Last year I looked at the most popular Welsh names used in Wales for boys in 2009. As the 2010 data was much the same, it's high time I gave the same attention to Scotland.
In 2011, the most popular names used in Scotland for boys were Jack, Lewis, James, Logan and Ethan. This list, however, does not concentrate on the most popular names used in Scotland but, rather, the most popular Scottish names used in Scotland.
Logan - Ranking highly at #4 in 2011, Logan was originally a placename and surname in Scotland meaning "little hollow" in Gaelic.
Cameron - A Scottish surname, recorded since the 15th century as the name of a notable West Highland clan. It derives from the Scots Gaelic cam "crooked" and sròn "nose". Its use as a first name dates back to the 18th century . In 2011 the name ranked #12 in Scotland for boys, and #487 (6 births) for girls.
Callum - Calum is Scottish form of Columba, a name derived from the Latin columba "dove." St Columba is one of Scotland's most notable saints and is credited with founding the monastery on Iona. The name was common in Scotland in the Middle Ages, and saw a peak in usage again in the 19th century. Callum is the most popular spelling at #15, with Calum at #64.
Aiden - A Gaelic name, originally from Ireland, derived from áed "fire." Irish born St Aidan, another popular saint in Scotland, was a monk at the monastery on Iona, who became the first bishop of Lindisfarne. In 2011, Aiden ranked #20 and Aidan was #57.
Finlay - The Anglicised form of the Gaelic name Fionnlagh, from fionn "white, fair" and laogh "warrior, champion." It was rather popular in Scotland in the 19th century, and can also be found as a surname. Finlay ranked at #21 in 2011 with spellings Findlay and Finley at #169 and #335 respectively.
Kyle - A surname derived from the place Kyle in Ayrshire. There are a few theories for its origin. Traditionally, it has been said to have been named after British king, Coel Hen; other theories derives it from the Scots Gaelic caol "a straight" or coille "a wood." As a surname-firstname it has found usage since the 18th century. In 2011 it ranked #21 (joint with Finlay) in Scotland.
Rory - The Anglicised form of the old gaelic name Ruaidhri, from ruad "red" and ri "king"; a name that has held strong in Scotland for centuries. Rory is currently the most popular spelling at #32 but many other variations were registered: Ruaridh (#85), Ruairidh (#164), Ruairi (#241), Ruaraidh, Ruari (#349), Ruaidri, Ruariadh, Ruary, Ruiridh, Ruraidh, Ruraigh, Rury, Rori (#1150).
Fraser - A Scottish surname, and a name of a prominent clan, derived from an obscure French place name. In 2011 the name ranked #53 with Frazer at #289.
Euan - The Scottish form of the Irish Eoghan, or Welsh Owain. The second element is generally thought to represent "born" while the first could be either "good, well" (well-born) or "yew" (born of the yew). In 2011, Euan ranked #62 and Ewan #79.
Arran - The name of one of the Scottish islands, which ranks at #67 as a boys name. Aaron, which is pronounced with the same short 'a' in Scotland, ranks at #13, and is a key reason for Arran's adoption as a firstname.
Brodie - A Scottish surname, and place in Morayshire. Brodie ranks at #69, and Brody at #133 for boys. Ten girls (#336) were also given the name.
Scott - A surname used to refer to someone from Scotland. Previously it referred to a person from Ireland, or a Gaelic speaker. Scott was #70 in 2011.
Murray - A Scottish surname taken from the Scottish county of Moray "the settlement by the sea." Murray was #72 in 2011.
Angus - The popular Scottish form of the Gaelic Aonghus, or Óengus (oen "one" and gus "strength, force, vigour") which featured prominently in Celtic mythology, and was used by Pictish kings in the 8th century. In 2011 it ranked #73.
Ross - A place in Scotland which went on to become a surname, and later, a firstname. It currently ranks at #76.
Blair - A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic blar "field." The name ranked at #87 in 2011 for boys and #539 for girls.
Hamish - The Anglicised form of Seumas, the Scottish form of James. It ranked #98 in 2011.
N.B. I have stuck to indigenous Scottish names, with the exception of Aiden and Rory which have had long historic use in Scotland. Ryan, Riley, Connor, Liam, Finn, Kieran, Sean, Kian, Lennon and Declan are all found in Scotland's Top 100, but are more strictly Irish, and were only used popularly in Scotland since the 19th century or later.
