Names to explore
Traditional Scottish choices
Names with long-standing Scottish use that remain uncommon in the United States.
Alasdair
Alasdair brings a clear Scottish connection without depending on a newly invented spelling.
2025 U.S.: 28 births · #3,850Peak: 2021 · 37 births
Angus
Angus has an established Scottish history and enough space in U.S. use to feel distinctive.
2025 U.S.: 58 births · #2,363Peak: 2006 · 126 births
Ewan
Ewan is familiar as a real name but still uncommon enough to stand apart in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 120 births · #1,479Peak: 2013 · 168 births
Fergus
Fergus has a sturdy, traditional sound that works well in a heritage-minded shortlist.
2025 U.S.: 19 births · #5,092Peak: 2024 · 24 births
Hamish
Hamish brings a clear Scottish connection without depending on a newly invented spelling.
2025 U.S.: 14 births · #6,240Peak: 2017 · 25 births
Lachlan
Lachlan has an established Scottish history and enough space in U.S. use to feel distinctive.
2025 U.S.: 468 births · #606Peak: 2025 · 468 births
Highland and surname style
Choices that carry a rugged Scottish feel without needing a novelty spelling.
Murray
Murray is familiar as a real name but still uncommon enough to stand apart in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 50 births · #2,633Peak: 1922 · 628 births
Fraser
Fraser has a sturdy, traditional sound that works well in a heritage-minded shortlist.
2025 U.S.: 16 births · #5,686Peak: 2024 · 22 births
Gregor
Gregor brings a clear Scottish connection without depending on a newly invented spelling.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #8,481Peak: 1962 · 26 births
Ramsay
Ramsay has an established Scottish history and enough space in U.S. use to feel distinctive.
2025 U.S.: 7 births · #10,436Peak: 2017 · 16 births
Tavish
Tavish is familiar as a real name but still uncommon enough to stand apart in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 21 births · #4,840Peak: 1993 · 35 births
Douglas
Douglas has a sturdy, traditional sound that works well in a heritage-minded shortlist.
2025 U.S.: 308 births · #807Peak: 1957 · 16,730 births
Short, sturdy options
Compact names that pair well with many surnames.
Duncan
Duncan brings a clear Scottish connection without depending on a newly invented spelling.
2025 U.S.: 190 births · #1,124Peak: 1997 · 644 births
Gordon
Gordon has an established Scottish history and enough space in U.S. use to feel distinctive.
2025 U.S.: 209 births · #1,052Peak: 1952 · 2,829 births
Lorne
Lorne is familiar as a real name but still uncommon enough to stand apart in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 5 births · #13,155Peak: 1966 · 186 births
Ross
Ross has a sturdy, traditional sound that works well in a heritage-minded shortlist.
2025 U.S.: 122 births · #1,465Peak: 1985 · 1,884 births
The data line uses the exact spelling shown. “No published 2025 count” can mean the spelling had zero births or fewer than five, because SSA does not publish counts below five.
Scottish does not always mean rare in Scotland
This guide is about names that are uncommon in current U.S. baby-name data. Some may be much more familiar in Scotland.
Gaelic and Scots traditions overlap but are not identical
Scotland has several naming traditions. We keep the page broad rather than pretending every name comes from the same language.
Try both the formal name and the likely nickname
Heritage names often come with natural short forms. Say both versions with your surname before narrowing your shortlist.
Roscoe's pick
Hamish
Hamish has a warm, unmistakably Scottish sound and remains genuinely uncommon in current U.S. data.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are all of these names rare in the United States?
They are selected for uncommon U.S. use or for a distinctive heritage style. Each card shows the exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when Social Security published one, so you can see the current context for yourself.
Does a missing 2025 count mean the name was unused?
No. The national public file does not publish a spelling when fewer than five boys received it that year, so a missing count can mean zero or one to four births.
Can the same name belong to more than one naming tradition?
Yes. Names travel between languages and cultures, and spellings can have more than one history. These guides group names by the tradition most relevant to the page rather than claiming every name has only one possible background.
Should U.S. popularity decide which name I choose?
No. The numbers are context. Family connection, pronunciation, cultural fit and how the name sounds with your surname usually matter more.