These Scottish dog names (and Scottish-themed choices) are all pulled from Rover’s massive dog names database. We’ve also added a few of our favourite Gaelic dog names, Scottish human names (a lot of Scottish surnames make great dog names), and other choices from Scottish history and culture.
So how do you find a great name for your new dog? Consider size, look, and personality—this list has options to fit any dog and many of the names are gender-neutral. Good luck and have fun choosing the perfect name for your new wee friend!
Top Scottish Human Names for Female Dogs
- Aggie
- Gail
- Jean
- Jessie
- Maggie
- Mhairi
- Morag
- Shona
- Sorcha (meaning “radiant” in Gaelic)
- Una
Top Scottish Human Names for Male Dogs
- Alastair
- Dougal
- Dougie
- Douglas
- Fraser
- Gregor
- Hamish
- Murdo
- Rab (Short for Robert)
- Scott
- Tam (Short for Thomas, or Tam o’Shanter)
Top Scottish Surnames for Dogs
- Campbell
- Clark
- Gillespie
- Gray
- Logan
- Mackenzie
- Murdoch
- Ramsey
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Names of Islands
- Ailsa
- Arran
- Bute
- Fara
- Harris
- Iona
- Islay (pronounced ‘isle-a’)
- Jura
- Lewis
- Mull
- Orkney
- Rona
- Shetland
- Skye
- Stornoway
- Tiree
Names of Towns & Regions
- Angus
- Argyll
- Ayr
- Elgin
- Kelso
- Montrose
- Oban
- Sterling
- Tobermory
Names of Rivers & Lochs
- Clyde
- Dee
- Lomond
- Lossie
- Maree
- Moray
- Ness
- Tay
- Tweed
Famous Scots
- Baird (John Logie Baird, inventor of the TV)
- Bell (Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone)
- Burns (Robert Burns poet and Scottish icon)
- Connery (Sean Connery)
- Connolly (Billy Connolly)
- Doyle (Arthur Conan Doyle)
- Ewan (Ewan McGregor)
- Irvine (Irvine Welsh)
- Lennox (Annie)
- Lulu
- Mackintosh (Charles Rennie Mackintosh)
- Mary (Queen of Scots)
- Murray (Andy Murray)
- Rennie (Charles Rennie Mackintosh)
- Wallace (William Wallace)
Scottish Words
- Bonnie (meaning pretty)
- Firth (inlet of the sea; an estuary)
- Glen (deep valley)
- Kelpie (the Scots name given to a shape-shifting water spirit which usually takes the form of a horse)
- Loch (meaning lake)
- Selkie (also spelled silkie, sylkie, selchie or selkie folk meaning “seal folk.” These are mythological beings capable of changing from seal to human form by shedding their skin)
- Cèilidh (a social gathering or evening of traditional Scottish dancing)
Scottish Culture
- Alba (Gaelic for Scotland)
- Caledonia (Latin name for Scotland)
- MacBeth (Shakespearean )
- Munro (a mountain in Scotland with a height over 3,000 feet)
- Nessie (the elusive monster)
- Piper (player of the bagpipes)
- Thistle (the national flower of Scotland)
Food & Drinks
- Bridie (meat pastry that originates from Forfar)
- Clootie (a clootie dumpling is a traditional steamed Scottish pudding made with dried fruit and spices)
- Cranachan (dessert: whipped cream, honey, fresh raspberries, toasted oats, and whisky)
- Cullen skink (a thick Scottish soup made of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions)
- Haggis (traditional dish made with meat, oats, onions, salt and spices)
- Smokie (a type of smoked haddock – a speciality of the town of Arbroath)
- Stovie (Stovies are a mixture of potato, onions and often pieces of meat)
- Whisky
Dog Naming Advice
If you’re having trouble deciding, keep in mind that a great Scottish dog name can come from many different sources of inspiration, such as your favourite foods, books, bands, celebrities, or even dog breed history. For example, a Lab puppy might sport a water-inspired name like Moray!
Another consideration when choosing your dog’s name? Dog training. This is of particular importance for puppies. When you’re teaching your new dog to respond to commands like sit, stay, or come, you’ll want to be sure their name isn’t a source of confusion. In other words, avoid puppy names that sound like a common dog training cue, such as “Bit,” which could easily be misheard as “sit.”
Of course, what matters most is that the dog name you choose rolls off your tongue. The best names will make you happy. We’re fans of the “backdoor test” for dog name selection. It’s pretty much what it sounds like: stand at the back door and call out your new dog‘s potential name. Saying “Duncan, it’s time for dinner!” or “Islay, leave it!” helps take the name out of your imagination and into reality.
Good luck, have fun and make sure to check out our other dog name coverage. As dog lovers through and through here at Rover.com, we find dog names absolutely fascinating, and we love searching through our data on the topic to discover hot trends, quirky choices, and unique twists on classics. Over the years, we’ve compiled plenty of names for you to peruse—and we keep our lists updated with new data each year. To start, check out our list of the most popular names of 2018, and cutest names for dogs! Once you’ve found the perfect name, find the perfect dog sitter who can provide lots of attention and dog boarding when you can’t be around.
