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Nathair

Meaning and Origin of the Boy’s Name Nathair

The name Nathair is an old Celtic name derived from the Old Irish Nathir and Proto-Celtic *Nathrixs, and is mainly a Scottish boy’s name now.

The Welsh equivalent is Neidr, and the Breton is Naer. It is a form of the word “naga”.The meaning of Nathair is “snake” or “resembling a snake.”

Nathair is said to have originated from the word Naga, Snake
Nathair is said to have originated from the word Naga, Snake

The Female equivalent of the name is Nathaira (Na-they-rah).

Popularity

The popularity of Nathair in the United States is less than five boys with that name born in 2018, and it is not in the 1000 most popular names list.

Famous People Called Nathair

There are no famous people named Nathair, however, it is becoming popular in fiction and gaming. The character Nathair Sgaithach (Winged Serpent) is the god of pseudodragons and faerie dragons in Titania’s Seelie Court in Forbidden Realms.

A Nathair amulet featuring two snakes and a clear crystal is supposed to help with patience, focus, and wisdom.

How to pronounce Nathair?

Nathair can be pronounced as ‘Na their’.

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Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Aonghus

The Meaning of the Name Aonghus

The Meaning behind the name refers to the Celtic God of love and beauty. Some have assumed him to the patron deity for men and women(of all ages).

Aonghus the Celtic God of love and Beauty
Aonghus the Celtic God of love and Beauty

People Who Have Acquired The Name Aonghus

One of the more modern depictions(of Aengus) concerns his role in William Butler yeat’s poem called The Song Of Wandering Aengus. The poem is basically about how Aengus is searching for his lover.

Though the popularity of Aonghus is not that strong(as compared to other boy’s names), some of the more common names include that of Aonghus McAnally.

According to some of the Scottish folklore, Aonghus has a harp with silver strings. Young women and other lovers are carried to him through music. He imparts kisses and other forms of affection. Once he is finished, his youth and love play to his lovers like soft music in their ears.

Also, According to some of the other legends that exist, Eaengus has a white horse that he rides during the spring(to The Promised Land).

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of Scottish boys’ names.

Scottish Boys Names for Autumn Babies

Autumn has arrived. Summer’s greens have transformed into shades of gold and a certain chill is in the air. For the autumn-born child, having a name to reflect the season and his roots would be most pleasing. Here are some Scottish Boys Names for Autumn Babies.

Names for Autumn Babies
Names for Autumn Babies

Dalzell -meaning “white fields”
One of the first signs of the change of seasons are the fields showing off their ripened crops, ready for harvest. Why not name your son after his future of prosperity?

Darach -meaning “oak”
A child named for the majesty of the mighty oak decked in golden radiance will bring joy wherever he goes in life.

Keith -meaning “wood” or “forest”
Nature takes on a whole new beauty this time of year. Naming a son after a place full of autumn wonder will inspire his imagination for life.

Maddock -meaning “generous”
This time of year makes one wish to give back to their community. Begin to train your son at a young age to be a generous soul by using his name as a reminder.

Robert -meaning “bright flame”
There’s nothing like sitting around a cozy fire during the chilly evenings of autumn. Have your son’s future burn bright as a bonfire by using this name.

Many names are associated with this time of year. Each one can influence how you envision your child developing as they grow older. Choosing the perfect name is a difficult task, yet choosing a name embracing this beautiful time of year is not.

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Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish Boys’ names.

Sorley

Meaning and Origin of the Name Sorley

The name Sorley was taken from the Scottish Gaelic word Somhairle. The meaning of Sorley for the Irish and the Scottish is summer wanderer, but it also stands for summer sailor.

The old Mc Sorley's Old Ale House
The Old Mc Sorley’s Old Ale House

Popularity

The popularity of Sorley is almost nonexistent right now as many people seem to not be fans of the name. It did not even rank the charts for popular baby names, especially in the United States.

Famous People with the Name

There are some popular people by the name of Sorley that should be mentioned though, and two of these are Sorley Boy MacDonnell and Sorley MacLean.

Sorley Boy MacDonnell was a Scoto-Irish prince as well as chief. He was best down fro establishing the MacDonnell clan in Antrim, and he resisted the campaign of Shane O’Neill. He also resisted the campaign of the English crown expelling the clan from Ireland.

Sorley MacLean was a Scottish Gaelic poet that is extremely popular in the modern era. Sorley music is a very unique sound that mixes infectious grooves, acute vocal hooks, and tantalising bass riffs.

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Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Most Popular Scottish Boys Names in 2019

There have been a lot of different names over the years that have held the rank of most popular, and it is common to see these names change all the time. The most popular Scottish boys names in 2019 is what is going to be discussed here.

