Does you–or your cat–have Scottish ancestry? Or would you like to bring back memories of a dream trip every time you call your new cat? If so, it might be fun to find a name that harks back to Scotland. We’ve fetched some fun options for Scottish cat names ranging from the most popular male and female names in Scotland to Scottish castles and kings and Gaelic words for a unique name all your own!
Gaelic words that make fun cat names
Although only about 1 percent of Scotland’s residents now speak Gaelic, many words are part of everyday life in Scotland including these phrases:
- Failte (pronounced “fawl-cha”): Welcome or Good day
- Gillie or Ghillie: an ancient Gaelic term for an assistant on a fishing or hunting trip; a good name for a mouser
- Halò (pronounced hallo): Hello
- Piseag (pronounced “pee-shag”): Kitten
- Slàinte (pronounced “slancha”): cheers
- Tìoraidh (pronounced “cheerie”): see you later
Scottish Words
- Bairn: child, purrfect for your new kitty
- Bonny or Bonnie: beautiful
- Ceilidh (pronounced like Kaylie): an event with dancing and song
- Coorie: to nestle or snuggle
- Craic: good fun
- Gallus: bold, daring
- Haver (pronounced hay-ver): talking nonsense
- Hoachin: busy
- Lassy or Lassie: girl
- Tattie: potato
- Wee: small
- Yaldy or Yaldi: showing excitement
Clan Names
- Campbell
- Douglas
- MacDonald
- Mackintosh
- Mackenzie
- MacLean
- MacLeod
- MacNab
- Sinclair
- Wallace
Local Foods and Product Names
- Bagpipe: a fun name for a cat with a loud voice!
- Cashmere
- Haddie: Finnin Haddie, a chowder-like soup
- Haggis
- Heather
- Kilt
- Quaich: a small drinking bowl with two handles
- Scotch
- Smokie: Arbroath Smokies, a smoked haddock that serves as Scotland’s own barbecue
- Tartan
- Thistle
- Tweed
- Walkers: Walkers Shortbread has been made in the Highlands since 1898
- Whisky: Scottish whisky is spelled without the e!
Did you know?
Taylor Swift has two Scottish Fold cats. She named them “Meredith Grey” (from Grey’s Anatomy) and “Olivia Benson” (from Law & Order: SVU).
Monarchs of Scotland
As the Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland had a long list of rulers…would one of these be a good name for your new King or Queen?
- Alexander
- Anne
- Charles
- Constantine
- Cullen
- David
- Donald
- Duff
- Duncan
- Edgar
- Indulf
- James
- Lulach
- Kenneth
- MacAlpin
- Macbeth
- Malcolm
- Mary
- Robert
Scottish Castles
- Balmoral: Balmoral Castle, built by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
- Fyvie: Fyvie Castle was once a royal castle.
- Glamis: Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mother and an imposing structure that was the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
- Hogwarts: the fictional castle in the Harry Potter books is set in the Scottish Highlands
- Holyrood: Holyrood Palace, one of the Queen’s official residences in Scotland, was built in Edinburgh in 1128.
- Scone: Scone Palace, near Perth, is where the Scottish kings were crowned as they sat on the Scone stone (or Stone of Destiny).
- Skibo: Skibo Castle, near Dornoch in the northeast Highlands, is a favorite for destination weddings (including Madonna’s)
- Stirling: Stirling Castle, considered by many to be Scotland’s finest castle
- Tulloch: Tulloch Castle Hotel based in Dingwall is said to be haunted.
Famous Writers
- J.M. Barrie
- Robert (or Rabbie) Burns
- Arthur Conan Doyle
- Sir Walter Scott
- Adam Smith
- Robert Louis Stevenson
Famous Names
- Alexander Fleming, discovered penicillin
- Andy Murray, tennis player
- Bonnie Prince Charlie
- Ewan McGregor, actor
- James Andrew McAvoy, actor
- Rob Roy, known as the Robin Hood of Scotland
- Sean Connery, of 007 fame
- Tilda Swinton, actor
- William Wallace, hero of Scotland
Scottish Cat Legend of Cat Sidhe
The Cat Sidhe or Cait Sith is a type of creature from Scottish mythology that is said to take the form of a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. According to legend, the Cat Sidhe is a fairy creature that lives in the Scottish Highlands and has the ability to steal a person’s soul.
