Scotland is known for being home to many unique and wonderful names that have fascinating and historical origins.
Whether it is boys names like Angus, girls name such as Ailsa, or even unisex names, you are likely to encounter people every day whose monikers sound distinctly Scottish. Perhaps even more interestingly, there are names you may have encountered that you likely have no idea have Scottish origins, for example Janet.
With the popularity of television shows set in Scotland such as Outlander in recent years, some names such as Dougal and Laoghaire that were previously out of vogue are once again seeing increased usage.
Every name has a story, and Scottish ones are certainly no exception. Read on for a rundown of the origins of 15 unique and uncommon Scottish names, as well as their origins and meanings.
Boys
Lachlan — This Scottish-sounding name is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Lachlann, which is in turn derived from the earlier Gaelic personal name Lochlann. It means “from the land of lakes” or “from the fjord land.”
Struan — This predominantly-male name derives from the Scottish Gaelic word sruthan, and means "small stream".
Brodie — Often seen in the United States these days, Brodie has Scottish and Irish origins. As well as being the name of a place in Moray, the name is thought to be Gaelic for "a little ridge", "a brow", or "a precipice".
Ian — Also seen spelled Iain, this is actually the Scottish version of the name John. It derives from the Hebrew name Yohanan and means "God is gracious" or "the Lord is gracious."
Ruthven — Like many names, Ruthven comes from a place. The Ruthven lands in Perthshire take their name from the Scottish Gaelic Ruadhainn which means "Dun upland".
Angus — One of the more iconic Scottish names, Angus is an Anglicised form of the Scottish Gaelic Aonghas. This is composed of Celtic elements meaning "one" and "choice".
Girls
Morag — Like Angus, you are unlikely to come across many names that sound as quintessentially Scottish as Morag. Its meaning is "great" or "star of the sea".
Lorna — Even amongst the other names on this list, Lorna has a unique origin. It is said to have been coined by author R. D. Blackmore when naming the protagonist of his 1869 novel Lorna Doone.
Ailsa — Another Scottish name derived from a place, Ailsa is thought to come from the Scottish island Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde. It is believed to originate from "Alfsigr", a name comprising of Alf ("elf") and sigi ("victory").
Bonnie — Like Brodie, Bonnie is another name that is relatively common across the pond. It derives the Scots word bonnie, translating to "pretty" or "beautiful".
Eilidh — Originating from the Gaelic version of Eleanor, Eilidh means "sun ray, shining light" or "radiant one".
Rhona — This is thought to come from the Gaelic word rona, which means "rough island".
Unisex
Blair — You may have come across both men and women called Blair at one point or another. This unisex name is derived from the Scottish Gaelic blàr, meaning "plain", "meadow" or "field".
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