Traditional Scottish Girls Names

Traditional Scottish girls names are a lovely mish-mash of old Gaelic, English and French plus pretty 19th Century diminutives and cute nicknames.

So if you've got Scottish ancestry or just love the romance of the Highlands and Islands check out this guide to old fashioned Scottish baby names for girls that are now rare or fairly unusual.

Gaelic Scottish Girls Names

There are so many beautiful Gaelic Irish and Scottish girls names but some - let's be honest - are hard to pronounce for non-Gaelic speakers and can be a burden for a young child.

These lovely Scottish names have Gaelic origins but are easy to say :

• Aileen
• Ailenor
• Caitriona
• Cairistiona
• Deirdre
• Eilidh
• Fenella
• Finola
• Kendra
• Morag
• Morna
• Muireall
• Rhona
• Sorcha

Aileen

Meaning "light". A gentle Highland favourite, as bright and clear as a shaft of sun across a sea loch.

Ailenor

The Scottish cousin of Eleanor. A name of medieval queens and noblewomen, graceful yet strong.

Caitriona 

Meaning "pure". Pronounced ka-TREE-na, it has all the romance of the Highlands with none of the fuss.

Cairistiona

Pronounced kar-ish-CHEE-na. A Gaelic form of Christina, rich with island heritage and old faith.

Deirdre

Heroine of one of the greatest Celtic love stories, famed for beauty, passion and tragic destiny.

Eilidh

Pronounced AY-lee. Linked to Helen and "light", this remains one of Scotland's most beloved Gaelic names.

Fenella

From ancient Gaelic roots meaning "fair-shouldered". Romantic, unusual and touched by folklore.

Finola

Meaning "fair shoulder". Long associated with Celtic legend and the wild coasts of the western isles.

Kendra

Often said to mean "greatest champion". Distinctive and spirited, with a quietly modern feel.

Morag

Meaning "great" or "sun-like". One of the most enduring Highland names, strong yet warm and approachable.

Morna

A rare Scottish name linked to Highland tales and misty landscapes. Gentle, poetic and mysterious.

Muireall

Pronounced moor-yal. Thought to mean "bright sea", it perfectly captures Scotland's island spirit.

Rhona

Inspired by the Hebridean island of Rona, a windswept place of cliffs, seabirds and endless horizons.

Sorcha

Meaning "brightness" or "radiance". Pronounced SOR-ka, it shines with the beauty of Gaelic tradition.

Anglo Scottish Names

English or something close to it has been spoken in the borders and lowlands of Scotland since the 1200s so the names of many of Scotland's greatest heroines have been derived from old fashioned English names :

• Annabella
• Arabella
• Bell
• Bella
• Elene
• Isobel
• Jessie
• Lorna
• Marjorie
• Rosamund

Annabella

Meaning "loving" and "beautiful". A favourite among Scottish queens and noblewomen, full of medieval charm.

Arabella

Elegant and romantic, this name flourished in Scotland's aristocratic families and grand country houses.

Bell

A sweet Scottish pet form of Isabella. Simple and bright, with a touch of old-fashioned Borders charm.

Bella

Meaning "beautiful". Popular in Victorian Scotland and still carrying a warm, affectionate elegance.

Elene

An old Scottish form of Helen, meaning "light". Gentle and graceful, with echoes of saints and queens.

Isobel

Scotland's distinctive form of Isabel. From medieval countesses to crofters' daughters, it spans every age.

Jessie

A beloved Scottish diminutive of Janet or Jessica. Cheerful and friendly, it peaked in the nineteenth century.

Lorna

Created for a Highland heroine in the Victorian novel Lorna Doone, then adopted as a real name across Britain.

Marjorie

The name of Robert the Bruce's daughter, Princess Marjorie, ancestress of the Stewart royal dynasty.

Rosamund

Meaning "horse protection" in its ancient roots. Romantic and poetic, long associated with beauty and legend.

Scottish Flower Names

Floral names have always been popular for girls in Scotland and you can choose from old favourites, Scotland's own flowers and pretty Gaelic names :

• Ailis
• Blàthan
• Flora
• Fleur
• Heather
• Lilias
• Neòinean
• Violaid

Ailis

A Scottish Gaelic form of Alice, meaning "noble". Delicate and graceful, yet rooted in centuries of Highland tradition.

Blàthan

Meaning "little flower". Pronounced BLAA-an, this sweet Gaelic name feels fresh from a Highland meadow.

Flora

Roman goddess of flowers and spring. The name was immortalised in Scotland by Flora MacDonald and Flora Mac-Ivor.

Fleur

French for "flower". Elegant and understated, it reflects Scotland's long friendship and cultural ties with France.

Heather

Scotland's most famous wild flower, carpeting hillsides in purple each summer and symbolising admiration and good luck.

Lilias

An old Scottish form linked to the lily. Popular for centuries, it combines floral beauty with noble Scottish heritage.

Neòinean

Meaning "daisy". Pronounced NYAWN-yan, it brings to mind wildflowers scattered across Hebridean machair.

Violaid

The Gaelic word for violet. Rare and distinctive, with the quiet beauty of a woodland flower in spring.

French Scottish Names

French - Scottish names might seem strange but there was an "Auld Alliance" between France and Scotland and French princesses often turned up as Scottish Queens creating whole new fashions for Scottish girls names :

• Agnes
• Annis
• Davina
• Esme
• Jeanie
• Joanie
• Lorraine
• Maud
• Madeleine
• Yvone

Agnes

Meaning "pure". Popular with Scottish queens and noblewomen, it combines quiet strength with timeless elegance.

Annis

A charming Scottish variation of Agnes. Familiar in farming communities and market towns across old Scotland.

