Scottish Last Names

One of the coolest girls in the class of '73, still cute but not quite as youthful.

Straightforward surname with potential thanks to the rise of Carson. The actress Greer Garson gives it a splash of Hollywood glamor.

This Scottish surname and Scottish and Australian place name has a pleasant airy and breezy sound to it. Camden mayor Lara Symkowiak chose the name for her daughter born in 2016.

Best known to most as a brand of Whisky, Ballantine is a Scottish surname relating to the Celtic god Bal. It has potential as a off-the-beaten-track boys name that is still familiar. Ballantine is the brand name of a whiskey, a beer, and a publishing imprint.

MacRae -- or McRay or McCrae -- is a Scottish surname-name whose meaning is most often given as son of grace or sometimes son of luck. The hero of Lonesome Dove's last name was McCrae. A good honor name for a Ray or Rae, it can also be shortened to Mac.

Romy lovers, here's a new one for you! Romary is a surname with French and Scottish roots and has historically been a masculine given name in France. It would be a great choice on either sex, but feels slightly more feminine with the -mary ending and Romy nickname.

A nickname style name, Neely could derive from the strong, elegant Cornelius, as an elaboration of Neal or Neil, or as a variation of the Scottish surname McNeilly, with the cool meaning "son of the poet".

Influencer couple Rachel and Jordan Flom put Brisbane on the baby name map when they used it for one of their triplet sons, born in 2024. Australian place names — from Adelaide to Sydney to Victoria — have long been favorites among parents, but Brisbane has a more modern, gender-neutral appeal.

Rupert Murdoch has helped make the "ch" spelling more recognizable, but this one has a long history as well. Probably works better as a middle name than a first name, even if you're a big Fox News fan.

Highly unusual water name -- and actor Colin surname -- with a Scottish burr. Firth derives from the Old Norse word fjord.

Murdoch and its more popular modern variant Murdo are traditional given names in Scotland, although they are almost exclusively encountered as surnames outside of their native country. Famous bearers include media mogul Rupert Murdoch and novelist Iris Murdoch. The Murdoc spelling was used for the fictional bassist and founder of the virtual indie band Gorillaz.

Strong and spare state name, maybe better in the middle -- or for a boy.

Magee has a broad and bouncy appeal for the sons of anyone from Adam to Zachary.

Why did 5 sets of parents chose to name their sons Dock in 2016? We may never know.

Falconer is one choice that has morphed rapidly from outlandish to possible, even attractive, thanks to the fashion for occupational names. And really, if Archer is getting popular and Miller seems normal, why not Falconer?