Niven, Meaning, and History

The name Niven is a unique and historical name with strong Scottish origins. Derived from the Gaelic name “Naoimhin”, Niven translates to “little saint”. The name carries a sense of purity, grace, and historical significance.

The name first appeared in Ayrshire which used to be a country in southern Scotland. The Scottish Niven family has been traced back to very ancient times, even before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The Niven family is believed to have moved from Scotland to Ireland and later to the Americas.

Origin

Niven has its roots in ancient Gaelic culture. The Gaelic “Naoimhin” is a diminutive form, meaning “little saint.” It highlights the name’s religious and cultural heritage. Traditionally, it was a surname, and its use as a given name reflects its historical depth and character.

Variations

The name Niven may not seem like a popular name for boys, but it is actually derived from a powerful Scottish family. The meaning of Niven is “little saint” and can take on many forms, such as Nevin, Navin, Newin, Nifen, and Nevison.

Popularity

Niven is not among the most common names, but it has maintained a steady presence in Scotland and other English-speaking regions. While it may not rank highly on popularity charts, its uniqueness, and cultural significance make it a cherished choice for parents looking for something distinctive.

There were only two babies called Niven in Scotland in 2023.

Famous People with the Name

Alexander and William Niven arrived in New Jersey in 1685. A different William Niven settled in New Jersey in 1686, while others from the Niven family moved to New York and California in the 19th Century. Besides the United States and Canada, the Nivens also spread to Australia and New Zealand during the 19th Century.

Famous people who have descended from the Niven family include William R. Niven, Pearl L. Niven, Laurence van Cott Niven, and many others. David Niven, John Niven, and Derek.

Niven also shares the surname and could be from the same family. The Niven family has a distinctive crest and coat of arms. Their motto is Vivis Sperandum, which means “Where there is life there is hope”.

Why choose the name?

The name Niven encapsulates a sense of historical and cultural richness. Its association with sainthood and purity gives it a timeless appeal. The name evokes a sense of heritage, making it a meaningful choice for those who value their Scottish roots.

In conclusion, the name Niven is more than just a name; it is a testament to Scottish history and culture. Its unique meaning and historical significance make it a distinctive and cherished choice, resonating with those who bear it and those who appreciate its heritage.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish names.

Meaning and Origin of Gregor

The name Gregor is a name which has Dutch and Scottish origin. The meaning of Gregor is vigilant. The name Gregor is actually a shortened form of the boy’s name Gregory. The name Gregory is really not a common name in this day and age.

In German as well as Scottish the name “Gregor” means on the watch. It is said that those who possess this name are usually analytical especially when they reach adulthood. Sometimes talents and inborn traits do not completely surface until after puberty sets in.

Essentially, the name “Gregor” or “Gregory” can be given to any one of any nationality. The name is not really heard very often. It seems newer more modern type names have replaced traditional or common names. Therefore, the popularity of Gregor has greatly diminished.

The popularity of the Name

Gregor was the 156th most popular baby boys name in Scotland in 2017 (latest stats from the  Scottish Government)

Famous People Called Gregor

The most famous person with the name Gregor must be the German scientist Gregor Mendel. He was the founder of what we know to today as Genetics.

Gregor MacGregor was a famous Scottish soldier who served in a number of different armies.

Gregor Schlierenzauer an Austrian ski jumper

Traits of People with the Name

The name “Gregory” or “Gregor” will more than likely not be found listed in a book of common baby names. It has been said that people who have the name “Gregor” have a deep desire within to help others as well as influence another person.

Useful Resources

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

Meaning and Origin of the Name Iain

The beautiful name Iain is of Scottish origin. The meaning of Iain is God is gracious and is a Gaelic form of the name John. In Scottish the meaning is also ‘gift from God.’ This is a well known name that is used in Scotland since the twentieth century.

Famous People with the Name

Some famous Iain’s are Iain Banks and Iain Sinclair, whom are contemporary novelists from Scotland. Also, Iain Archer who is a singer-songwriter, and Iain Balshaw an English rugby player. Game of Thrones actor Iain Glen is a popular one to note.

Traits of the Name

Men who are named Iain have been known to have certain character traits. They are known to be leaders with strong independence. Iain’s do not like to focus on small details, rather more important issues. They enjoy balance and harmony in their lives. They also have good sense of humours and great personalities.

Popularity of the Name Iain

In Scotland in 2014, Iain was the 336th most popular baby boys’ name. However in the 1960’s the name was the 10th most popular name in Britain.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning, origin & popularity of other boys’ names in Scotland.

Facts about the Name Ranald

Discover the all the facts about the male name Ranald. Ranald is a male name of Norse and later Celtic origin. This name has been seen for hundreds of years from all over Eastern an Northern Europe.

