Bringing home a new canine is always exciting. Not only do you have a new best friend, but you also get to decide on a new name for your little pup!
While naming can be quite exciting, it can also be extremely difficult. You don’t quite understand how hard it is to name a dog until you try. Sometimes, choosing a single dog name out of hundreds can feel nearly impossible. Other times, finding a name that everyone can agree on can be difficult.
For naming inspiration, you may want to branch out to other languages. Scottish names can be a great source of inspiration, especially if you’re adopting a Scottish dog breed.
Below, we’ve included a list of our favorite Scottish dog names. We’ve included Scottish girl names for dogs, as well as some for boys.
Scottish Female Names
Image Credit: Tesa Robbins, Pixabay
We’ve drawn the names below directly from the Scottish language. Many of them are traditional names, making them the perfect female Scottie names – though they can be used for all dog breeds. Hopefully, you find inspiration in the list below!
Adamina: Earth or red
Aileas: Noble sort
Aileen: Little Eve
Ailith: Noble war
Ainsley: Hermitage meadow
Aithbhreac: New speckled one
Alickina: Defender of mankind
Alison: Noble sort
Allie: Noble sort
Alyth: Ascending, rising
Annabelle: Lovable
Annag: Favor or grace
Annis: Holy
Anstace: Resurrection
Arabel: Lovable
Athol: Derived from the name of a district in Perthshire, Scotland, meaning ford of the rock
Barabel: Foreign
Bearnas: Bringer of victory
Beathag: Life
Beileag: God is my oath
Beitris: Voyager
Blair: Battlefield
Brenda: Sword
Ceiristine: Believer
Cait: Pure
Cam: Crooked nose
Catriona: Pure
Diorbhorgui: True testimony
Deoiridh: Pilgrim
Dina: Sea warrior
Diorbhail: Gift of God
Doileag: World ruler
Ealasaid: God is my oath
Eamhair: Swift
Edme: Esteemed
Eilidh: Beauty
Eiric: New speckled one
Elspet: God is my oath
Eubh: Life
Fenella: White shoulder
Frangag: French
Gavina: White hawk
Glenna: Valley
Gormlaith: Splendid lady
Greer: Watchful and vigilant
Grizel: Grey battle maid
Innis: Island
Iseabail: God is my oath
Isla: Island
Jamesena: Supplanter
Jean: God is gracious
Jinny: white
Kenzie: Finely made
Kyla: Slender
Lachina: Lake-land
Leslie: Garden of hollies
Lileas: Lily
Liusaidh: Light
Logan: Hollow
Lyall: Shield wolf
Machenzie: Finely made
Maighdlin: Magnificent
Maighread: Pearl
Mairi: Rebellion
Malvina: Smooth-brow
Marsaili: Of the sea
Mckenna: Born of fire
Mor: Great
Morag: Great
Muireall: sea-bright
Murdag: Sea warrior
Mysie: Pearl
Nandag: Favor
Neilina: Champion
Nonie: Island
Normanna: Northman
Oighrig: Speckled one
Paaie: Pearl
Raghnaid: Battle counsel
Rhona: Wise ruler
Rodina: Island
Rona: Wise ruler
Saundra: Defender of mankind
Senga: Slender
Sile: Blind
Slaine: Health
Tearlag: Instigator
Una: Famine
Scottish Male Names
Image Credit: No-longer-here, Pixabay
If you’re looking for Scottish boy names for dogs, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve included dozens of different boy names below – all derived from the Scottish language. This list includes real names of historical people, as well as names that are common in Scotland today.
These Gaelic dog names are an easy way to name your dog something unique and meaningful.
