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Swept up in the culture and mythos of Scotland? We don’t blame you.
These curated Scottish baby girl names are the perfect mix of ancient Gaelic titles and modern monikers from across the sea (and border).
Scottish girl names never fail to conjure up the history, language, and mythology of Scotland.
In fact, many of these beautiful and memorable names hark back to the people, places, and features that make the country so special.
From clans and queens to rivers and islands, you’re spoiled for choice.
So, if you want to honor your family’s Scots heritage, or you’re simply looking for a unique baby name for your little lass, choosing a Scottish girl name is a great choice.
And here, we’ve compiled the ultimate list of Scottish baby girl names to help you decide.
In this article: 📝
- What is a typical Scottish woman’s name?
- What are good Scottish names for girls?
- How about Scottish Gaelic girl names?
- Get more baby-naming inspiration with Peanut
What is a typical Scottish woman’s name?
If you want to truly honor your family heritage, the most popular Scottish girl names and meanings are a great place to start.
Emily, Amelia, Grace, Ava, and Lily all made the top ten according to the 2020 National Records of Scotland.
No doubt you’ll recognize more than one of these popular girl names – their universal appeal isn’t fading anytime soon!
But if you’re looking to learn more about names that are rich in Scottish history and tradition, how about:
- Isla: Taking the top spot, this natural name is inspired by the majestic River Isla that flows through the Grampians in northern Scotland. If you listen closely, you can almost hear the lapping of the waves on the island of Islay, which is where this name originates. Bliss.
- Olivia: Branch out with this ancient Scottish name, meaning “olive tree.” It’s thought that the Scottish origin of Olivia comes from the Old Norse name Oleifr. The earliest version of the name was written in 1086 in the Domesday book, so we can safely say it’s 100% a traditional Scottish girl’s name.
- Ella: Conjuring up images of glens and mystical landscapes, this popular name means “light” or “beautiful fairy woman.” Fitting for a little girl!
- Sophie: A popular choice across the globe, Sophie is an anglicized version of Sophia, and its Scottish origins lie in the Gaelic name Beathag, which means “wise and intelligent.”
- Freya: Sharing Scottish and Norse roots, the name Freya is associated with the goddess of love and maternity. This name is considered a highly feminine choice within classical mythology as translated it means “lady.” As far as cute female Scottish names go, this one’s a winner.
What are good Scottish names for girls?
When it comes to finding an enchanting name befitting your little girl, there’s an incredible amount of choice out there, Scottish or otherwise.
To help make your search a little easier, we’ve made a list of our favorite Scottish female names below, sorted neatly into alphabetical order.
Scroll on and enjoy!
Scottish baby girl names: A-E
From places of pride to Gaelic words that honor honesty and friendship, these Scottish girl names celebrate Scotland’s culture beautifully:
- Abigail: Meaning “my father’s joy”.
- Ada: Originally German in origin, Ada is a shortform of Adelaide, which means “noble” or “nobility”.
- Aila: Meaning “from the strong place”.
- Ailsa: Meaning “elf victory”. Related to the island of Ailsa Craig, from the original Gaelic Aillse Creag which means “fairy rock”. A mythical name through and through.
- Alba: Meaning “white” in Latin, it’s also the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland.
- Alexandra: Meaning “defender of men”.
- Amber: Meaning “jewel”.
- Amy: From the Latin word amare meaning “beloved”.
- Annie: Meaning “grace” or “favor”.
- Arabella: Meaning “prayerful”.
- Arya: With the success of Game of Thrones, it’s little wonder this particular name is so popular! It means “noble one”.
- Aurora: This name is inspired by the infamous “Northern Lights” or aurora borealis, which can sometimes be seen in this beautiful part of the world. It means “dawn”.
- Bella: Meaning “beautiful”.
- Bethany: A Hebrew girl’s name meaning “house of figs”.
- Billie: Meaning “determination” or “strength”. A variation of the English boy name William.
- Blake: From the Old English word blac meaning “dark-haired”.
- Bonnie: In the Scots language the word bonnie means “pretty”. You may have heard people using the term ‘bonnie lass’.
- Brooke: Meaning “small water” or “stream”.
- Cali: Meaning “beautiful”.
- Callie: Callie could stem from Caledonia – the ancient name for Scotland. Callie means “from the forest.”
- Cara: In Irish, cara means “friend”. The sentiments are shared in Latin, where it gets its roots from the cārus meaning “darling” or “loved one”.
- Charlotte: Meaning “free person”. French in origin.
- Chloe: Greek in origin, Chloe means “blooming” or fertility”.
