Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Scott
BoyScottish, English· “a Scot, a Gaelic speaker”
- Meaning
- a Scot, a Gaelic speaker
- Origin
- Scottish, English
- Pronunciation
- SKAHT
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #534
- US babies 2025
- 561
- Best rank
- #10 (1971)
- Peak year
- 1971
Meaning and origin of Scott
Scott is a Scottish and English name that means “a Scot, a Gaelic speaker”.
Scott began as a surname for someone from Scotland or a speaker of Gaelic. The word comes from the Latin Scotus, which originally referred to the Gaels of Ireland and later to those who settled in what became Scotland. The surname became famous through writers such as Sir Walter Scott and F. Scott Fitzgerald. As a first name Scott rose sharply in the mid-twentieth century and still feels friendly and dependable. It is simple and strong, and works well with longer surnames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Scot.
Popularity over time
Scott has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #10 in 1971, the same year it reached its highest count of 30,901 babies. In 2025, 561 babies were named Scott, and it ranked #534 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #436 in 1920, #82 in 1950, #33 in 1980, #158 in 2000, #351 in 2010, and #534 in 2025. Of the 774,997 US boys named Scott since records began, 34% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 194,520 babies. Since 2010, 9,888 more have been named Scott.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Brian, Eric, Chad, and Shawn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Scott ranked highest in Rhode Island, West Virginia, and Massachusetts.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | #230 | 5 |
| West Virginia | #325 | 6 |
| Massachusetts | #331 | 17 |
| Ohio | #347 | 33 |
| Utah | #349 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Scott is usually pronounced SKAHT, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-tt”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Scot.
Middle names for Scott
A few middle names that flow with Scott: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Scott
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Lists that include Scott
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Scott mean?
Scott is a Scottish and English name that means “a Scot, a Gaelic speaker”.
What is the origin of the name Scott?
Scott has Scottish and English roots. Scott began as a surname for someone from Scotland or a speaker of Gaelic.
Is Scott a popular name?
Yes. Scott ranked #534 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Scott a boy or girl name?
Scott is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Scott?
Scott is usually pronounced SKAHT. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings