Celtic Female Names of Scotland
Africa formerly used in Scotland as anglicized form of Gaelic
Oighrig, but use is nearly obsolete.
Aggie Scottish pet form
of Agnes and Agatha.
Agnes from a Greek word meaning
"pure" or "gentle"; after St. Agnes. Segna is a form of Agnes spelled backwards,
from an old Scottish custom of backspelling. Ireland has traditionally used it
as a translation of Una. Aignιis, Una, Aggie, Nesta, Nessa, Nessie,
Segna.
Ailean (AY-luhn) from the Old Irish word ail
"noble" + dim. an. Aileana, Alana, Aila (AY-lah).
Aileen (AY-leen)(Gr) "light". Scottish variant spelling of
Eileen.
Aili (AY-lee)(OGer) "noble, kind". Alison,
Allie.
Ailie Scottish pet form of Aileen, or anglicized
spelling of Eilidh.
Ailios "noble, kind". Alice.
Ailis (AY-less) "truthful"; form of Alice. Ailie, Alissa,
Lissa.
Ailsa (AYL-suh) modern Scottish name from Ailsa
Craig, a rocky islet in the Clyde estuary off Ayrshire coast. Derived from
Old Norse-Viking Alfisigesy "island off Alfsigr"; composed of alf
"supernatural being, elf" + sigi "victory". Possible anglicization of
Ealasaid. Ailsa Craig is known in Gaelic as Allasa, or Creag
Ealasaid. Form of Elsa from Hebrew Elizabeth, "consecrated to
God".
Ainsley (AYN-slee) "one's own meadow". Ainslee.
Akira "anchor".
Alana (ah-lah-nah) Fem. of
Ailean (Alan). Alanna, Alannah.
Alba (Scot) ancient
name for Scotland; not very popular now.
Alexina (aleck-seen-ah)
Scottish (Highlands) elaborate form of pet name Alexandra. Alexine.
Alickina feminine form of male Alick (Alec).
Aline
(AY-leen) anglicized form of Scots-Gaelic word ΰlainn, and (Irish)
αlainn "lovely".
Alison popular Scottish form of medieval
Norman dim. Alice by adding the suffix -on. Allison, Alyson,
Allyson. Pet forms Allie, Ally.
Allina (AH-leen-ah)
Scottish variant of Alina.
Alpina form of male name Alpin;
derives from Latin albinus "white" or "fair".
Andra
(AN-drah) "strong and courageous".
Andreana (AN-dree-ah-nah)
"strong" or "courageous"; fem. form of Andrew. Andrina.
Anice
"grace"; Scottish form of Ann/e.
Annag Scottish Gaelic pet
form of Anna.
Annella (ah-nell-ah) elaborated Scottish form
of Anne, common in the Highlands.
Annis Scottish medieval
vernacular form of Agnes. Annys, Annice.
Annot (H) "light".
Annys Scottish, variant of Annis, in a deliberate archaic
spelling.
Arabella Scottish, uncertain origin, probably an
alteration of An(n)abella. Arabel (now rare), Orabel.
Artis "bear"; fem. form of Arthur.
Athdara "successful
spear-warrior"; fem. form of Adair. Adaira.
Athol
transferred use of the name of a Perthshire district, seat of the dukes of
Atholl. The placename is thought to derive from the Gaelic ath Fodla "new
Ireland". Atholl, Athole.
Audrey "noble strength".
Audra.
Barabal Scots-Gaelic form of Barbara, from Latin "foreign
woman", "barbarian" or "stranger". Barabell (BA-ra-bul).
Beasag Nickname for Elizabeth. Bessie.
Beathag
(BEH-hack) "life" or "servant of god"; fem. of Beatha. The same word
that's the root for the word that becomes Beth in MacBethand is anglicized as
Benjamin when given to a boy. Bethoc was the name of an 11th C. queen,
daughter of Malcolm II. Anglicized as Rebecca or a child could be names
Sophia instead of Beathag or Rebecca. Beth, Betha, Bathag (BAY-hak).
