Scottish Girl Names: 96 Names With Meanings

Scottish girl names such as Isla, Fiona, Elspeth, Màiri, Eilidh and Sorcha (“radiant, bright”) come from Scottish Gaelic, Scots and Scottish forms of names used across Europe, and this list gives a checked meaning for 96 of them.

Scottish girl names mix Gaelic names, Anglicized forms of those names, island and place names, and a few names made famous by Scottish writers. Many are already familiar in English, such as Fiona, Isla and Maisie, and others, such as Deòiridh and Oighrig, are rare finds.

We grouped the names into classic, Anglicized, Gaelic, short, old Gaelic, place, literary and feminine-form names. You will also find how Gaelic and English forms relate, how to say the names, and ideas for sibling and middle name pairings.

Scottish Girl Names at a Glance

Every gender, usage label and meaning on this page was checked against the name’s own entry on Behind the Name in October 2026. Where an entry says a meaning is uncertain or unknown, we say so. Names we could not verify this way are not on the list, which is why it stops at 96: that is close to every feminine name Behind the Name labels Scottish, Scottish Gaelic or Scots.

Scottish girl names come in two main layers. The first is Scottish Gaelic, with spellings such as Màiri, Seònaid and Ealasaid. The second is the set of Scottish forms used in English, many of which began as Anglicized versions of the Gaelic names: Mhairi, Shona, Sheena, Isobel and Catriona among them. A smaller group carries the Scots label, such as Grizel.

Many of the most familiar Scottish names are also local forms of names shared across Europe. Elspeth and Ealasaid are both forms of Elizabeth, Kirsteen and Cairistìona are both forms of Christina, and Màiri, Mhairi and Moira all trace back to Mary. Others are genuinely their own: Sorcha means “radiant, bright”, Deòiridh means “pilgrim”, and Oighrig comes from an old Gaelic name built on the word for “speckled”.

A note on reading the tables. The middle column shows the usage labels from each entry (Scottish, Scottish Gaelic, Scots, and other languages where the entry lists them). When an entry describes a name only as a form of another name, we add the meaning of that original name from its own entry. If you are also looking for a brother’s name, our Scottish boy names list uses the same checked approach.

Classic Scottish Girl Names

These are the names that fill Scottish family trees and still feel fresh today. Several are Scottish forms of international classics, and many sit comfortably beside the names on our old-fashioned girl names list.

Elspeth and Elspet are the Scottish forms of Elizabeth, the Greek form of a Hebrew name meaning “my God is an oath”. Kirsteen and Kirstin are the Scottish forms of Christina, and Kirsty and Kirstie are their diminutives. Jean has an interesting history: its entry says it was common in England and Scotland in the Middle Ages, became rare in England, and was reintroduced to the wider English-speaking world from Scotland in the 19th century. Jessie began as a Scots pet form of Jean.

Maisie is a Scottish diminutive of Mairead, the Gaelic form of Margaret, and its entry notes that it was long used in the United Kingdom and Australia. Lilias is the form of Lillian found in Scotland from about the 16th century, and Lillias is a variant spelling. Grizel is the Scots form of Griselda, which Behind the Name says possibly comes from Old German elements meaning “gray” and “battle”, though it is not attested as a Germanic name.

Senga is a good example of why we check each entry. It is often described online as Agnes spelled backward, and Behind the Name mentions that explanation, but says the name is more likely derived from the Gaelic word seang, “slender”. We print both, in the entry’s order of likelihood.

Anglicized Scottish Names: Mhairi, Shona, Isobel and More

Many Scottish girl names you may already know are Anglicized forms of Gaelic names, meaning spellings that show English speakers roughly how to say the Gaelic original. Each one below names its Gaelic source.

Mhairi is one of the most interesting. Its entry explains that it comes from a Mhàiri, the vocative case of Màiri, which is the form used when you address someone directly. That is why it starts with Mh, which in Gaelic sounds like a v: the entry gives the English pronunciation as /ˈvɑː.ɹi/, roughly “VAH-ree”. Sheena is the Anglicized form of Sìne (the Gaelic Jane), and Shona and Sheona come from Seonag and Seònaid (the Gaelic Joan and Janet).

The Katherine family has four spellings here. Catriona is the Anglicized form of both the Irish Caitríona and the Scottish Gaelic Caitrìona, while Catrina and Katrina are Anglicized forms of the Scottish Gaelic name and Katriona is a variant of Catriona. Isobel and Ishbel come from Iseabail, the Gaelic Isabel, which Behind the Name describes as a medieval form of Elizabeth.

Moira is shared with Ireland as an Anglicized form of Máire, the Irish form of Mary. Its entry also notes that it coincides with the Greek word moira, “fate, destiny”. Muriel is the Anglicized form of Irish Muirgel and Scottish Muireall, and Muirgel means “bright sea”. Effie is a diminutive of Euphemia, and in Scotland it has also been used as an English form of the Gaelic name Oighrig.