Adair: The ford of the oaks
Ailbeart: Bright nobility
Aindrea: Warrior
Ainsley: Hermitage meadow
Alistair: Defender of mankind
Amhlaoibh: Heir of the ancestors
Aodh: Fire
Aodhagan: Tiny, little fire
Artair: Bear-man
Athol: Ford of the rock
Augustulus: Venerable (the name of a king who attended Arthur’s coronation)
Balfour: Grazing land
Barclay: Birch tree meadow
Beathan: Life
Benneit: Blessed
Bhaltair: Ruler of the army
Blaan: Little yellow one
Blair: Battlefield
Boyd: Yellow
Bruce: Woods
Bryce: Spotted or speckled
Cailean: Young pup
Callum: Dove
Cam: Crooked
Campbell: Crooked mouth
Carbrey: Charioteer
Cinaed: Born of fire
Clyde: Muddy
Claimain: Gentle
Coiseam: Steadfast
Comhnall: Hound of valor
Comag: Hound of defilement
Craig: Rock
Cuddy: Bright fame
Dabhairdh: Beloved
Dand: Warrior
Deorsa: Earth-worker (aka Farmer)
Dermid: Without envy
Dolaidh: World ruler
Drummond: Ridge
Dubhghlas: Black stream
Duff: Black
Dugald: Stranger
Duibhshth: Black peace
Eachann: Brown horse
Eanraig: Home-ruler
Eideard: Guardian of prosperity
Eoghan: Born of yew
Errol: To wander
Erskine: Upon the knife
Eumann: Protector of prosperity
Fib: Poet
Fife: from Fife (an area of Scotland)
Filib: Lover of horses
Foirtchern: Overlord
Forbes: Field
Fraser: Strawberry
Glen: Valley
Gordon: Spacious fort
Graeme: Gravel home
Grant: Great
Greg: Watchful
Hamilton: Flat-topped hill
Heckie: Defend
Hendry: Home-ruler
Hew: Heart, mind, or spirit
Iagan: Tiny, little fire
Imhear: Bow warrior
Irvine: Fresh water
Jaime: Supplanter
Keith: Woods
Kester: To spring up
Kirk: Lives near a church
Kyle: Slender
Laird: Landowner
Lamont: Lawman
Leith: Flowing water
Lennox: Place of elms
Logan: Hollow
Lyall: Shield Wolf
Lyle: From an island
Magnus: Great
Maitland: Bad-tempered
Martainn: Like Mars (the Roman warrior God)
Max: The greatest rival
Maxwell: the stream of Mack
Melville: Bad settlement
Monroe: in Ireland
Moray: Sea warrior
Muicheachtach: Skilled seaman
Muir: Sea
Munga: Dearest friend
Neacal: Victor of the people
Oengus: Excellent valor
Olghar: Elf army
Osgar: Deer-lover
Padraig: of noble descent
Pal: Small
Rab: Bright fame
Ramsey: Wild Garlic Island
Ranulf: Shield-wolf
Ronald: Wise ruler
Ross: Headland
Ruairi: Red king
Sawney: Defender of mankind
Seoras: Farmer
Seumas: Supplanter
Shug: Heart
Sim: Hearkening
Sioltech: Literally “sowing” (aka fruitful)
Somerled: Summer traveler
Steafan: Crown
Stu: House guard
Suibhne: Well-going
Tam: Twin
Tasgall: Divine
Tearlach: Instigator
Thorburn: Thor’s Bear
Tocuil: Thor’s Cauldron
Uailean: Healthy and strong
Uilleam: Will
Uisdean: Island stone
Vailean: Strong
Wiley: Helmet
Image Credit: Kim Christensen, Shutterstock
How to Name Your Dog
Now that you’ve seen our list of Scottish dog names, you may have found several you like and are wondering how you can decide between them. There are a few ways you can go about it.
The first is by writing down all the names you like and drawing one out a hat. This way, it will randomize the choice and you can go with whichever name you pick. If you draw one out and it turns out you don’t like it after all, you can try again for another name. You can also use an online randomizer tool as well.
Another way is to ask your friends and family by posting on your social media sites. Create a poll of your most favorite names, then have your followers vote on which one they like best.
Finally, no one says you have to give your dog a name right away. If you still can’t decide, spend a few days getting to know your dog. See what their personality is like. You might find a name that just fits once you know your dog a little better.
Conclusion
With so many Scottish names to choose from, we hope you found at least one that was suitable for your canine! Some of these names are quite familiar to most English speakers, while others are a bit more unique.
We recommend marking a lot of your favorite options and trying out a few on your canine. This provides you with a chance to narrow down your list – and gives you some time to learn your dog’s personality before naming them.
Dogs typically take a little bit before they learn their name, so this period of switching shouldn’t confuse them!
Kristin is passionate about helping pet parents create a fulfilling life with their pets by informing them on the latest scientific research and helping them choose the best products for their pets. She currently resides in Tennessee with four dogs, three cats, two fish, and a lizard, though she has dreams of owning chickens one day!