Beathas (BEH-hahs) Gaelic name that means "wise".
Beitidh Nickname for Elizabeth. Betty.
Beitiris
(bet-er-eesh) Scottish form of Beatrice; possibly also Batrisch
(ba-treesh).
Blair "a dweller on the plains". Blaire,
Blayre.
Bonnie (L) "pretty, sweet" or "beautiful"; "good, fair
of face". Bonny.
Bradana Gaelic name meaning "salmon".
Brae (BRAY) "hillside or slope".
Brenda originated in
Shetland Islands, fr. Norse brand for "sword". Name of heroine of Sir
Walter Scott's The Pirate.
Bridget (BRI-jit) "strength";
Scottish version of the Irish goddess Brighid (BREED). Bride,
Brμghde.
Cadha Celtic name meaning "from the steep place".
Cailleach (CAL-yech) from the original name for Scotland,
Caledonia, which was taken from the name of the goddess. The Cailleach Beine
Bric, or Veiled One, represented the Crone aspect of the Goddess, said to reborn
every Samhain and turned into a stone on Beltane. Cailic.
Cairistμona (KAR-ish-tchee-unna) "Christian". Gaelic form of
Christine/a.
Cameron "crooked nose". Camera.
Catrμona (ka-TREE-uh-nuh or KAT-ree-unna) "pure". Gaelic form of
C/Katherine.
Ceit Nickname for C/Katherine. Kate.
Ceitidh Nickname for C/Katherine. Ceiteag, Katie.
Criosaidh Nickname for Christine/a. Chrissie.
Christel variant of name Christina. Christal.
Ciorstag (KER-stuhk or KER-nyuhx) "pure"; Gaelic nickname for
Christine or Catherine. Anglicized as Kirstie, Kirsty.
Ciorstaidh, Catriona.
Claire Sorcha.
Coira
"seething pool". Cora.
Coleen Gaelic word for "girl".
Colina, Colleen.
Constance (L) "constant". Connie.
Cullodena "from the broken, mossy ground"; personal name from the
placename Culloden. Cullodina.
Dallas (Gael) "wise"; placename of a northern village in Scotland.
Daracha "from the oak".
Davina "beloved"; Scottish
form of David. Dava, Vina, Davonna, Davon, Davonda.
Deirdre
from Irish-Gaelic name for "sorrow". The tragic heroine in Irish tales who fled
to Scotland with her lover Naoise to escape King Conchobar. When they returned
to Ireland, Naoise was murdered and she died on his grave.
Dervorgilla From Old Irish Der Bforgaill: der
"daughter" + Forgall, a god-name. Mother of John Balliol, King of Scots. She
founded Balliol College, Oxford, in 1250. Dervla.
Diana (L)
"goddess of the moon"; a Roman goddess of the moon, but was also well known in
Scotland.
Dμorbhail (JIR-vil) "gift of God". Dorothy.
Doilidh Dolly.
Dolina fem. form of Donald from
Old Irish words domnan "world," and gal "valor". Dona,
Donaldina, Dolly, Doileag, Dollag (DAW-lukh).
Donalda (Gael)
"world mighty".
Ealasaid (ee-AH-luh-sich or YALL-u-satch) "consecrated to god";
Scots form of Elizabeth. Elsbeth, Elspet, Elsie, Elspeth, Elspie, Elspy.
Eara (ee-ahr-ah) "from the east". Earie.
Edana
(EH-dah-nah) "little fire", 6th C. Irish-born St. Edana, or Medana, founded
convent at Maiden Castle. Legend says she held the veil from St. Patrick
himself. City of Edinburgh formerly bore her name, dun Edana "Edana's castle. "
Edina "from Edinburgh"; placename modified into a personal name.
Edine, Edeen.
Effie "good repute"; Scottish version of
Euphemia, old spelling Oighrigh (II-rix). Popular until the
19th C.