A graph of the top 5 most Popular Scottish Boys' Names
A graph of the top 5 most Popular Scottish Boys’ Names (https://scotland.shinyapps.io/nrs-baby-names/)

1. Jack “God is gracious”
This name was used 423 times and did not change positions.

2. Oliver “bearer of the olive branch or ancestor”
This name was used 337 times and did not change positions.

3. James “supplanter”
This name was used 320 times and did not change positions.

4. Charlie “man”
This name was used 288 times and rose 7 positions.

5. Harris “son of Harry”
This name was used 284 times and rose 3 positions.

6. Noah “rest”
This name was used 256 times and rose 3 positions.

7. Lewis “renowned warrior”
This name was used 254 times and dropped 1 position.

8. Leo “lion”
This name was used 252 times and dropped 3 positions.

9. Rory “red-haired king”
This name was used 241 times and rose 1 position.

10. Alfie “elf”
This name was used 234 times and rose 6 positions.

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Bearnard

The Meaning of Bearnard

The name Bearnard is a Scottish baby name that means Bear Strong or bold as a bear. It is a form of the English, French and German name “Bernard”.

Bearnard mean's as strong or bold as a bear
Bearnard mean’s as strong or bold as a bear

The meaning of Bearnard is ‘a boy who has natural strength and is as powerful as a bear’. It consists of 8 letters and 2 syllabuses, pronounced as Bear-nard.

Origin of the Name

The name Bearnard is of German origin that has found its home in Gaelic. This means it applies mostly in Scottish Gaelic languages. This name derives from the Old High German name “Berinhart” that describes a strong, brave or powerful bear.

Popularity

Bearnard is generally used as a boy’s name in Scotland. However, the name is not regularly used as a baby name and not ranked within the top 1000 names. Instead, similar names such as Bernard are commonly used for boys. The popularity of Bearnard was high in the 192os and 1930s before it began declining.

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Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Simidh

Discover the Meaning and Popularity of the Name Simidh

Simidh is a Scottish name for boys that is not very popular in the country or around the world. It is a version of the name Simon, which is often used for boys around the world.

Even though the spelling is a bit more complicated than Simon and other similar names, the name is very simple, as Simidh has only two syllables and is easy to pronounce.

The name Simidh was not given to many notable people. It was originally a Gaelic and Hebrew name. The meaning of Simidh in Scottland is “hearkening.”

Popularity

It was not listed as one of Scottland’s 100 top names for baby boys in the year 2019. The popularity of Simidh is not impressive, but the popularity of the name that it comes from is much greater.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Ullieam

Ullieam as a boys name

The name Uilleam is commonly spelled, “William” in English. The meaning of Uilleam has a Scottish origin and means “willing protector”.

Popularity

Over time, the popularity of Uilleam has remained low. In 2018 Ullieam was not in the top 100 baby boys names in Scotland.

Famous People with the Name

William Wallace
Uilleam Uallas (more commonly known as William Wallace)

A famous historical figure known as, Uilleam Earl of Mar was a famous Scottish builder in the 13th century. Another notable figure with the name was Uiilleam the 1st Earl of Ross. He was the ruler of the province of Ross in northern Scottland. Finally, Uilleam Uallas (William Wallace) was a famous Scottish knight who became famous while fighting in the first Scottish war of independence. Some people spell his name with two w’s.

Summary

The name Ullieam is, therefore, a historical Scottish name that predates the modern form of William due to the change over the English language over time. Today, you will likely never encounter a Ullieam unless in rural Scottland, even then the name is very rare and commonly not used.

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Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Rae

Gentle Rae and Historical Meaning

The majority of popular boy names are based on power, strength, or nobility. Provided the Medieval Scottish heritage of royalty behind the name Rae, it is understood the Strathclyde-Briton family were the primary ones to use it. Though the popularity of Rae not considered common to see or hear a male have, it still bears great significance behind it.

Meaning

The meaning of Rae is grace, timid, or bashful. The name also originates from Scottish, Hebrew, German, and Old English descent. Normally for an adolescent boy, they consider being labeled bashful, lacking nobility. However, given this name will label the boy just as noble and strong, just like any other.

History

After leaving the Romans, the Britons of Strathclyde dominated the west of lower Scotland and Northern England. The Strathclyde-Briton family also divided into three sub-kingdoms upon leaving. Instead of destroying the land, they helped build a strong relationship with the Welsh through culture and language, which was an ancient form of Celtic (Brythonic).

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and origin of other Scottish boys’ names.

Brochan

The Meaning of Brochan

The Scottish boys’ name Brochan is a Gaelic word which in English translates to porridge.

Brochan translates to porridge
Brochan translates to porridge

The name was made popular by a Scottish Gaelic song called “Brochan Lom” a traditional Gaelic folk song which sings about thin, watery, porridge. It is a popular children’s tune. The song is popular more for its tune than its meaning.

The song is commonly played for Highland Schottische (a popular ceilidh dance.) The tune was seen in the 1949 film Whiskey Galore! which was used as a drinking song. The term Brochan is also used as Gaelic slang meaning mess, shambles, broken, or you’ve made a mess of it!

Popularity of Brochan

Brochan was the 1282 most popular baby boys’ name in Scotland in 2017. The name has recently seen an increase in popularity.

People with the Name

Brochan Evans is a Scottish child actor known for his work in Arthur & Merlin: Knights of Camelot, Requieum, and Keeping Faith.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Parlan

Origin and Meaning of the Name Parlan

Parlan is a baby name of Scottish origin, used for boys. Parthalan is another Scottish variation of this name.

