Category Archives: Names

Gillespie

Meaning and Origin of Gillespie

Gillespie is a masculine first name and more commonly these days it is found as a surname. The name is an inspired form of the Gaelic Gille Easbaig which means “bishops’s servant”. The name is also of Scottish and Irish origin and holds the meaning of “servant of the bishop”.

Popularity of the Name Gillespie

Gillespie is not a frequently found name amongst the younger generations in Scotland or Ireland however it is more popular amongst the older generations.

Famous People with the Surname Name

One of the people is Gary Thompson Gillespie. He was born on the 5th of July in the year of 1960. In his prime he was a professional Scottish football defender and played for Liverpool in the 1980’s.

Another famous person with this name is Robert “Bobby” Gillespie. He was also born in June, like Gary, only in 1962. He held the lead singer position in a rock band named Primal Scream. In the middle years of the 1980’s he was a drummer for The Jesus and Mary Chain. He is a Scottish singer and song writer and continues to thrive today. His genres of music are plenty involving, alternative rock, post-punk, indie pop, acid house, dance rock and psychedelic rock.

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  • There are plenty of more Scottish boys’ names on our website see them here.

Fulton

Meaning and Origin of the Name Fulton

The Fulton name dates back centuries in Europe. The meaning of Fulton is locational, with the Scottish clan by that name from either Fullerton near Ayr or from Foulertoun near Forfar. There are several variations, such as Fullerton, that appear in medieval manuscripts dating back to 1260.

Famous People with the Name

Not only is this name historical, but it has also been associated with many famous individuals. Fulton Sheen was an American Archbishop who was well known for his sermons rich in both theology and philosophy on television and the radio. In 2002 Sheen’s cause for canonization was opened and he is currently on the path towards sainthood.

Another man booting the popularity of Fulton is Robert Fulton. He was an American engineer responsible for innovating the steamboat and running a successful line in New York state. In America, when you see a town, street or building carrying the Fulton name they are often named after this man.#j-

Currently in Scotland Jay Fulton is continuing to build the popularity of Fulton. Jay is a professional footballer playing for Swansea City from a family of footballers including brothers Dale and Tyler Fulton, father Steve Fulton and grandfather Norrie Fulton.

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

Archibald

Meaning of the Name Archibald

The meaning of Archibald is genuine and bold. If you want a name that will give a Scottish boy confidence, assertiveness and originality, Archibald represents these things. His genuine personality will help him master social situations.

The meaning of Archibald is what makes this Scottish name so appealing. The Archibald name stands for strength and standing up for what you believe in. It is a stoic name that is fitting for any family. It is a name that can be passed down from generation to generation.

Popularity of the Name

If you are looking for a name to give a Scottish boy, consider the Archibald name. The popularity of Archibald is gaining in Scotland. In 2013 Archibald was the 335th most common name in Scotland.

Famous People with the Name

The popularity of Archibald may have originated in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Archibald Hood was a Scottish engineer who became well known during the industrial revolution. He was well respected and admired by all. A modern or a shortened version of the name Archibald is Archie.

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Checkout the meaning and popularity of other Scottish male names on our website

Seumas

Meaning and Origin of Seumas

The Seumas name is a Scottish male name with Gaelic origins. The meaning of Seumas is the boys name James. There are Apparently several well known Irishmen with the name Seumas. The name is actually pronounced Hey-Muss. Therefore, the pronunciation of the name Seumas and the way in which it is pronounced vary significantly.

Popularity of Seumas

The popularity of Seumas has increased over the years and it was the 434 most popular baby boy’s name in Scotland in 2013.

Variation of the Name

There are other ways in which the name Seumas can be spelled. For example Shumas is also pronounced Shey-Muss. However, this particular spelling of the name is supposed to be that of Yiddish origin.

Famous People of the Name

One in particular was a Nobel prize poet named Seumas Heaney. Heaney was a popular Nobel prize poet that was recognized for his work back in 1995. Seamas Heaney was awarded the prize for his extraordinary writings and in depth work regarding beauty, miracles as well as the living past.

Some famous men who bear the name of Seumas include the football player Seumas Coleman and Seumas Devar is a well known actor that started his career back in the late 1970‘s.

Famous People of the Name

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

Kenneth

Meaning and Origin of the Name Kenneth

The Kenneth name is an old one. It is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic names Coinneach and Cináed , and it dates back to at least the 9th century. Kenneth (Cináed) mac Alpin, who was the king of the Scots in the 9th century, was known for uniting the Scots and Picts. The name didn’t start getting used outside of Scotland until the 19th century. In 1825, Sir Walter Scott wrote the novel The Talsiman, and he named his hero Kenneth, which made the name popular with non-Scots.

