
CATHAL - battle mighty.
CEDRIC - amiable.
CHARLES - Courageous.
CHRISTIAN - A Christian.
CHRISTOPHER - Christ's carrier.
CLARENCE - Clear, bright.
CLAUDE - A weeping voice.
CLEMENT - Gentle, kind.
COLIN - A darling.
CONRAD - Able counsel.
CORNELIUS - high will.
COSMO - an ordered system.
CRAIG - Gaelic creag.
CRAWFORD - a ford where Crows gather.
CRIGHTON - border village.
CRINAU - A mournful tune.
CUTHBERT - Famous, bright, of clear skill or knowledge.

CAROLINE - The feminine of Charles.
CATHERINE - Pure, chaste.
CATRIONA - Gaelic form of Catherine.
CECILIA - Grey-eyed.
CHARLOTTE - The feminine of Charles.
CHRISTINE - The feminine of Christian.
CLARA - Clear, bright.
CLAUDIA - The feminine of Claude.
CLEMENTINE - The. feminine of Clement.
CONSTANCE - Constant, firm.

DANIEL - The judgment of God.
DAVID - Beloved.
DENIS - Holy minded.
DEREK - people and ruler.
DIARMID - unenvious.
DONALD - A great chief.
DOUGALL - The black stranger.
DOUGLAS - dark blue.
DRUMMOND - placename Drymen.
DUGALD - black stranger.
DUNCAN - The chieftain's castle.
DUNSTAN - A stony hill.

DEBORAH - A bee.
DELIA - Conspicuous.
DIANA - Jove's daughter.
DORCAS - A doe.
DOROTHY - gift of god.

EDGAR - Happy, blessed.
EDMUND - Blessed peace.
EDULPH - The same as Adolphus.
EDWARD- Good nature.
EDWIN - Blessed conqueror.
EGBERT -Always famous.
ELLIOT - border name.
ENOS - Mortal.
ENRIQUE - The same as Henry.
ERIC - sole ruler.
ERNEST - Earnest.
ETHAN - Strength.
ETHELARD - Noble disposition.
ETHELBERT - Nobly renowned.
ETHELSTAN - Most noble.
ETHELWARD - Noble keeper.
ETHELWOLD - Noble governor.
ETHELWOLF - Noble helper.
EUGENE - Nobly born.
EUSTACE - Resolute.
EVERARD - Always honored.
EWAN - well-born.

EDITH - Happiness.
EILEEN - hazel nut.
ELAINE - the bright one.
ELEANOR - Compassionate.
ELIZABETH - The oath of God.
ELLEN - English form of Helen.
ELSIE - The same as Alice.
ELSPETH - Scottish contraction of Elizabeth.
EMILY - The same as Emmeline.
EMMA - Industrious.
EMMELINE - Little Emma.
ESME' - to esteem.
ESTHER - Secret.
ETHEL - Noble.
EUGENIA - The feminine of Eugene.
EUPHEMIA - well spoken of.
EVA - Life-giving.
EVELYN - hazel nut.

FARQUHAR - An honest man.
FELIX - Happy.
FERDINAND - Pure peace.
FERGUS - A brave chieftain.
FINLAY - fair hero.
FORBES - field, district.
FRANCIS - Free.
FRASER - strawberry.
FREDERICK - Rich peace.
FULBERT - Full-bright.
FULKE - Beloved of the people.

FANNY- A corruption of Frances.
FELICIA - The feminine of Felix.
FENELLA - white shoulder.
FIONA - based on the Gaelic fionn.
FLORA - flowers.
FLORENCE - Flourishing.
FRANCES - The feminine of Francis.
FREYA - female ruler.

GABRIEL - A man of God.
GAVIN - the gypsies of the Border.
GEOFFREY - In God secure.
GEORGE - A husbandman.
GERARD - Natural.
GERVAS - Steadfast.
GIFFORD - Liberal.
GILBERT - Bright pledge.
GILCHRIST - The servant of Christ.
GILES - A companion.
GILLANDERS - servant of St Andrew.
GILLEAN - A servant.
GILLEBRIDE - The servant of St. Bridget.
GLEN - placename.
GODARD - Good natured.
GODFREY - Godly.
GODFRIDUS - The same as Godfrey.
GODWIN - Converted to God.
GORDON - Berwickshire placename.
GOSPATRICK - Count Patrick.
GRAHAM - Grey homestead.
GRANT - tall.
GREGOR- A herdsman, watchful.
GREGORY - Watchful.
GUAIRE - The same as Godfrey.
GUY- A leader.

