Scott

Pronunciation: [ sk-AHT ]

Boy Name #566 Most Popular Steady 1 Syllable

A crisp, no-nonsense name with deep Scottish roots

English American Scottish

Classic Strong Traditional Minimalist

Meaning & Origin

"from Scotland, a Scotsman"

Origin: Old English/Latin

Language: English

"wanderer, Gaelic speaker"

Origin: Latin Scotus

Language: Latin

The Story of Scott

Scott is an Old English ethnic name meaning 'a Scotsman' or 'from Scotland', used to distinguish people of Scottish origin living in England or Ireland. It derives from the Latin 'Scotus' and the Old English 'Scotta', which originally referred to the Gaelic-speaking peoples of Ireland who colonized western Scotland. From a geographic descriptor it became a surname and then a beloved given name.

Scott dominated American baby name charts from the 1950s through the 1980s, peaking in the 1960s-1970s as a quintessential mid-century American masculine name. It carried an image of the clean-cut, competent American man — honest, athletic, and straightforward.

Scott carries the full weight of Scottish cultural pride, from the Highland clans to Robert the Bruce to Robert Burns. As a first name in America, it became associated with the confident suburban professional. F. Scott Fitzgerald embedded the name in American literary culture, adding a layer of romantic idealism.

Fun Facts

F. Scott Fitzgerald was named for his distant relative Francis Scott Key, who wrote 'The Star-Spangled Banner'
Scott peaked at #12 in the US in 1971
The word 'scot-free' shares no connection to the name — it comes from 'sceot', an Old Norse word for tax or payment

Scott in Other Languages

Latin Scottus

French Scott

German Scott

Spanish Scott

Scottish Gaelic Scots

Famous People Named Scott

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Writer

1896

American novelist who chronicled the Jazz Age in The Great Gatsby and Tender Is the Night

Scott Joplin

Musician

1868

African-American composer known as the 'King of Ragtime', composer of Maple Leaf Rag

Montgomery Scott (Scotty) Fictional

Other

Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek, played by James Doohan

Quick Facts

Gender: Boy
Syllables: 1
Popularity Rank: #566
Total SSA Count: 517
Cultural Origins: English American Scottish
Pronunciation: Easy
Formality: Moderate
Cross-Cultural Ease: High

Alternative Spellings

Scottie #1191 Scotty #1766

Common Nicknames

Scottie

Pairs Well With

Scott Michael Scott Alan Scott Lee Scott David Scott Thomas Scott James Scott Andrew

Sibling Names

Todd Brenda Craig Tracy Darren Sharon Brad

Also a Girl Name

Scott is also used as a girl name, ranked #38339.

View Scott as a girl name →

Similar Names

Brooks Judd Cody Cole Holt Colton Brooke Broderick

Playground Safety

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Frequently Asked Questions About Scott

What does the name Scott mean?

"from Scotland, a Scotsman" (from Old English/Latin). "wanderer, Gaelic speaker" (from Latin Scotus). Scott is an Old English ethnic name meaning 'a Scotsman' or 'from Scotland', used to distinguish people of Scottish origin living in England or Ireland. It derives from the Latin 'Scotus' and the Old English 'Scotta', which originally referred to the Gaelic-speaking peoples of Ireland who colonized western Scotland. From a geographic descriptor it became a surname and then a beloved given name.

What is the origin of the name Scott?

Scott has Old English/Latin, Latin Scotus, English, American, and Scottish origins. In Old English/Latin, it means "from Scotland, a Scotsman". In Latin Scotus, it means "wanderer, Gaelic speaker".

Is Scott a boy or girl name?

Scott is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #566. As a girl name, it is ranked #38339. Scott is more commonly used as a boy name.

How do you pronounce Scott?

Scott is pronounced sk-AHT.

How popular is the name Scott?

Scott is currently ranked #566 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

What are common nicknames for Scott?

Common nicknames for Scott include Scottie.

What are good middle names for Scott?

Popular middle name pairings include Scott Michael, Scott Alan, Scott Lee, Scott David, Scott Thomas, Scott James, and Scott Andrew.

What are good sibling names for Scott?

Names that pair well with Scott as siblings include Todd, Brenda, Craig, Tracy, Darren, Sharon, and Brad.

How many syllables does Scott have?

Scott has 1 syllable, making it easy to say and remember.

Is Scott a common or rare name?

Scott is moderately common, ranked #566 for boys in the US. You will encounter it, but it stands out.

About the Name Scott

Scott is a boy name with English, American, and Scottish origins . The name means "from Scotland, a Scotsman" in Old English/Latin .

Is Scott a boy or girl name? Scott is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #566 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #38,339. Scott is more commonly used as a boy name.

Scott is currently ranked #566 in popularity for boy names in the United States.

The name Scott has 1 syllable and is pronounced sk-AHT, making it easy to pronounce and remember.

Common nicknames for Scott include Scottie. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.

Alternative spellings of Scott include Scottie, Scotty . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.