Popularity of this Scottish Name

In 2014, Ranald was not in the top 100 baby boys’ names in Scotland. Not even registering one birth according to data from the Scottish Government.

Meaning

Ranald, like many names of Norse origin the meaning of this name holds power. The meaning is Rulers Counsellor thus showing importance of the higher end of the social food chain.

Famous People Called Ranald

The final aspect will be the famous people with the name. Example include the famous general Ranald Slidell Mackenzie who during his time would lead the Union army to victory during the American civil war.

Another holder of this name would be Ranald MacDonald who began the task of teaching English to the Japanese.

The last person we will be looking at is Ranald Graham who till 2010 would write for popular UK shows.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names

Meaning and Origin of the Name James

One of the Scottish names that has been around for many years is the name James. James has been popular since it’s inception biblical times. This is the name that many people in the UK have used over the years. It is actually a variations of the name Jacob.

The meaning of James is he who grasps the heel. This is the literal interpretation of the name.

Popularity

James is the name that has a great deal of popularity. It has been used in the UK an Scotland since the 13th century. The Popularity of James has been all over the world, especially in the English speaking world. In 2014 James was the 2nd most popular boys’ name in Scotland.

Famous People Called James

There are many famous people with the name James, both mythical aka James Bond, and real life individuals like James Chadwick and Kings James I and VI.

Those who want to look at the name James know that it has been extremely popular in Scotland for a number of years. It once held second place on a popularity of names in Scotland.. Even though James has been popular over the years, it is not in the Top 100 names currently in Scotland.

Resources

• Discover the meaning, origin & popularity of other Scottish boys’ names.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Duff

As an anglicised form of the Gaelic word “dubh”, the boy’s name Duff stems from Scottish, English, and Irish origins. The meaning of Duff is “dark” and “swarthy”, but it also has a more serene meaning of “black peace.”

Duff can represent a certain type of individual too. For example, in Scotland, it was used to describe someone who had dark hair and an olive complexion. It is also used to refer
to a man, with a dark temperament.

Popularity

As a first and last name, Duff enjoys more popularity as a surname, than it does as a actual first name. It is estimated, there is about 13.100 people with this name, and in a world of billions, this only represents less than one percent of the population.
Although, you can find more people named Duff in Ireland, United States, and the United Kingdom, the name is still rare, even in these countries. For example, in 1880, there were 42 babies per million named Duff, and in 2013, there were only two babies per million, in the USA.

Variation of the name Duff

Duff has variations in the names of Duffy, Duffey, Duffie, Duffee, Duffi, Duffye, Duffia, Duffe, and Duffa.

Famous People with the Name

Despite its rarity, there are still some famous people called Duff. There is Duff Green, who was not only a diplomat, but a teacher, author, industrialist, and politician, among many other things.

Duff Bruce, who began playing for Aberdeen in 1923, was a Scottish pro football player. As a singer and songwriter, Duff Mckagan was a member of the very famous American hard rock band ” Guns ‘N’ Roses.”

Although, the name Duff, is an unusual name, the dark meaning of it, does seem to give it, a quite alluring air of mystique.

Useful Resources

• Discover the meaning and origin of other Scottish boy’s names

Origin and Meaning of the Name Keith

The origin of the name Keith is said to be Welsh with Ireland and Scotland also claiming origin. Historically, a long line of earls from Scotland are named Keith. The meaning of Keith is said to be woods or forest.

Popularity

The name Keith has fallen in popularity in most countries over the past few years. Data from Scotland assert the popularity of the baby boy name Keith is rated at 680 in 2014. In 2012

Names that are close associations to Keith are Kieth and Kade. Recent data from the US indicate the popularity of Keith as a baby boy name to consistently range between 2,000 and 9,500 each year.

Famous People with the Name

Keith appears to have been a more commonly selected boy’s name in the mid-twentieth century. There are several celebrities named Keith including Keith Richards (from the band Rolling Stones), Keith Anderson (American country musician), Keith Urban and Keith Jarrett of the music field. Others include Keith Moon (drummer for the Who), Keith Lemon and Keith Carradine.

Useful Resources

Checkout the meaning and popularity of other Scottish boys’ names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Ranulf

Ranulf is the English version of an old Norse name, most often given to boys.

The original Norse name, Reginúlfr, Can be broken down into two parts to understand the meaning. Regin means ‘advice’ or ‘decision’, whereas, úlfr means ‘wolf’.

The meaning of Ranulf can be understood as wolf like advice or wolf like decision. Understanding the meaning of the name Ranulf gives the sense of a strong and decisive personality of the person who bears it.