The meaning of Parlan is interpreted as “farmer” or “ploughman.” It is thought to have an older history, being a variation of the Hebrew name Bartholomew which means “son of the furrow.”

History

Over time the name Parlan was anglicized to MacPharlain, McFarlane, MacFarland, McFarlan, or McFarling. Parlan, as that spelling is historically not a popular name. Perhaps the popularity of Parlan is better determined by the more common anglicized versions of the name.

A Highland Scottish clan, Clann Phàrlain, were descendants of medieval Earls of Lennox. This “Clan MacFarlane” occupied land on the western shore of Loch Lomond.

Famous Parlans

The Fisher King, also known as the Maimed King, of the King Arthur legends, was called Pellum, or Parlan. The Fisher King was wounded by fragments of sword and so could not ride and took up fishing as a pastime.

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Discover the meaning and origin of other Scottish boys’ names.

Murdock

Origin of the name Murdock

The boy’s name Murdock is of Celtic origin. It has been used in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales.

Roots of the name are composed of ‘muir’ meaning ‘sea,’ which is commonly considered to be the meaning of Murdock.

Variations of the Name

Variations of the name include Murdoch, Muiredach, Murdoc and Murtagh.

Popularity

The popularity of Murdock was at its highest in Ireland and Scotland during the Middle Ages.

In 2019 it was 10,511st on the list of popular names.

Famous People with the Name Murdoch

It’s most common as a surname, shared by many notable figures throughout history and television.

  • William Murdoch was a Scottish inventor who lived from 1754 to 1839. He’s most famous for his contributions to coal gas and steam power.
  • Buz Murdock is a character from a TV show called Route 66. He grew up in New York City, where he dealt with juvenile delinquency and gangs.
  • “Howling Mad” Murdock is another fictional character. He was featured as a protagonist in the action show The A-team.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of Scottish boys’ names.

Alasdair

Meaning and Origin of the Name Alasdair

Alasdair is a popular Scottish boy’s name that was first written down in 1928. The name Alasdair is the Gaelic form of the very popular name “Alexander.”

The meaning of Alasdair is “defender of man.” Alasdair is often anglicized as Alistair, but the Scottish Gaelic version has a rich history and popularity, sharing its name with many famous Scots.

Popularity

The popularity of Alasdair has slightly declined since the height of its popularity in the mid-1970s, but nevertheless, this name was ranked as the 175th most popular name in 2017, according to the National Records of Scotland.

People Called Alasdair

Alasdair is the given name of many famous historical and contemporary Scottish musicians, writers, and philosophers.

Alasdair MacLeod was a famous Olympic rower.

Alasdair Gray was a writer famous for his novels, political writing, and contributions to the postmodern literature movement. Alasdair Gray influenced many Scottish writers after him.

Alasdair MacIntyre is an influential Scottish ethics philosopher from Glasgow who revolutionalized moral philosophy in the middle of the 20th century.

Alasdair Roberts is a folk musician. Alasdair Roberts is also currently a member of the famous folk band “The Furrow Collective.”

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Ruiseart

Origin and Meaning of the Name Ruiseart

The name Ruiseart started from Gaelic origins. It also has a somewhat Scottish origin. The meaning of Ruiseart is ‘dominant ruler.’

The name Ruiseart is a form of Richard. They say that the name is great for a child with sparkle and full of life.

Ruiseart is known for being used with both boys and girls.

Popularity

The popularity of Ruiseart is very low. The name was used less than 5 times in the United States last year.

The name is very uncommon but is also an old name. It used to be popular in earlier times. However, now it is very rarely used.

How to Pronounce Ruiseart?

Interestingly, Ruiseart is pronounced with the sea making a sh sound. So it is pronounced ‘RUW SHE ART’.

Traits of someone with the name

They say that people with this name are often expressive and full of life. People with that name are known for being exciting and over the top personalities. If you are looking for a new and exciting name to name your child consider the name Ruiseart.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Malcolm

Meaning and Origin of the Name Malcolm

Malcolm, a boys name of Scottish and Gaelic heritage, has been in use since the 10th Century. The original usage and meaning of Malcolm was to denote disciples of Saint Columba. “Mael,” the first part of the name Malcolm, derives from the Old Gaelic term for a bald person.

Popular Boy’s Name for 11 Centuries

Many disciples demonstrated their devotion to a particular saint by shaving part or all of their hair. Saint Columba had a large following in Ireland and Scotland during the middle ages, which made the name Malcolm quite popular throughout this era. At least four Scottish kings have claimed the name Malcolm throughout history.

The popularity of Malcolm placed it as the 264th most common boys name in Scotland as of 2018.

Famous People with the Name

Malcolm Rifkind the politician from Edinburgh
Malcolm Rifkind the politician from Edinburgh

Figures in popular culture named Malcolm include famed author Malcolm Gladwell, fiery African-American civil rights leader Malcolm X, British Liberal Democrat politician Malcolm Bruce, and Sir Malcolm Rifkind – conservative British politician.

While usage of Malcolm has declined throughout the greater UK region, it has remained a somewhat popular name choice in Scotland.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.