Eilidh (EH-lee) "light". Helen, Ellen.
Eiric "ever powerful"; Scottish version of Eric, taken from the
Norse. Eirica, Erica, Ericka, Erika.
Erskina "from the top
of the cliff".
Euphemia (YOO-fee-me-ah) Effie, Oighrig, Eppy,
Eppie.
Evanna "right-handed". Evina.
Fearchara (ScotsGael) "dear one".
Fenella "white
shoulder"; Gaelic form of Irish Fionnuala, from Old Irish finn
"bright, fair" + guala "shoulders". Name of heroine in Sir W. Scott's
Peveril of the Peak.
Fia (FEE-ah) "dark of peace".
Fiona (FEE-oh-nah) "white" or "fair"; fem. form of Irish Finn or
Fionn. Name created by 19th C. writer William Sharp when used as his pen name,
Fiona MacLeod.
Flςraidh (FLOH-ree or FLAW-ree) "flower"; Gaelic
form of English Flora. Flora MacDonald helped Bonnie Prince Charlie
escape to Isle of Skye after his defeat at Culloden, after which Floraidh became
a popular Highland name. Flora is an anglicization of MacDonald's Gaelic name,
Fionnuala. Flora, Floraigh, Floraidh.
Forba fem. version of
clan name Forbeis. Forbia.
Fyfa fem. form of Fyfe, the name
of an ancient kingdom in easter Scotland. The name Fyfe is believed to have come
from Fib, name of one of the seven sons of Cruithne, ancestor of the Picts.
Gail "strong" or "stranger". Gael, Gayle.
Gara
"short". Garia, Gaira.
Gavina "white hawk". Gavenia.
Gillian (JILL-ee-an) "youthful". Jill, Jillian.
Giorsal (GI-ruh-shuhl) Gaelic form of Grace.
Glen
From Gaelic place word gleann "valley". Glenn.
Glenna
fem. form of Glen(n), from Gaelic gleann "valley".
Glynis
"a narrow valley".
Gordania (GORSH-tuhn-a) fem. form of Gordon,
from clan name from British gor "great" + din "hill-fort".
Gordana.
Gormla (gohr-UHM-luh) Fr. Old Irish
Gormflaith: gorm "splendid" + flaith "sovereignty".
Greer "vigilant, alert, watchful"; Scottish form of Gregory or a
Scottish surname. Grear.
Grizel "gray battle-maid"; Scottish
adaption of Norse Griselda. Grisel, Grizzel, Grace (anglicized form).
Gunna "warrior battle-maid"; Scottish version of Norse-Viking name
Gunnar.
Heather (OE) "heather"; Scottish name derived from the plant heather.
Ilisa "truthful"; Scottish version of Elisa. Ilysa.
Ina (EE-na) Originally a nickname for names ending in -ina,
i.e. Georgina, Jamesina, Thomasina, Ina became popular in its own right.
Inghean "the god's daughter; Scottish fem. form of the Norse-Viking
god Ing. Inghinn.
Innes Fr. Gaelic word for "island". Was
first a surname and clan name, then first name.
Iona From the name
of the island in the Hebrides where St. Columba founded a monastery in 563.
Irvette (O.E.) "seafriend".
Iseabail (I-shi-bel or
EE-sha-bal) "consecrated to god"; Scots version of Isabel. Isobel,
Isobelle, Isobell, Isabel, Isabelle, Isabell, Ishbel. Pet forms: Bel,
Bell, Bella, Belle, Ella, Ib, Ibbie, Isa, Sib, Tib, Tibbie, Tibby.
Isla Name of the Scottish island, Islay; also a river in Scotland.
Isobel (H) "consecrated to God"; from Elizabeth. Isabel, Ishbel,
Iseabail.
Jean (H) "god is gracious" or "god's gracious gift"; fem. form of
John. Janet, Joan.
Jennifer (Celt) "white wave". From Welsh
Gwenwhyfar (Guinevere).