The meaning of Kenneth varies, given its origins. Coinneach comes from a Gaelic word for “handsome,” while Cináed means “born of fire.”

Variants of the Name Kenneth

Kenneth has several variants. Diminutive forms of the name include Ken and Kenny. Feminine versions of the name include Kendra, Kenna, and Kenina. In Scandinavian countries, the name is spelled “Kennet.”

Popularity

Kenneth was the 274th most popular popular baby boys’s name in Scotland in 2013.

The popularity of Kenneth is declining in the United States. It was quite popular from the 1940s through the 60s, but has since fallen out of favour somewhat. It is the 187th most popular boy’s name in the U.S.

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Carson

Popular Boy’ s Name Carson

Scotland has had a surge in the popularity of the Carson name. In 2013, the popularity of Carson was voted as one of Scotland’s top boy names (just outside in the 100 in 101st position). Famous people and places with the name Carson include, Johnny Carson the American TV presenter,  the English footballer Scott Carson, the American boxer Carson Jones and not forgetting the place Carson in California.

So you can see that the name Carson is also popular else where in the world both as a first name but also as a surname. In fact, Carson is a great name for females too.  The name Carson originated is unknown.

What Does Carson Mean

The Scottish meaning of Carson is, son of marsh dwellers. Whereas, the English meaning of Carson is, boy born in the swamp. Individuals with the name Carson are relaxed and love quiet time. Most Carson’s go on to be philosophers, scholars, and teachers. You can bring them a problem and they tend to look at the big picture. They can seem aloof, but are quite thoughtful and sincere. Most Carson’s tend to be introverts. Nicknames for the name Carson include, Carr, Case, and Carmichael, to name a few.

Although, the name Carson has various different meanings. Naming your son or daughter Carson can be fun or be presented as class and lineage.

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Reid

Origin of the Name Reid

Reid name is originally from Scotland. It is usually a surname if you are Scottish. There are many Scottish people that has this last name that are well known. There are fictional characters that also uses this name as well. There are also places and things that are named after Reid.

The name Reid is also spelled in sorts of different ways as well. This name is basically been around for a long time and was passed on from generation to generation.

Meaning of Reid

The meaning of Reid was from the word “read” originally back in the day and it is pronounced “red”. It is mainly a surname which eventually became a nickname. It usually describes someone with red hair or has a reddish complexion. In certain ways it also came from known places that has that name.

Popularity

The popularity of Reid became unpopular in 2013 in the United States of America due to the a guy name Harry Reid. He was part of the Obamacare campaign that not a lot of people were in favour of. That is why this name became unpopular at that point in time. All in all the name Reid is still considered one of the most used name in history of Scotland.

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Drummond

Meaning and Origin of Drummond

The Drummond name derives from the Gaelic word “Drumainn” which means “A ridge”. The meaning of Drummond in Scottish is “At the Ridge”, and in Celtic means “Lives on the hill top”.

Popularity

Drummond was ranked 1214 in popularity in 2013. Some of the popularity of Drummond comes from some well known people and places accompanied by the name Drummond.

Famous People And Places Associated With The Name Drummond

John Drummond Allison born in 1921 in Caterham, Surrey was an English war poet of the Second World War. He attended Bishop’s Storford college and Queen’s College in Oxford. Read more about John Drummond Allison at wikipedia.

Drummond Castle is in Perthshire, Scotland. The tower house was built in the 15th centery, mansion in the 17th century, and they both rebuilt in the Victorian times. The Drummond castle is well known for its gardens by Historic Scotland. More information reguarding Drummond Castle at wikipedia.

Dugald Drummond born in 1840 in Ardrossan, Ayrshire Scotland was a locomotive engineer. He worked for companies such as North British Railway, Caledonian, and more. Continue learning about Dugald Drummond at wikipedia.

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Forbes

History of the Name Forbes

The Forbes name has a long and rich history both as a male given name and as a family surname. Starting with the Scottish clan Forbes starting in the mid 1200s, a clan still active today with three family branches to the American financial magazine that bears its name, there are many reasons to choose the name Forbes. Long synonymous with success, it has always been associated with strong heritage and successful entrepreneurs.

Meaning and Origin

Stemming from the Gaelic Forbeis, the meaning of Forbes can be interpreted as “wealthy,” “field” or “district,” “headstrong” or “stubborn.”