- Clara: Meaning “bright” or “clear”.
- Connie: Meaning “constancy”.
- Cora: Inspired by the Gaelic word cóir meaning “honest” or “just”.
- Daisy: From the Old English daegeseage meaning “day’s eye”.
- Darcey: Rooted in the ancient Gaelic name Dorchaide which means “dark”. Darcie and Darcy make for great alternatives.
- Eden: Meaning “place of pleasure”.
- Edith: Meaning “riches” or “blessed”.
- Effie: Meaning “well-spoken”.
- Eleanor: Meaning “shining light”.
- Elena: Meaning “bright” or “shining light”. Related to Eleanor.
- Eliza: A short form of Elizabeth meaning “pledged to God”.
- Eloise: A variation of the French name Héloïse which means “healthy” or “wise”.
- Elsie: This Scottish twist to the Hebrew Elisheba means “pledged to God”.
- Emilie: Meaning “rival”.
- Emma: Meaning “whole” or “universal”.
- Erin: A distinctly Gaelic and Celtic name meaning “Ireland”.
- Esme: Meaning “esteemed” or “beloved” from the Old French verb esmer.
- Eva: Meaning “life”.
- Eve: The root of Eva which means the very same: “life”.
- Evelyn: Meaning “desired” or “wished for” from the French name Aveline. May also be linked to the Old Irish word óiph, which means “beauty”.
- Evie: A possible variation of so many beautiful girl’s names, including Eve, Evelyn, and Evangeline. Good news you have as equally many precious meanings to choose from. “Life”, “gospel”, “wished for child” – take your pick!
Scottish baby girl names: F-N
From the virtuous to the battle-strong, female Scottish names capture every possible facet of a thriving little being.
Which quality speaks to you:
- Faith: A steadfast virtue name meaning “trust” or “devotion”.
- Fiadh: Meaning “wildness” – like the Scottish highlands.
- Flora: Meaning “flora” and inspired by Roman mythology.
- Florence: Meaning “flourishing”.
- Francesca: Meaning “free”.
- Gabriella: Meaning “God is my strength”.
- Georgie: Meaning “farmer”.
- Gracie: Meaning “favor” or “blessing”.
- **Halle:**A Norse name meaning “army ruler” or, better yet, “heroine”. Major Viking energy.
- Hallie: This Scandinavian name means “dweller at the meadow”.
- Hanna or Hannah: Meaning “grace”.
- Harley: A name that carries wild and mischievous connotations thanks to Harley Quinn. Her name means “hare’s meadow”.
- Harlow: Meaning “army hill”.
- Harper: Meaning “harp player”.
- Harriet: Meaning “home ruler”.
- Hayley: Meaning “hay meadow”.
- Hazel: Meaning “the Hazel tree”.
- Heidi: Meaning “noble kind”.
- Hollie: Meaning “the holly tree”.
- Holly: From the Old English hol lēah meaning “clearing by the hollow”. Haunting.
- Hope: As in the virtue of “hope” or “positive expectation”. What a mindset to carry through life. 🙌🏿
- Imogen: From the Gaelic inghean meaning “maiden”. One of the less prominent Shakespeare baby names from his play The Tragedie of Cymbeline.
- Indie: An American name meaning “independent”. Love!
- Iris: Meaning “rainbow”. 🌈
- Isabella: Strike a regal tone with Isabella, one of the most common names for the Queens of Scotland throughout history. It means “God is my oath”.
- Isobel: This Scottish take on Isabel means “pledged to God”.
- Ivy: Meaning “climbing, evergreen plant”.
- Jasmine: Meaning “gift from God”.
- Jessica: Meaning “to behold”.
- Julia: Meaning “youthful”.
- Katie: Meaning “pure”
- Kayla: Meaning “slim and fair”.
- Keira: Related to the Irish name Ciara meaning “little dark one”.
- Lacey: Meaning “from Lassy”.
- Lana: As a short form of the Russian name Svetlana, this Old Hollywood darling means “light”. May also stem from the Irish Gaelic word ailin meaning “little rock”.
- Lara: Meaning “laurel leaf” or “bright” and “famous”.
- Layla: In Arabic, Layla means “night”.
- Leah: An enduring Biblical name meaning “delicate” or “weary”.
- Lena: Meaning “bright” or “shining”.
- Lillie: Meaning “innocent”
- Lola: From the Spanish girl’s name Dolores meaning “sorrows”.
- Lottie: Meaning “free”. Related to Charlotte.
- Lucia: Meaning “light”. Lucie is another variation.
- Lucy: Meaning “light”.