Scottish Gaelic Girl Names and Their English Equivalents

These are the Gaelic forms themselves, spelled exactly as Behind the Name spells them, including the grave accent (as in à, ì and ò). Most are Gaelic versions of names used across Europe, so each one has an English relative you will recognize.

Màiri is the everyday Gaelic form of Mary, and its entry adds that a separate form, Moire, is used to refer to the Virgin Mary. Mairead and Maighread are both Gaelic Margaret, and Peigi is the Gaelic Peggy. Seònaid (Janet), Seonag (Joan) and Sìne (Jane) all go back to feminine forms of John. Ealasaid is the Gaelic Elizabeth, and Iseabail the Gaelic Isabel.

A few Gaelic names come from Old Norse names. Raghnaid is the Gaelic form of Ragnhild, built from Old Norse elements meaning “advice, counsel” and “battle”. Marsaili is the Gaelic form of Marcella, and its entry says it is now also associated with Marjorie.

For a light-related meaning, Liùsaidh is the Gaelic form of Lucia or Louisa, and Lucia goes back to the Latin word lux, “light”. Our names that mean light list has more choices in that theme.

How Gaelic and English Forms of Scottish Names Work

If you are wondering why one Scottish name can have three or four spellings, a 2023 reference called Scottish Personal Names, by Iain Taylor, explains it. Taylor describes four processes by which equivalents between Gaelic and English names were established: gaelicisation, anglicisation, substitution and translation. His example of translation is Sorcha, a Gaelic name used to translate the French name Claire, “light”. He also notes that many Gaelic first names fell out of everyday use but survive in patronymic surnames and in place-names.

In practice, that means the pairs on this page are not always about shared meaning. Some match because they sound alike, and some because one was used in place of the other in records. Behind the Name gives examples in its own entries: Oighrig has been Anglicized as Effie, Euphemia and Affrica; Mòr is sometimes translated into English as Sarah or Marion; and Fionnghal has sometimes been Anglicized as Flora. Taylor’s reference lists the same kind of pairings, such as Seònaid with Janet and Shona, and Eilidh with Helen.

Spelling matters. Màiri, Mòrag, Sìne and Ùna are spelled here exactly as their entries spell them, with the grave accent, and in each entry’s pronunciation the accented vowel is a long one. U.S. records and forms do not always carry accent marks or special characters, so ask your hospital or birth registration office what can be recorded, and decide early how you will write the name at home and at school.

Behind the Name prints pronunciations in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). In that system, ˈ comes before the stressed syllable and ː marks a long vowel. Here is what the entries give for a sample of names on this page. Where the sound is easy to put into English letters, we add a rough guide; otherwise we leave the IPA as printed.

The table shows why Gaelic spellings can surprise English readers. The Mh at the start of Mhairi is said as a v, and the final -idh of Eilidh is not pronounced as written in English: the entry gives /ˈe.lɪ/, close to “AY-lee”. When in doubt, go by the entry’s pronunciation rather than the spelling.

Short Gaelic Pet Names and Diminutives

Gaelic often forms pet names by adding -ag to a name, and several of these have long been used as names in their own right. They are short, warm and easy to pair with a longer middle name. For more ideas in English, see our short girl names and nicknames for girls lists.

Eilidh is the best known: Behind the Name calls it a diminutive of Eilionoir (the Gaelic Eleanor) that is also taken to be a Gaelic form of Helen. Mòrag is a diminutive of Mòr, from the Irish word for “great”. Sìneag comes from Sìne, Beileag from Iseabail, and both Annag and Nandag are Gaelic diminutives of Anna.

Other short names on this page work the same way in English: Effie, Kirsty, Jessie and Maisie all began as pet forms of longer names. If you love one of them, you can use it on its own or choose the full name and keep the short form for home.

Old Gaelic Names With Their Own Meanings

These names are not borrowed from Latin, Greek or Hebrew. Their roots are in Gaelic itself, and several are shared with Ireland, where the Irish spellings came first. If you want a Scottish girl name with a meaning you can explain in a sentence, start here.

Sorcha means “radiant, bright”, and its entry says it is sometimes Anglicized as Clara in Scotland, which lines up with Taylor’s note that Sorcha translates Claire. Deòiridh simply means “pilgrim” in Scottish Gaelic. Muireall, the Scottish form of Muirgel, means “bright sea”, and Fionnghal, the Scottish form of Fionnuala, means “white shoulder”.

Some carry honest question marks. Eimhir is the Scottish Gaelic form of Emer, and Behind the Name says the meaning of Emer is unknown. Ùna is the Scottish form of Úna, which is probably from the Old Irish word for “lamb”. Slàine, from Old Irish slán, “health, safety”, carries the label Scottish Gaelic (Rare). If you like Irish names too, our Irish girl names list covers the Irish forms in detail.

Scottish Names From Islands and Places

Several of the most loved Scottish girl names come from islands and regions. Behind the Name explains the place behind each one. These also fit well on our nature names list for parents who want a name with a sense of landscape.