Popularity of Ranulf

It is hard to describe the popularity of Ranulf because of the lack of data and in Scotland in 2014 Ranulf was recorded as a first name. So Ranulf is a very unique name.

Famous People wit the Name

There have been very famous people in history, as well as some who are still alive that carry the name Ranulf.

One such person in history is Ranulf 1 de soules who was a Norman knight who was honoured by being appointed cup-bearer to king David I, Malcon IV, and later William The Lion. He was the first person in Norman tradition to hold that position. Although spelled with a slight variation, Ranulph Fiennes is a modern day example many people look up to. He was able to climb Mount Everest at the age of 65.

Useful Resources

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

Hector Meaning and Origin

The meaning of Hector comes from many sources. The name Hector comes from Scottish, French, English and Spanish origins. It may have been derived from Hektor, a Trojan Prince that was killed by Achilles during the Trojan War.

Another derivation may be from ekhein a Greek word that means to restrain It may also be derived from the name Eachann, which means keeper of horses and is pronounced AK-an, with Hector being the English translation of the name.

Another source of the name might be from Arthurian Character Sir Ector, King Arthur’s foster father who Merlin gave Arthur to when he took the baby from Uther Pendragon and Igraine of Cornwall.

Popularity

In 2014, the popularity of Hector was ranked as the 245th most popular name in Scotland. While it is not at the top it is still a popular name.

Famous People called Hector

Some important Scottish People named Hector include Hector C. Macpherson a writer who penned articles on non-fiction subjects such as history and politics, Hector Waller Australian naval captain of the HMS Perth and fought at battle of Sunda Strait, and Hector Berlioz who was a French composer that wrote Symphonie Fantastique and Grande Messe des morts.

Useful Resources

See our complete list of Scottish boys’ names on our website.

Origin and meaning of the name

The name Aengus is steeped in Irish and Scottish mythology and history, bearing a distinctive and powerful meaning. Derived from the Old Irish name “Óengus”, Aengus translates to “one strength” or “unique strength”. The name evokes a sense of power, individuality, and mythological resonance.

The Aengus name has a lot of history behind it. The name originated in Scotland back in 1296, and there are several variations to the spelling of the name. For example, it is sometimes spelled as Anguish, Angos or English.

The meaning of Aengus is “exceptional strength” and it is based on the God of love, who is often described as having several birds flying around his head as a symbol of the love he inspires in others.

The Angus family was involved in the great migration, during which many Scots fled to Australia and America to avoid persecution. Traveling across the Atlantic proved challenging, and not everyone survived.

Popularity of Aengus

While Aengus is not a widely common name, it holds a special place in Irish and Scottish heritage. Its mythological connections and strong meaning make it an appealing choice for parents looking for a name with depth and historical significance. In recent years, the name has seen a resurgence in popularity, especially among those who appreciate its cultural richness.

The name Aengus reached the height of its popularity in the 1800s, after which it took a steep decline. Today, the name is not even listed as one of the top 100 baby names in Scotland.

Famous People Bearing the Name

Though rare, several notable individuals have borne the name Aengus, contributing to its recognition and prestige. Some of these include:

• Aengus Mac Grianna, is an Irish journalist and newsreader known for his work with RTÉ News.
• Aengus Fanning, a prominent Irish journalist and editor who made significant contributions to Irish media.
• Angus Young – Guitarist
• Angus Macfadyen – Actor
• Angus Deayton – Game Show Host

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish names on this website

Meaning and History of the name Naughton

The name Naughton is derived from the Gaelic “MacNeachtain”, which translates to “son of Neachtan”. Neachtan is an ancient Gaelic name that means “pure” or “clear”. This name is reflective of the traditional Gaelic naming conventions, where names often held descriptive meanings linked to the characteristics or roles of individuals.

Popularity

The Scottish name Naughton did not appear in the Scottish boys’ top 100 names chart.

However, the original meaning of Naughton comes from the old Irish and is originally Gaelic. The name Naughton states that the child is a descendant of Nechtan. This was an old Irish clan that was alive and well in the 1300’s. In the early 1600s, the name arrived in Scotland and meant pure. This meaning comes from the idea that boys named this were of pure blood.

The popularity of Naughton can be seen throughout the new world having multiple cities named after it. There is a Naughton, Ontario; Naughton, Suffolk, and even a Naughton park in England.

Famous people with the name

Several notable individuals have borne the name Naughton, contributing to its recognition and prestige. Some of these include:

• David Naughton, is an American actor and singer known for his roles in “An American Werewolf in London” and the television series “Makin’ It”.
• Michael Naughton, a prominent British academic and writer focused on wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice.