- Luna: Meaning “moon”.
- Lyla: Meaning “night”.
- Lyra: A Greek name meaning “lyre”.
- Maddison: Meaning “strength in battle”.
- Maeve: Meaning “intoxicating”, Maeve has accelerated in popularity, climbing 130 places in Scotland since 2019!
- Maisie: Meaning “pearl”.
- Maja: Meaning “splendid”.
- Maria: Meaning “of the sea”, “beloved”, or “rebellion”. Can even mean “wished-for child”.
- Marnie: Meaning “from the sea”.
- Matilda: Meaning “mighty in battle”.
- Maya: Meaning “dream” in Sanskrit. In Greek mythology, Maya was the mother of the god Hermes whose name means “good mother”.
- Megan: Meaning “pearl”.
- Mia: In Egyptian, Mia is related to Mr meaning “beloved”.
- Mila: Meaning “miracles” from the Spanish name Milagros.
- Millie: Meaning “gentle strength”.
- Mirren: Meaning “beloved”.
- Mollie or Molly: A pet form of Mary meaning “of the sea”, “bitter”, “rebellious”, or “wished for child”.
- Mya: Meaning “great one”.
- Myla: Meaning “merciful”.
- Naomi: Meaning “pleasantness”.
- Niamh: Meaning “bright or radiance”.
- Nina: Meaning “little girl”.
- Nora or Norah: Meaning “honor” or “shining light”.
- Nova: Meaning “new”.
Scottish baby girl names: O-Z
Great Scottish names for a girl aren’t restricted to the mythical country alone.
Though they have left a lingering impression.
See if you can recognize any of these popular baby names:
- Orla or Orlagh: Meaning “golden princess” from the Celtic name Órfhlaith.
- Paige: Meaning “young helper”.
- Paisley: This gender-neutral Scottish place name means “place of worship”.
- Penelope: Meaning “weaver”.
- Penny: A variation of Penelope meaning “weaver”.
- Peyton: Meaning “fighting man’s estate”.
- Phoebe: Meaning “bright” or “radiant”.
- Piper: Meaning “pipe player”.
- Pippa: Meaning “lover of horses”. 🐎
- Poppy: Meaning “red flower”.
- Quinn: Meaning “wise”.
- Rebecca: Meaning “to tie firmly”.
- Remi: Meaning “oarsman”.
- Riley: Meaning “valiant” or “brave” from the Gaelic raghalach.
- Robyn: Meaning “bright fame”.
- Rosa: Meaning “rose”.
- Rose: The very same. 🌹
- Rosie: A playful variaiton of Rose.
- Ruby: Meaning “deep red precious stone”.
- Sadie: From the Hebrew word sarai meaning “queen” or “princess,” Sadie is most popular in Scotland as a pet name for Sarah.
- Sara or Sarah: Meaning “princess”.
- Scarlett: Meaning “red”.
- Sienna: Meaning “orange red”.
- Skylar: Meaning “scholar”. 📚
- Sophia or Sofia: Meaning “wisdom”.
- Summer: Meaning “half-year”. The OG summer name.
- Thea: Meaning “goddess”.
- Victoria: Meaning “victory”.
- Violet: Meaning “purple”.
- Willow: Meaning “willow tree”.
- Zara: Meaning “blooming flower”.
- Zoe: Meaning “life”.
How about Scottish Gaelic girl names?
Scottish Gaelic is an important part of the country’s linguistic and cultural heritage.
It’s the native language of Scotland, and while only around 1% of the Scottish population speaks Gaelic today, its influence is far-reaching.
This is particularly true in the Highlands and Islands, where many of the most popular Scottish female names were born.
So, to round off our list, here are a few popular Gaelic names we think you’ll love:
- Eilidh: We all know how important the sun is, especially in the Northern Hemisphere! To be given this name, which means “sun” or “radiant one”, is a sure sign of good luck and prosperity.
- Skye: Named after the largest of the Inner Hebrides isles, Skye’s Gaelic name means “island of the mist” and is home to diverse wildlife and stunning peaks. Famous fiction writer Neil Gaiman also has a house here!
- Iona: The holy isle of Iona is situated in the Inner Hebrides and housed a monastery for St Columba and his followers, still visited by pilgrims today.
- Rowan: This botanical name rolls off the tongue. With links to the rowan tree, it means “ash red” in Gaelic.
Get more baby-naming inspiration with Peanut
There you have it! Some of the best Scottish girl names for your little lass.
Are you still hunting for the perfect name?
Check in with your fellow mamas-to-be on Peanut!