Popularity

The popularity of Forbes as a first name has varied, though it was within the 590th most popular boy’s baby names in Scotland as of 2013, making it uncommon but not unusual.

Famous People with the Name

Among the many famous bearers of the name Forbes are: the Forbes family of publishers starting with B. C. Forbes, Edward Forbes the British naturalist, Terrell, Fred and Alex Forbes the footballers (not related), Forbes Burnham the former leader of Guyana from 1964 – 1985, Bryan Forbes the British director, the fictional character Forbes McAllister from Knowing Me, Knowing You… with Alan Partridge, and James Staats Forbes the Scottish art collector, railway engineer and administrator.

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

Hamish

Origin of the Name Hamish

Hamish is a popular Scottish first name with strong Gaelic origins. Derived from the Scottish Gaelic name “Aonghas,” it translates to “single choice” or “one-born.” This name often signifies a unique or special child.

The English version of the Hamish name is James. Hamish is usually a masculine name. While researching the name Hamish there appear to be no feminine versions. The name Hamish has origins in the Scottish Gaelic name of Seamus.

Meaning

The meaning of Hamish is supplanter; representative. Supplanter means the replacer which explains why it can mean representative also.

Popularity

Hamish has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent decades, particularly in English-speaking countries. Its charming sound and connection to Scottish heritage have made it a popular choice for parents seeking a distinctive name.

The popularity of the boy’s name Hamish was ranked 61st in popularity in Scotland in 2023.

In the United States, the name Hamish is not popular at all and it was not on the list of top 100 names as of the 2000 Census. However, its English version, James, is number 1 out of 1220.

Famous People with the Name

The famous cat Hamish McHamish from St Andrews
The famous cat Hamish McHamish from St Andrews

While there are not that many people named Hamish in today’s world there are a couple famous characters named Hamish:

  • Hamish Alexander in the novel Honorverse by David Weber
  • Hamish Campbell in the movie Braveheart
  • John Hamish Watson (also well known as Dr. Watson) of Sherlock Holmes fame.
  • Hamish McHamish, a cat made famous from the book
  • Hamish Macdonald: A Scottish singer-songwriter known for his traditional Scottish music.
  • Hamish Linklater: An American actor who has appeared in numerous films and television shows.
  • Hamish Ogilvy: A Scottish rugby union player who represented Scotland at the international level.

Summary

Hamish remains a popular and timeless name, often associated with qualities such as warmth, friendliness, and a love of tradition. Its Scottish roots and enduring appeal make it a popular choice for parents looking for a name with a sense of history and character.

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Art

Origin of The Name Art

The Art name is a shortened form of the name Arthur. The meaning of Art is derived from the name Arthur. The name Arthur is of Celtic origin, and was first found in the Latinized form “Artorius” which means noble and courageous. King Arthur is probably the most famous person with the name Arthur. There is great debate as to whether there was an actual King Arthur, or he was a mythological figure. What is clear, however, is that there is great evidence that the name “Artur” was very popular in Southern Scotland and Northern England in the 7th and 8th centuries.

This seems to point to the fact that there was at least someone famous in that region with that name. The Art name means rock or strong as a bear.

Popularity

The popularity of Art has been slow to grow. Art was not in the 100 most popular boy’s names for 2013 in Scotland.

Famous People Called Art

Famous people with the name Art include: Art Garfunkel (American musician), Art Linkletter (American TV and radio personality), Art Carney (American actor), Art Buchwald (American journalist), Art Ross (Canadian hockey player) and Art Houtteman (American baseball player).

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Stuart

The name Stuart is steeped in history and tradition in Scottish culture. This name carries a sense of nobility and responsibility, reflecting its origins and the notable figures who have borne it.

Meaning

The Stuart name has a great meaning. The meaning of Stuart comes from the word steward. This name was brought over to Scotland in the 16th century when Mary Stuart was from France.

The name Stuart is derived from the Old English words “stig” (meaning “house”) and “weard” (meaning “guardian”). Therefore, Stuart was used as the name of the official administrator of a household.

Stuart means the guardian or administrator of the household.
Stuart means the guardian or administrator of the household.

This name gives an individual a great sense of leadership and responsibility. Stuart isn’t only a great name for those in Scotland, but it is a great name for those all around the world as well. It will be interesting to see what happens to the popularity of Stuart over the next few decades.

Popularity of Stuart

Stuart has enjoyed varying levels of popularity over the centuries. It was particularly popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries, often associated with the royal House of Stuart, which ruled Scotland and later Britain from the late 14th to the early 18th century

Stuart is a very popular name all over the world, but it is very popular in Scotland. This is the country where it is most popular of all. It was the 242nd most popular boys’ name in Scotland in 2023 (Scottish Government Data).

