Beautiful Scottish Names And What They Mean

Much like the eclectic array of dialects, Scottish names are as magical as the dreamscapes they stem from. Some classic, others wildly unique, swoon over the most striking names from Scotland and the meaning behind them.

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Ailsa

Female | Pronounced the same way as Elsa, Ailsa is a tried and true Scots name with Viking origins. It refers to the volcanic island and gannet colony, Ailsa Craig, that emerges out of the Firth of Clyde and means ‘supernatural victory’.

Male | While whisky or ‘the water of life’ in Scots Gaelic is uisge-beatha, the name Beathan simply means life. Pronounced BAEy-un, it is definitely one of the more unusual names.

Skye

Female | Skye is a stand-out name taken from the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s most magical island and a place of uninterrupted paradise. Suited to adventurers and strong characters, if the person in question is anything like the island, they’re one in a million.

Coinneach

Male | Although anglicised as Kenneth, Coinneach translates as ‘handsome’, stemming from the Gaelic word caoin. Pronounced CON-ak, it is also an Irish boys name.

Morven

Female | The name Morven is evident across many cultures and yet it is quintessentially Scottish. Morven is linked to James Macpherson’s Ossianic poems and is also a Scottish place name rooted in the Gaelic A’Mhorbhairne, meaning the sea gap or big gap.

Lachlan

Male | An ode to Scotland’s potion of mystical lochs and lochans, Lachlan is a boys name meaning ‘land of the lochs’. Pronounced LACK-lan, it also has roots as a Scots nickname for one who hails from Norway. The female version is Lachina.

Marcail

Female | A stunning name for a soul as precious as the stone she’s named after, Marcail is the Scots version of Margaret and means ‘pearl’. Pronounced MAR-kale.

Paden

Male | The name Paden originated in Scotland and translates as ‘royal’. A cool boys name, this one is the perfect pick for parents wanting an original name with Scottish ties. Paden could also be gender neutral.

Senga

Female | The backwards spelling of Agnes, Senga is a traditional Scottish name that means pure and chaste. Making it all the more unique, it has faded in popularity over the years.

Sorcha

Female | Meaning light, bright and radiant, the name Sorcha can be found across both Scotland and Ireland. It stems from the Gaelic word for ‘brightness’ and also has ties with the name Clara. Pronunciation SOR-ka.

Baird

Male | Baird is a fairly common surname across Scotland and yet it makes for a cool forename. Rooted in the meaning of bard, this trendy boys name is suited to literature lovers. Pronounced BEAR-d.

Bonnie

Female | A quintessential Scottish name that will never go out of fashion, Bonnie is the Scots word for beautiful, pretty, stunning and attractive. Bonnies tend to have an inimitable personality.

Ùisdean

Male | Pronounced OOSH-jun, this Scottish Gaelic name is rooted in the Old Norse name Eysteinn, which roughly translates to eternal island stone.

Isla

Female | Pronounced EYE-la, Isla comes from the Isle of Islay, an enchanting island that basks off Scotland’s west coast and the name of two Scottish rivers.

Moray

Like the Moray Firth, this Scots surname name is also a masculine given name which means sea. A Scots version of Murray, this one captures the adventurous nature of Scotland.

Liùsaidh

Female | An enchanting name, Liùsaidh is the Scots Gaelic alternative for Lucia, the lyrical Italian name which means elegant, graceful, shining light. Pronounced LOO-sai.

Hamish

Male | You can’t get more Scottish than Hamish — well, except for the name Jock (Scots for John)! A tried and true option still going strong today, this charming pick is the Scots version of James. Hamish means supplanter and Highlander.

Mòrag

Female | A traditional name, the Gaelic meaning of Mòrag is great and sun. However, it is also a Scottish version of Sarah, which means princess.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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