GAIL - father rejoiced.
GEORGIANA - The feminine of George.
GERTRUDE - Amiable.
GILLIAN - The feminine of Julius.
GRACE - Graceful.
GRISHILD - Grey lady,

HAMILTON - scarred hill.
HAMISH - phonetic rendering of Gaelic Seumas.
HAROLD - Leader of the army.
HARRY - pet form of Henry.
HECTOR - A defender.
HENRY- A rich lord.
HENGIST - A horseman.
HERBERT - A good soldier.
HILDEBERT- A famous lord.
HORACE - Of good eyesight.
HUBERT - Bright color.
HUGH - Exalted.
HUMPHREDUS - The same as Humphrey.
HUMPHREY - Noble and knightly.
HUNTLY - placename.

HANNAH - Merciful.
HARRIET - The feminine of Henry.
HAZEL - tree.
HEATHER - plant.
HELEN - Compassionate.
HENRIETTA - The feminine of Henry.
HILDA - battle.
HONORA - Honorable.

IAN - Gaelic form of John.
INGRAHAM - Pure as an angel.
INNES - Island.
ISAAC - Laughter.
IVOR - Gaelic Iomhair.

IDA - The same as Edith.
INA - Enya.
INGA - Scandinavian name.
IONA - Hebridean island.
IRIS - Goddess of rain.
ISABELLA - Olive complexioned.
ISLA - River and Island.
ISMAY - a blend of Christine and Mary.

JACOB - He that supplants.
JAMES - The same as Jacob.
JASPER - Precious.
JEREMIAH - The grandeur of the Lord.
JEROME - The same as Jeremiah.
JOB - He that weeps.
JOEL - One that commands.
JOHN - God's grace.
JONAS - A dove.
JONATHAN - The same as John.
JOSCELYN - A diminutive of Justin.
JOSEPH - Increase.
JOSHUA - The Saviour.
JOSIAH - The fire of the Lord.
JULIUS - Soft haired.
JUSTIN - Just.

JANE - The feminine of John.
JANET - Little Jane.
JEAN - A feminine form of John.
JEMIMA - Dove.
JENNIFER - Fairness.
JESSIE - Gaelic Seasaidh.
JOAN - feminine form of John.
JOSEPHINE - The feminine of Joseph.
JOYCE - Merry.
JUDITH - Praising.
JULIA - The feminine of Julius.
JUNE - Month.

KEITH - Scottish placename.
KENARD - Kind-hearted.
KENHELM - A defender of his family.
KENNEDY - ugly headed.
KENNETH - A chieftain.
KENTIGERN - chief lord.
KERR - Brushwood.
KEVIN - comely birth.
KIRK - Church.

KAREN - Scandinavian form of Katrine.
KATHARINE - Pure, chaste.
KATHLEEN - Little darling.
KERRY - Giar’s people.

LACHLAN - fjord land
LAMBERT- A beautiful lamb.
LAWRENCE - Flourishing.
LEGER - Swift, nimble.
LEMUEL- God is with them.
LENNOX - elm trees.
LEOD- A wounder.
LEOFSTAN - Most beloved.
LEOFWIN - Win love.
LEONARD - Lion-like.
LEOPOLD - A defender of the people.
LESLIE - Aberdeenshire placename.
LEWIS - The safeguard of the people.
LIONEL - A little lion.
LINDSAY - Clan Name.
LOGAN - little hollow.
LORNE - Placename.
LUCAS - Luminous. Lucius-Light.
LUDOVIC - Sunday’s servant.
LUTHER - Fortune and honor.
LYLE - the island.

LAURA - The feminine of Lawrence.
LEE - pasture.
LESLEY - Aberdeenshire placename.
LETITIA-Mirth.
LILLIAN - Lily.
LINDA - Serpent.
LORNA - Lorne.
LORRAINE - Joan of Arc.
LOUISA-The feminine of Lewis.
LUCRETIA - A good housewife.
LUCY - Bright.
LYNDSAY - Clan Name.
LYNN - Modern Name.

MACDONALD - Son of Donald.
MAGNUS - great.
MALCOLM - The servant of Columba.
MARK - Shining.
MARMADUKE - Mighty.
MARTIN - Warlike.
MATTHEW - The gift of God.
MAURICE - A warrior.
MAXWELL - Scottish placename.
MELVILLE - A Norman placename.
MICHAEL - Who is like God ?
MILES - A corruption of Michael.
MORVEN - mountains.
MOSES - Drawn forth.
MUIR - Moor.
MUNGO - St Kentigern.
MUNRO - Gaelic Mac An Rothaich.
MURDO - sea warrior.
MURRAY - placename Moray.
MYLES - Gaelic Mael-Moire.

MABEL - Amiable.
MADELINE - The same as Adeline.
MAGDALEN - Majestical.
MAIRI - Mharie the Gaelic form of Mary.
MAISIE - Gaelic Marsail.
MALVINA - Gaelic Malmhin.
MARGARET - Precious.
MARIA - The same as Mary.
MARION - The same as Mary.
MARJORIE - Gaelic form is Marsali.
MARLENE - once very popular.
MARTHA - Bitter.
MARY - Exalted.
MATILDA - A noble lady.
MAY - pet form of Mary.
MAUD - A corruption of Matilda.
MELICENT - Sweet.
MILDRED - mild and strength.
MIRIAM - Affliction.
MOLLY - pet form of Mary.
MORAG - great.
MURIEL - Sea Bright.