Famous People Called Stuart

There are many famous Scots that have the name Stuart. One of the most popular characters on cartoon television is Stewie from the hit show Family Guy. There are many pro footballers, cricket players, and entertainers in Scotland with names as well. Several notable individuals have carried the name Stuart, contributing to various fields such as arts, sports, and politics. Some of the most famous people named Stuart include:

  • Stuart Adamson: The Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who co-founded the rock band Big Country.
  • Stuart Broad: The English cricketer known for his impressive career with the England cricket team.
  • Stuart Sutcliffe: The original bass guitarist for The Beatles, who left the band to pursue an art career.
  • Stuart Townsend: The Irish actor and director is known for his roles in films such as “Queen of the Damned” and “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen”.

Stuart Varney: The British-American economic journalist and television commentator.

Why choose the name?

The name Stuart evokes a sense of leadership, responsibility, and tradition. It is a name that has been associated with nobility and governance, reflecting its historical significance. The name carries with it a legacy of service and duty, making it a meaningful choice for parents seeking a name with depth and history.

In conclusion, the name Stuart is more than just a name; it is a reflection of Scottish heritage and history. Its origins, meaning, and the notable individuals who have borne it all contribute to its enduring appeal.

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

Evan

Popularity of the Celtic Name Evan

The name Evan is a very popular name Scotland. The popularity of Evan is currently ranked ninety-six of all baby boy’s names in Scotland. The name Evan has fluctuated in popularity in the UK over the last century. In 1870 the name was 47th most popular name in the UK, and it dropped down to the 96th place in 1914 and now it is 98th in England but its even more popular in Wales in 2013 in 38th position.

Meaning of Evan

The meaning of Evan translates to “God is gracious”. The Evan name is similar to such names as Ian, Ivan, and John, which all have similar meanings in their respected languages. The meaning of Evan first appeared in Wales with it being derived from the name Lefen. The spelling and translation slowly changed over time as it travelled throughout the rest of the Britannia.

Famous People with the Names

The Evan name is associated with a number of very famous persons. Evan Davis is the English journalist and economist who appears as a presenter on the BBC’s ‘Dragons’ Den’. Evan Peters is an American film and television actor who appeared in the film X-Men: Days of Future Past. Evan Thomas is an American journals and author who teaches at Princeton University.

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

Sinclair

Article on the name Sinclair

The Sinclair name is a Scottish surname which originally came from the Clan Sincliar. The clan’s leader, William the Conqueror lead his clan to conqueror both England and Scotland. which lead to them owning the Land of Roslin, which is also known as nthe King of Scots.

The name Sincliar shares both Scottish and French origins and has been stylized with many derivations from the names “de Saint-Clair, Santoclair, de St. Clair and Synklar”.
The meaning of Sinclair means clear pool or clear well.

The name Sinclair also has 3 variant versions, such as Sinclare, Synclair and Sinclaire.
Since the name Sinclair is mostly used as a baby name for boys, the popularity of Sinclair is not a popular first name for boys, but it is a very popular surnames and has been since the year 2000 ranking in at 1107 on the popular surname list.

People Called Sinclair

There are also several famous and well-known people who share this same name:
Alice Sinclair, a supermodel, Rebecca Sinclair, Olympic Snowboarder, Alex Sinclair, comic book illustrator, Rosemary Sinclair, fictional character. Adam Sinclair, an MTV socialite and Sincliar Lewis, a US Novelist.

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Duncan

Meaning and Origin of the Name Duncan

The meaning of Duncan comes from Germanic roots, and the name first came to Scotland during the Germanic conquests. There are a couple of alternate forms of the name Duncan including Donnchad and Donnchadh. The name is also used in Ireland with the spelling Donagh. The meaning of Duncan is “Brown Warrior”. This comes from the Germanic roots of “Donn”, which means brown. The work “Cath” means warrior.

Popularity

The Duncan name is a popular Scottish name that was ranked as the 177 most popular boy’s name in 2013. The popularity of Duncan has increased in the past several years, and the name has remained popular over the course of several years.

Famous Duncans

There are a number of very famous persons who were named Duncan. The first famous use of the name Duncan was used in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth. The name is associated with Scottish royalty with Duncan the First making the first appearance, and his child Duncan the Second continuing the name. There is also the Scottish philanthropist and author named Duncan Bannatyne.

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