Isla is a variant of Islay, the island off the west coast of Scotland, and its entry says it is typically used as a feminine name. Islay itself is listed for both girls and boys, and its Gaelic name is Ìle. Iona comes from the island where Saint Columba founded a monastery, and Behind the Name says the island’s name is Old Norse, apparently from ey, “island”. Ailsa comes from Ailsa Craig, another west-coast island, though the derivation of the place name is uncertain.

Morven is the name of a region in western Scotland, in Gaelic A’ Mhorbhairne, “the big gap”. Rhona is possibly from one of the two Hebridean islands called Rona, “rough island” in Old Norse. Ainsley is a little different: Behind the Name lists it with Scottish usage, but the name comes from an English surname taken from a place name, either Annesley in Nottinghamshire or Ansley in Warwickshire.

Scottish Girl Names From Poetry and Novels, Plus Feminine Forms

Some Scottish names were made famous, or even created, by writers. Behind the Name gives the literary source for each name in the first table below.

Fiona is the feminine form of Fionn, from Old Irish finn, “white, blessed”. Its entry says the name was used, perhaps first, by the Scottish poet James Macpherson in his poem Fingal (1761), where it is spelled Fióna. Morna, an Anglicized form of Muirne, also appears in Fingal as the mother of the hero. Fenella is a form of Fionnuala that Walter Scott used for a character in his 1823 novel Peveril of the Peak, and Finella is a variant.

Behind the Name also lists many Scottish girl names that are feminine forms of boys’ names, a natural way to honor a father or grandfather. Each one below is listed as a feminine form of the name shown.

Donalda, Donaldina and Donella all honor Donald, “ruler of the world”. Kenina and Kenna come from Kenneth, Malina from Malcolm, Neilina from Neil, Rodina from Roderick and Ronalda from Ronald. Jamesina and Williamina come from two names in the U.S. top 10: the Social Security Administration (SSA) ranks James No. 6 and William No. 9 for boys born in 2025. Williamina’s entry names Williamina Fleming (1857-1911), a Scottish astronomer.

On the Gaelic side, Murdag is the feminine form of Murdo, Frangag of Francis, Beathag of Beathan (“life”), and Teàrlag of Teàrlach. Teàrlag’s entry says it is sometimes Anglicized as Charlotte, which links it to the SSA’s No. 2 name for girls born in 2025.

Scottish Girl Names That Travel Well in English, Plus Pairings

Many families want a name that honors Scottish roots and is easy to say and spell in the U.S. These groupings are our opinion, built only from names on this page.

• Already familiar in English: Fiona, Isla, Iona, Maisie, Jean, Jessie, Kirsty, Anna, Moira, Muriel and Katrina.
• Scottish but easy to say: Ailsa, Elspeth, Isobel, Morven, Rhona, Lilias, Shona and Effie.
• Gaelic spellings that may need a word of explanation: Eilidh, Mhairi, Sorcha, Seònaid, Mòrag and Marsaili.
• Bolder or rare choices: Deòiridh, Oighrig, Grizel, Slàine, Beathag and Williamina.

A practical tip: before you choose a Gaelic spelling, say it the way a teacher reading a class list for the first time might. Eilidh, Mhairi and Sorcha are often read differently from how they are said. That is not a reason to avoid them, just a reason to decide early how you will say and spell the name, and maybe to keep a short explanation ready. If you would rather avoid that, the Anglicized forms in the second table give you the same roots with spellings English readers already know.

These pairings are suggestions, built only from names on this page and their checked meanings. Treat them as starting points. Our middle names guide has more on choosing a middle name that flows.

• Classic first, Gaelic middle: Elspeth Màiri, Isobel Eilidh, Fiona Mòrag and Jean Sorcha.
• Short first, flowing middle: Isla Catriona, Effie Lilias, Iona Marsaili and Kenna Elspeth.
• Shared meanings: Sorcha (“radiant, bright”) and Muireall (“bright sea”) share brightness; Mòr and Mòrag share “great”.
• One root, two forms: Elspeth and Ealasaid (both Elizabeth), or Kirsteen and Cairistìona (both Christina), for sisters who share a story.
• Island sisters: Isla and Iona, or Ailsa and Rhona, if you like the place-name theme.

Planning a family of names from around the British Isles? Our Welsh names guide is a natural companion, and our unique girl names list gathers rarer choices from many cultures.

Related Betteroo Guides

• Scottish Boy Names
• Irish Girl Names
• Welsh Names
• Nature Names
• Unique Girl Names
• Old-Fashioned Girl Names

The Bottom Line

Scottish girl names range from Gaelic forms such as Màiri, Seònaid and Ealasaid, to Anglicized forms such as Mhairi, Shona and Isobel, to island names such as Isla, Iona and Ailsa, and literary names such as Fiona and Morna. Shortlist a few, read the full entry for each, keep the accents if the Gaelic spelling has them, and check how the name sounds in English.

Then say each name out loud with your surname, write out the initials, and choose the one that feels like your daughter.

Frequently Asked Questions