NATHAN - Given.
NATHANIEL - The gift of God.
NEIL - Dark complexion.
NICHOLAS - Victorious.
NIGEL - Swarthy.
NOEL - Christmas.
NINIAN - missionary
NORMAN - North-man.

NANCY - A corruption of Ann.
NANNETTE - Little Anne.
NESSIE - diminutive of Agnes.
NICOLA - feminine form of Nicholas.
NORMA - a fashionable name.

OLIVER - Peace.
OSBERN - An adopted child.
OSBERT - Domestic brightness.
OSMUND - House peace.
OSWALD - A steward.
OWEN - The good offspring.

OLIVE - botanical.
OLIVIA - The feminine of Oliver.
OSLA - little bear.

PARLAN - waves of the sea.
PATRICK - A senator.
PAUL - Little, small.
PETER - A rock.
PHARLAN - The same as Bartholomew.
PHERSON - A parson.
PHILEBERT - Very famous.
PHILEMON - Loving.
PHILIP - A lover of horses.

PAMELA - beloved of all.
PATRICIA - feminine form of Patrick
PAULINE - The feminine of Paul.
PEARL - pearl.
PHILLIPA - The feminine of Philip
PHOEBE - Radiant.
PRISCILLA - An ancient dame.

QUINTIN - The fifth born.

RADULPUS - The same as Ralph.
RALPH - A counsellor.
RANDAL - The same as Randolph.
RANDOLPH - Fair help.
RANULPH - The same as Randolph.
RAYMOND - Pure mouth.
REGINALD - King-like.
REYNARD - Incorrupt.
REYNOLD - Pure love.
RICHARD - Of a generous disposition.
ROBERT - Famous in council.
RODERICK - Rich in counsel.
ROGER - Peace.
ROLAND - Counsel for the land.
ROSS - placename.
RONALD - power-might.
ROY - Red.
RUEL - God's shepherd.
RUFUS - Red.
RUPERT - The same as Robert.

RACHEL - A sheep.
REBECCA - Fat.
REGINA - Queen-like.
RHODA - A rose.
RHONA - rough isle.
ROSALIE - Fair as a rose.
ROSALIND - The same as Rosalie.
ROSAMOND - Rosy lips.
ROSE - flower.
ROSEMARY - flower.
ROWENA - Acquired peace.
RUTH - Satisfied.

SAMUEL - A prophet.
SCOTT - a Scott.
SEAN - Irish form of John.
SEBASTIAN - Majestical.
SIGEBERT - Victorious fame.
SIGISMUND - Victorious peace.
SIMON - Hearing.
SINCLAIR - Tinker.
STANLEY - Placename.
STEPHEN - Honor.
STRUAN - Clan Robertson.
STUART - Steward.
SWITHIN - Very high.
SYDNEY - St Denis.
SYLVESTER - A woodman.

SANDRA - a short form of Alexandra.
SARAH - Mistress.
SHEENA - Jean.
SHEILA - Sue.
SHIRLEY - Placename.
SHONA - feminine form of John.
SOPHIA - Wisdom.
STELLA - Star.
SUSAN - Lily.
SYBIL - God's counsel.
SYLVIA - Wood.

TERRENCE - Thor
THEOBALD - Bold over the people.
THEODORE - The gift of God.
THEODORIC - Rich in people.
THOMAS - A twin.
TIMOTHY - One who honors God.
TORQUIL - Thor.
TOBIAS - The goodness of God.
TREVOR - homestead by the sea.
TRISTRAM - Sad.

TERESA - inhabitant of Thera.
THEODOSIA - The feminine of Theodore.
THORA - Thor.

UMPHRED - The same as Humphrey.
UNA - Lamb.
UTHRED - High counsel.

URSULA- A little bear.

VALENTINE - Brave.
VICTOR - A conqueror.
VINCENT - Victorious.

VALERIE - To be strong.
VERONICA - True Image.
VICTORIA - Victor.
VIOLA - Pretty and modest.
VIOLET - Flower.
VIRGINIA - Maidenly.
VIVIEN - Lively.

WALDEN - A wood.
WALLACE - Strathclyde Briton.
WALTER - The lord of the wood.
WIBERT - Holy and bright.
WILDRED - Great fear.
WILFRED - Much peace.
WILLIAM - A defence of many.
WIMUND - Sacred peace.
WOLSTAN - Comely.
WULPHER, - A helper.

WENDY - J.M Barrie nickname.
WILHELMINA - The feminine of William.
WINIFRED - Get peace.

ZACHARIAH - The memory of the Lord.