Jinny Scottish version of Jennifer, "white
wave".
Jocelin "joyful"; Dim. form of Breton saint's name, Josse.
Norman French brought to Scotland in the 12th C. Jocelyn.
Keita "woods or an enclosed place". Keiti.
Kelsi
"sea harbor"; Scottish version of Chelsea.
Kenna "handsome";
fem. form of Kenneth or Kenny (see Coinneach and Cinead). Ceana.
Kentigerna From Old Irish cenn "head" + tigern
"lord". Name of an Irish queen who traveled to Scotland with her son St. Fillan.
She lived as a recluse on the island of Inchebroida in Loch Lomond, where a
church is dedicated to her.
Kenzie "light-skinned'; personal name
from a clan name.
Kyla (kI-lah) "comely or lovely". Kνla
(possible original Gaelic spelling).
Lainie "serves St. John". Leana.
Lair "mare".
Lara, Laria.
Laurie "crowned with laurel"; from Laura.
Laure.
Lioslaith Poss. fr. Celtic lis "court" +
celyn "holly"; also "gray fortress". Lesley, Leslie. Usually
spelled Lesley for a woman, Leslie for a man.
Leslie (Gael) "the
gray castle" or "the small meadow".
Lilas "lily"; form of
Lillian.
Lilias (LI-lee-as) Gaelic form of Lily, fr.
Latin lilium. Lileas, Lilidh (li-LEE).
Lorna "crowned
with laurel". Made up name by Scottish writer R.D. Blackmore for his novel's
heroine in Lorna Doone (1869). Logical fem. form of Lorne.
Machara "plain".
Mae (H) "bitter". Mΰili, May.
Magaidh "a pearl"; from Margaret. Maggie, Maisie (archaic).
Mΰili (MAH-lee or MAW-lee) "bitter"; Gaelic nickname for Mary.
Molly.
Mairead (MAY-ret or MA-ee-rat) "a pearl"; Gaelic form of
Margaret. Popularized by St. Margaret in the Middle Ages. St. Margaret
was born to the English royal house of Wessex, married Malcolm III, King of
Scots. Mother of three kings as well.
Mΰiri (MAH-ree or MAW-ree)
"bitter"; Gaelic form of Mary. Mairi Mhor nan Oran (Big Mary of the
Songs) was a 19th C. Gaelic poet. Moire, Muire.
Maisie "a
pearl"; version of Margaret.
Malmuira "dark-skinned".
Malvina "armored chief". Invented by Scottish writer James
Macpherson in his Ossianic poems. Napolean originally named the Falkland Islands
off S. America St. Malo; becoming "Malouines" and being that the "u" and "v" are
interchangeable at the time and for euphonic reasons, Malvines/Malvinas
prevailed. Malvi.
Marcail "a pearl"; version of
Margaret/Marjorie/Marjory.
Marion "bitter"; version of
Mary. Mae, May, Mςr.
Mariota Dim. of Mary. Mariota
was the name of the wife of the great Donald, Lord of the Isles.
Marsaili (MAHR-suh-lee or MAR-sally) "a pearl"; version of
Margaret/Marjorie/Marjory.
Maureen "great". Moreen.
Moibeal "loveable".
Moira (Celt) "great".
Moireach "great one".
Molly (H) "bitter".
Mςrag (MAW-rack, MOHR-ahk or MOR-ack) "blind" or "bitter"; from Old
Irish mor "big". Classic Gaelic woman's name; form of Sheila. Marion,
Sarah "princess".
Morven (Morvyn) Poss. fr. Gaelic mor
"big" + bhein "peak". Name of mountains in Aberdeenshire and in
Caithness. Also designates all of NW Scotland. Morvyn.
Muira
(MOOR-ah or MOOR-eh) from Gelic words muir "moor". Muire.