Davina 

The feminine form of David, meaning "beloved". Distinctively Scottish and popular since the nineteenth century.

Esmé

From the French aimé, meaning "beloved". Sophisticated and romantic, reflecting Scotland's centuries-old French connections.

Jeanie

A warm Scottish pet form of Jean. It features in countless folk songs and ballads of love and longing.

Joanie

A sweet diminutive of Joan. Friendly and spirited, with the easy charm of a Highland village nickname.

Lorraine

Named after the historic French region of Lorraine, homeland of dukes, castles and the heroine Joan of Arc.

Maud

Brought north by medieval royalty and nobility. Short, strong and evocative of Scotland's castle age.

Madeleine

A graceful French form of Magdalene. Elegant and feminine, with echoes of royal courts and convent schools.

Yvone

Scottish spelling of Yvonne, derived from a word for yew wood. Distinctive, romantic and quietly aristocratic.

Diminutive Scottish Girls Names

Scotland had adorable traditional diminutives for girls that get around both tricky Gaelic pronunciation and some of those names from French queens that are just a bit too grand for everyday (yes, that's you Euphemia!)

• Ailie
• Cirsty
• Effie
• Eila
• Etta
• Lucie
• Maisie
• Minnie
• Nessa
• Nettie
• Peggie
• Teena

Ailie

A sweet Scottish shortening of Alison or Aileen. Light, cheerful and full of Highland charm.

Cirsty

A familiar Scots form of Christina. Friendly and down-to-earth, long popular from the Lowlands to the islands.

Effie

The beloved nickname for Euphemia - meaning "well spoken". Victorian Scotland was full of Effies, not Euphemias.

Eila

A short and graceful Highland name linked to light and brightness. Simple, modern and easy to wear.

Etta

A neat Victorian diminutive used for names such as Henrietta. Small in size but full of character.

Lucie

A softer spelling of Lucy, meaning "light". Elegant and feminine, with a touch of French influence.

Maisie

Scotland's much-loved pet form of Margaret. Cheerful and affectionate, it has never really gone out of style.

Minnie

Once one of Scotland's most popular girls' nicknames. Charming, lively and full of nineteenth-century character.

Nessa

Short, bright and memorable. Associated with Celtic legend and increasingly appreciated as a stand-alone name.

Nettie

A traditional diminutive for Annette, Jeanette and similar names. Sweet and unmistakably old-fashioned Scottish.

Peggie

An affectionate Scottish form of Margaret. Common for generations in fishing villages, farms and island communities.

Teena

A lively short form of Christina. Familiar across Scotland and much easier to shout across a windy beach.

Religious Scottish Names

When Scotland first started converting to Christianity in the 300s it needed its own names for religious women in the bible and female saints. Over the years these became some of the most popular Scottish girls names :

• Katryne
• Kirsteen
• Mairead
• Mairi
• Mirren
• Monenna
• Saretta

Katryne

A Scottish form of Katherine, meaning "pure". Popular for centuries and borne by queens, saints and noblewomen.

Kirsteen

A charming Scottish form of Christina, meaning follower of Christ. Familiar across the Highlands and islands, yet still refreshingly uncommon.

Mairead

The Gaelic form of Margaret, linked to Scotland's beloved Saint Margaret, queen, reformer and mother.

Mairi

The Scottish Gaelic form of Mary. Simple, beautiful and woven into centuries of Highland life.

Mirren

Associated with Saint Mirin, patron saint of Paisley. Distinctive and unmistakably Scottish in character.

Monenna

An early Celtic saint honoured on both sides of the Irish Sea. Ancient, rare and rich in Christian heritage.

Saretta

A diminutive form of Sarah, meaning "princess". Delicate and uncommon, with a gentle Victorian charm.

Other Vintage Scottish Names

Scotland did share names with England - and Ireland and France - but always had names that were just Scottish. And there are all sorts of vintage Scottish names that are quite different from vintage English girls names :

• Aisla
• Aisling
• Aislinn
• Alba
• Aoibh
• Eala
• Iona
• Linne
• Mara
• Morven
• Sheena
• Shona

Aisla

Closely associated with Ailsa Craig, the dramatic island rising from the Firth of Clyde. Distinctive and elegant.

Aisling

Meaning "dream" or "vision". Born from Gaelic poetry, where mysterious women appeared as symbols of Ireland and hope.

Aislinn

A variant of Aisling with the same dreamy meaning. Romantic, lyrical and increasingly loved beyond Scotland.

Alba

The Gaelic name for Scotland itself. Few names capture the spirit of the country more completely.

Aoibh

Meaning "joy", "beauty" and "radiance". Short but rich with meaning, it was treasured in Gaelic tradition.

Eala

The Gaelic word for "swan". Graceful and serene, evoking lochs, rivers and white wings against dark water.

Iona

Inspired by the Hebridean island where Saint Columba founded his famous monastery. Peaceful and timeless.

Linne

Meaning "pool" or "waterfall basin". A rare nature name with echoes of clear Highland streams.

Mara

Meaning "of the sea". Perfect for a nation shaped by coastlines, islands and generations of seafarers.

Morven

Taken from the mountain and region of Morvern in the western Highlands. Wild, beautiful and deeply Scottish.

Sheena

An anglicised form of Seònaid, Scotland's version of Jane. Popular throughout the Highlands in the last century.

Shona

Derived from the same roots as Jane and Jean. Bright, friendly and instantly recognisable as Scottish.

And there you go, over 70 beautifully traditional Scottish girls names with plenty that are rare right now.

For more inspiration check out my other baby name lists and follow me on Pinterest.