The Name Today

Most of the people who have the name in today’s day and age have it as their last name rather than their first. A few of the more notable Naughtons are Kyle Naughton an English footballer who plays for Swansea City, turn of the century playwright Bill Naughton, and popular American actor David Naughton known for his starring role in The American Werewolf in London. Naughton being used as a first name has all but disappeared in the modern naming of boys.

Useful Resources

Check out the meaning and origin of other Scottish boys’ names.

Richie – Origin and Meaning of the Name

The name Richie (pronounced ri-chie) originated during the 9th Century and came from the famous religious figure Alrich who was in his own time better known as Aldric of Le Mans. He was a high ranking bishop in the Roman Catholic church in Le Mans France (a region bordering the Sarthe River) serving under the reign of Louis the Pious and Charlemagne.

The name also comes from the Old German name Richard (originally pronounced Ri-card).

The meaning of Richie is usually translated as Powerful Leader or Old and Powerful Leader. In either variant it is a very positive and masculine name.

Popularity

Richie was the 490th most popular baby boys’s name in Scotland in 2013 (latest stats from the  Scottish government)

In the United States of America the name Richie (as well as it’s variants such as Rick, Richard, Dick and so on) is a very popular first name for males ranking in many polls just below the top 1000 most popular names mark.

In the USA during the 60s the popularity of Richie reached it’s zenith with the name being polled as the 633nd most popular male first name in the country.

Famous People Bearing the Name

• Richie McCaw – the New Zealand rugby international and captain
• Richey Edwards – the Welsh Musician from the band Manic Street Preachers
• Richie Sambora – American rock guitarist from the band Bon Jovi

Meaning and Origin of the Name Stewart

The Scottish baby name Stewart, has gained popularity according to Scotland’s 2013 statistics (in 336th position for baby boys names). The meaning of Stewart derives from the midlevel position of Steward in a castle. Historically, Stewarts were placed with the responsibility of caring for the estate. Naturally the popularity of Stewart as a name for first born males has long been established. The symbolism of the meaning of Stewart correlates well with future heirs of the families.

History of the Name

Taking a closer look at the royal name, one can see the history rich meaning of Stewart. The Gaelic form of the Highland Scottish name is a derivative of the “Clan Stewart.” This historical group were once monarchs in Scotland. Later, the Clan Stewart became an armigerous clan, or a group that does not have a position of chief among clan members. Yet another reason to name your little one Stewart, for the fundamental democratic history it represents. Starting as members of nobility from a France family, the Stewarts established land-holds in England. Eventually the Clan Stewarts left Scotland for England when David I claimed their throne. Still owners of many castles, over time the name Stewart progressed into the medieval position of caretaking that it is known for today.

Variations of the Name

Stuart is a common variation of the name.

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Discover the meaning and popularity of other Scottish names on our website.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Dougal

Dougal it isn’t a very a common name that often can give people trouble when trying to find out what it means. The actual meaning of Dougal is dark stranger and the heritage is Celtic.

The name originate from the Gaelic names Dubhghall, or Dùghall.

Popularity of Dougal

The popularity of Dougal varies depending on where you are in the world as it was very popular in places like Scotland for a period of time but in the United States you hear that name very rarely if at all. In 2014, it was the 680th most popular boys’ name in Scotland.

Famous People with the Name

However there are many people with the name Dougal that have made a name for themselves such as Jimmy Dougal a Scottish international footballer who played as a striker and Dougal Hastings a mountaineer who was born in Edinburgh.

Dougal McGuire was a fictional young and innocent priest in the popular TV series Father Ted played by Ardal O’Hanlon. Another famous Dougal was Dougal the dog from the childrens animation “The Magic Roundabout”

Useful Resources

• See the meaning and popularity of other Scottish male names.

Origin of Creighton

The name Creighton is one that most definitely gets its origin from Scotland though today sees it more as a popular name in Northern Ireland. The Creighton name is one that is believed to originated from the town of Crichton which is near Edinburgh. It is here where the name is first to have been written as Crectune and was first seen and recorded in 1128. It was seen about 160 years later as Crecton.

As a surname, the name Creighton is certainly a revered one in the border area of Scotland and England and has been known to produce many notable person’s in the history of the United Kingdom and throughout the world.

Meaning of the Name Creighton

The meaning of Creighton has been researched as coming from the Old Welsh word of creic or rock and then the Old Scots word of tun which means farm.

Popularity

This name was not in the top 1000 baby boys’ names in Scotland in 2014. However, Creighton is more commonly found in Northern Ireland, where in today’s Scotland the variation of the name is usually Crichton or sometimes seen as Crighton.

Useful Resources

Discover the meaning and popularity of other boys’ names on our website.