"crooked nose"
Cameron
Pronunciation: [ k-AM-er-uhn ]
A fearless Scottish clan name that crossed the gender line
Meaning & Origin
"bent river"
The Story of Cameron
Cameron derives from the Scottish Gaelic 'cam sròn,' meaning 'crooked nose' (from 'cam' = crooked/bent + 'sròn' = nose), originally a nickname that became one of Scotland's most powerful clan names. The Cameron Clan of the Scottish Highlands is one of Scotland's most ancient, with a history stretching back to the 12th century. As a given name, Cameron arrived via Scottish immigration and crossed to female use in the late 20th century.
Cameron Diaz is the single biggest reason this name became popular for girls. Her breakthrough in The Mask (1994) and subsequent roles in There's Something About Mary and Charlie's Angels made Cameron feel energetic, fun, and feminine. By the early 2000s, Cameron was consistently in the US Top 50 for girls.
Clan Cameron is one of Scotland's most storied Highland clans, known for fierce loyalty to the Jacobite cause — they were among the first to rally to Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. The name's neutrality across genders makes it a practical choice for families who want flexibility and strong Scottish heritage.
Fun Facts
- The name Cameron literally means 'crooked nose' in Gaelic — a physical description that became one of Scotland's most powerful clan names
- Cameron Diaz's career from 1994-2014 was the primary driver of this name's popularity for girls in the US and UK
- Clan Cameron was one of the first Highland clans to rally to Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite cause at the Battle of Culloden in 1746
Cameron in Other Languages
Famous People Named Cameron
Cameron Diaz
Actor
1972
American actress known for The Mask, There's Something About Mary, and Charlie's Angels — primary driver of this name fo...
American actress known for The Mask, There's Something About Mary, and Charlie's Angels — primary driver of this name for girls
Cameron Crowe
Writer
1957
American director and writer known for Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire, and Say Anything
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #485
- Total SSA Count
- 628
- Cultural Origins
- Scottish American British Australian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Boy Name
Cameron is also used as a boy name, ranked #66.
View Cameron as a boy name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Cameron
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About the Name Cameron
Cameron is a girl name with Scottish, American, British, and Australian origins . The name means "crooked nose" in Scottish Gaelic .
Is Cameron a boy or girl name? Cameron is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #485 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #66. Cameron is more commonly used as a boy name.
Cameron is currently ranked #485 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Cameron has 3 syllables and is pronounced k-AM-er-uhn, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Cameron include Cam, Cammie, and Cami. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Cameron include Camellia, Cameryn, Camelia, Cameran . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.