Muireall (MOOR-uh-yel) Fr. Old Irish muir "sea" + gel
"bright, shining". Name of an heiress of the Thane of Cawdor, who was kidnapped
by Sir John Campbell in 1510, and became the ancestress of the Campbells of
Cawdor. Anglicized Muriel.
Muirne (MOOR-nyuh) Old Irish word
for "beloved", and name of character in J. Macpherson's Ossianic poems.
Morna.
Murron (MOHR-in) Scots version of Irish
Muirrean, from Old Irish muir "sea", may also mean "sea-white" or
"sea-fair", and an ancient feminine version of Murphy. Muirrean,
Muireann.
Nairne "lives at the alder tree river". Nairna.
Nansaidh "grace". Nancy (H).
Nathaira "snake".
Nathara.
Nessa Scottish nickname for Agnes used as a
name by itself also. Nessa is also an Old Irish name.
Nichneven a
Samhain witch-goddess also called "divine" and "brilliant". Also known in the
Middle Ages as: Dame Habonde, Abundia, Satia, Bensozie, Zobiana, Herodiana. Folk
takes say she rides through the night with her followers on Samhain Eve.
Nighean a Gaelic dialect name meaning "young woman".
Nighinn.
Oighrig (EU-ee-rick) "pleasant speech"; from Euphemia. Effie.
Osla Name from Shetland Islands. Gaelic form of Norse name Aslaug,
"god-consecrated".
Paisley personal name taken from the patterned fabric made in
Paisley, Scotland.
Payton "pastor, guardian".
Peigi
(PAEG-ee) "a pearl"; version of name Peggy, a nickname for Margaret.
Raoghnailt "innocence of a lamb"; version of Rachel (H).
Raonaid (REUN-eetch).
Rhona
(ROH-nah) name of a Scottish island, from Norse hrauen "rough" +
ey "island"; other sources say "powerful, mighty".
Robena
"robin". Robina.
Rossalyn "a cape or promontory".
Rowena (Celt) "white mane".
Rut Ruth.
Saraid (SAHR-ich) Fr. Old Irish sar "best, noble". Sarait,
daughter of legendary Irish monarch, Conn of the Hundred Battles, was considered
the ancestress of the Scottish kings.
Scota an Underworld goddess who gave
her name to Scotland; she was the greatest teacher of martial arts, and was a
warrior woman and prophetess who lived on the Isle of Skye. Scotta, Scotia,
Scathach.
Seasaidh (SHAY-see) "god is gracious"; Scottish dim.
of Janet; popularized by Lowland Scots poet Robert Burns. Jessie.
Seonag (SHAW-nack) "god is gracious"; version of Joan.
Seςnaid (SHAW-nich) "god is gracious"; version of Janet.
Seona (SHAW-nuh).
Sheila "blind"; from Cecila. Shela
("musical").
Sile (SHEE-luh) Gaelic form of Latin Cecilia;
became popular in Scotland in early 20th C. Sheila, Sheelagh, Sheelah.
Sμleas (SHEE-luss) "youthful one". Julia, Celia "blind".
Sima (SHEE-mah) "listener" or "treasure, prize".
Sμne
(SHEE-nuh) "God's gracious gift"; version of Jean/Jane. Sheena, Sheenagh,
Sheenah, Shena.
Siofra word for a "changeling" or "little elf".
It's also used as a term for a precocious child. It's use as a name is modern
(20th century).
Siubhan "praised".
Siωsaidh (SHOO-see)
"graceful lily"; version of Susan.
Skena Gaelic name adopted
from the placename Skene.
Sorcha (SOHR-uh-xuh) Fr. Old Irish
sorchae "bright, radiant".
Struana "from the stream".
Tavia "eighth"; version of Octavia. Teva.
Tavie
"twin"; version of Tavish.
Tira "land". Tyra.
Torra "from the castle".
Una Fr. Old Irish uan "lamb". Often anglicized in Scotland as Agnes, which means "lamb" in Greek.
Vanora "white wave". Venora.
Vika "from the
creek".
Wynda "from the narrow or winding passage".