It is said that the Cat Sidhe can transform into a human-sized creature on Samhain, which is the Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. During this time, the Cat Sidhe would roam the countryside, searching for souls to steal.
To protect themselves from the Cat Sidhe, people would leave out offerings of food and milk on Samhain, hoping to appease the creature and prevent it from stealing their souls. It was also believed that if a person heard the Cat Sidhe’s mournful wailing, they should not try to comfort it, as this would put them in danger of having their soul stolen.
The legend of the Cat Sidhe has been passed down through generations in Scottish folklore, and it remains a popular subject in modern-day literature and media.
Edinburgh Place Names
The capital city boasts a labyrinth of narrow alleys considered to be some of Europe’s most haunted sites, a medical school that dates back over half a millennium, and a reputation as the hometown of some of the world’s most celebrated writers of the Victorian age.
- Arthur: Arthur’s Seat, an excellent spot for a view of the city
- Britannia: The HMY Britannia is the former Royal Yacht, now decommissioned but remaining regal. Queen Elizabeth II once described Britannia as the one place she could truly relax.
- Castle: Edinburgh Castle, the city’s top tourist attraction, is easy to spot thanks to its perch atop an ancient volcano.
- Destiny: The Stone of Destiny, housed at Edinburgh Castle, is a slab of sandstone upon which the monarchs of Scotland are crowned.
- George: Edinburg’s George Street is often called “the Bond Street of Scotland”.
- Giles: St. Giles Cathedral, consecrated in 1243
- Leith: The port of Leith, located on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, was once a separate town but merged with the municipality of Edinburgh in 1920. Centuries ago, Mary Queen of Scots ruled Scotland from Leith; later it became headquarters for the forces of Oliver Cromwell.
- Meg: The Mons Meg, a 15th century siege gun, is at the Edinburgh Castle.
- Waverly: The train station in Edinburgh; ride to London’s King Cross station in just under five hours.
More Place Names in Scotland
- Argyll: A county in western Scotland which became the basis for the name of the Argyle pattern
- Clyde: The River Clyde flows into the Firth of Clyde.
- Greenock: Greenock’s association with the sea dates back to its earliest days when it was first established as a fishing village in 1592. Its name derived from the Gaelic word for sun or sunny hill.
- Cowan: Glasgow’s “Cowan’s Corner” stands where a building was demolished by a Luftwaffe attack during World War II.
- Dundee: Scotland’s 4th largest city.
- Glasgow: Europe’s fourth largest city by population and the economic hub of Scotland.
- Inverness: city in the Scottish Highlands.
- Lomond: Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Scotland and one Sir Walter Scott called the “Queen of Scottish Lakes”
- Mackintosh: Glasgow is closely associated with the style of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh who launched what has come to known as “Glasgow style.” Drawing on functionality as well as spiritual needs, the style includes geometric and floral motifs and examples abound throughout the city including the Glasgow School of Art and the House for an Art Lover, a part of the school that illustrates the Scottish Art Nouveau style.
- Mungo: Saint Mungo, who is buried at Glasgow Cathedral (one of the few Gothic churches in the country spared during the Reformation) is the patron saint of Glasgow.
- Nessie: The often-sought resident of Loch Ness.
- Lothian: a region in the Scottish Lowlands
Scottish Festivals that Make Good Cat Names!
- Fringe: Edinburgh’s International Festival and the Fringe Festival is the world’s largest arts event.
- Hogmanay: the largest New Year’s celebration in the world.
- Tattoo: No, not the inked variety, this tattoo, such as August’s Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, features military bands.
Scottish Cat Names: Male
In the last few years, there’s been a huge trend toward naming pets with human names. According to the General Register Office (GRO), here’s a look at the most popular names for boys in Scotland!
- Aaron
- Abel
- Adam
- Aidan
- Aiden
- Alasdair
- Albie
- Alex
- Alexander
- Alfie
- Andrew
- Angus
- Anthony
- Archie
- Arlo
- Arran
- Arthur
- Ashton
- Austin
- Axel
- Beau
- Ben
- Benjamin
- Blair
- Blake
- Bradley
- Brodie
- Brody
- Caelan
- Caleb
- Callan
- Callum
- Calum
- Calvin
- Cameron
- Campbell
- Carson
- Carter
- Charles
- Charlie
- Christopher
- Cian
- Ciaran
- Cillian
- Cody
- Cole
- Colton
- Connell
- Connor
- Conor
- Cooper
- Corey
- Cruz
- Daniel
- Darragh
- David
- Dominic
- Douglas
- Dylan
- Edward
- Eli
- Elias
- Elijah
- Elliot
- Elliott
- Ellis
- Enzo
- Ethan
- Euan
- Evan
- Ewan
- Ezra
- Felix
- Fergus
- Filip
- Findlay
- Finlay
- Finley
- Finn
- Flynn
- Frankie
- Fraser
- Freddie
- Frederick
- Gabriel
- George
- Grayson
- Gregor
- Hamish
- Harris
- Harrison
- Harry
- Harvey
- Hayden
- Hector
- Henry
- Hudson
- Hugh
- Hugo
- Hunter
- Innes
- Isaac
- Jace
- Jack
- Jackson
- Jacob
- Jake
- James
- Jamie
- Jason
- Jasper
- Jax
- Jaxon
- Jaxson
- Jaxx
- Jay
- Jayden
- Joel
- Joey
- John
- Jonah
- Jordan
- Joseph
- Josh
- Joshua
- Jude
- Kai
- Kaiden
- Kaleb
- Kayden
- Kerr
- Kevin
- Kian
- Kyle
- Lachlan
- Layton
- Leighton
- Leo
- Leon
- Levi
- Lewis
- Liam
- Lochlan
- Logan
- Louie
- Louis
- Luca
- Lucas
- Luka
- Luke
- Lyle
- Mac
- Magnus
- Marcus
- Mason
- Matthew
- Max
- Michael
- Miles
- Milo
- Munro
- Murray
- Myles
- Nathan
- Niall
- Nico
- Noah
- Oakley
- Odin
- Oliver
- Ollie
- Olly
- Oran
- Oscar
- Oskar
- Owen
- Parker
- Patrick
- Reggie
- Reuben
- Rhys
- Rian
- Riley
- Rio
- River
- Robbie
- Robert
- Robin
- Rocco
- Roman
- Ronan
- Ronnie
- Rory
- Rowan
- Ruairi
- Ruairidh
- Ruaridh
- Ruben
- Ryan
- Sam
- Samuel
- Scott
- Sean
- Sebastian
- Shay
- Sonny
- Spencer
- Struan
- Teddy
- Theo
- Theodore
- Thomas
- Tommy
- Travis
- Tyler
- William
- Xander
- Zac
- Zach
- Zachary
- Zack
- Zak
- Zander
Scottish Cat Names: Female
As with the most popular male names, we’ve turned to the General Register Office (GRO) for a look at the most popular girls’ names in Scotland:
- Abbie
- Abigail
- Ada
- Addison
- Aila
- Ailsa
- Aimee
- Alba
- Alexandra
- Alice
- Alyssa
- Amara
- Amber
- Amelia
- Amelie
- Amy
- Anna
- Annabelle
- Annie
- Aoife
- April
- Arabella
- Aria
- Ariana
- Ariella
- Arla
- Arya
- Astrid
- Aurora
- Autumn
- Ava
- Avery
- Ayda
- Ayla
- Bailey
- Bella
- Bethany
- Billie
- Blair
- Blaire
- Blake
- Bonnie
- Brianna
- Brooke
- Caitlin
- Cali
- Callie
- Cara
- Cassie
- Charlotte
- Chloe
- Ciara
- Clara
- Cleo
- Connie
- Cora
- Daisy
- Darcey
- Darcie
- Darcy
- Delilah
- Eden
- Edie
- Edith
- Effie
- Eilidh
- Eleanor
- Elena
- Elise
- Eliza
- Elizabeth
- Ella
- Ella-Rose
- Elle
- Ellie
- Ellis
- Elodie
- Eloise
- Elsie
- Emilia
- Emilie
- Emily
- Emma
- Emmie
- Erin
- Esmae
- Esme
- Eva
- Eve
- Evelyn
- Everly
- Evie
- Faith
- Fatima
- Faye
- Fern
- Fiadh
- Flora
- Florence
- Francesca
- Frankie
- Freya
- Freyja
- Gabriella
- Georgia
- Georgie
- Grace
- Gracie
- Hailey
- Halle
- Hallie
- Hanna
- Hannah
- Harley
- Harlow
- Harper
- Harriet
- Hayley
- Hazel
- Heidi
- Hollie
- Holly
- Hope
- Imogen
- Indie
- Iona
- Iris
- Isabella
- Isabelle
- Isla
- Isobel
- Ivy
- Jasmine
- Jessica
- Jessie
- Jorgie
- Julia
- Kali
- Katie
- Kayla
- Keira
- Kiara
- Klara
- Lacey
- Lana
- Lara
- Laura
- Layla
- Leah
- Lena
- Lexi
- Libby
- Lilah
- Lillie
- Lilly
- Lily
- Lois
- Lola
- Lottie
- Lucia
- Lucie
- Lucy
- Luna
- Lydia
- Lyla
- Lyra
- Mabel
- Macie
- Maddison
- Madison
- Maeva
- Maeve
- Maggie
- Maia
- Maisie
- Maja
- Mara
- Margot
- Maria
- Marley
- Marnie
- Martha
- Mary
- Matilda
- Maya
- Mia
- Mila
- Millie
- Mirren
- Mollie
- Molly
- Mya
- Myla
- Mylah
- Nancy
- Naomi
- Nevaeh
- Neve
- Niamh
- Nina
- Nola
- Nora
- Norah
- Nova
- Olive
- Olivia
- Orla
- Orlagh
- Orlaith
- Paige
- Payton
- Penelope
- Penny
- Peyton
- Phoebe
- Piper
- Pippa
- Poppy
- Quinn
- Rachel
- Rae
- Raya
- Rebecca
- Reeva
- Remi
- Rhea
- Riley
- River
- Robyn
- Romy
- Rosa
- Rose
- Rosie
- Rowan
- Ruby
- Sadie
- Saoirse
- Sara
- Sarah
- Savannah
- Scarlett
- Sienna
- Skye
- Skylar
- Sofia
- Sophia
- Sophie
- Summer
- Sylvie
- Thea
- Tilly
- Victoria
- Violet
- Willow
- Wren
- Wynter
- Zara
- Zoe
- Zoey
FAQ
Which cat is Scottish?
The adorable Scottish Fold cat hails from Scotland. This big-eyed cat breed is known for his folded ears, and traces his ancestry back to Perthshire, Scotland and a barn cat named Susie.
Susie had a genetic mutation that caused those wee folded ears…and the rest is history. The names above make fun Scottish Fold names!
What are cats called in Scotland?
In Scotland, cats are generally called “cats” as in the rest of the English-speaking world. However, in Scots, which is one of the languages spoken in Scotland, a cat can be referred to as a “moggie” or “mawkit.”
The term “moggie” is also used in other parts of the UK to refer to a non-pedigree or mixed-breed cat. The Scottish Gaelic word for cat is “cat” (pronounced like ‘katch’).
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Scotland Baby name lists contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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