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Eight ‘lost’ 1930s Scottish baby names that haven’t been popular in 90 years

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Eight ‘lost’ 1930s Scottish baby names that haven’t been popular in 90 years

Anyone who has ever had to decide on a name will know that it is no mean feat.

Whether for a baby or a pet, picking out a moniker can be extremely overwhelming. There are just simply too many options out there.



While some people prefer to stick to the classics that will probably never go out of style, others like names that stand out from the crowd. Then there are those who want the name they give their child to have a bit of history behind it.

Luckily, the National Records of Scotland is home to statistics on the most common names given to babies born in the country every year dating back to 1935. This means that those looking for a historic Scottish name have plenty of choices to pick from.

To help you narrow down the options, the Daily Record has rounded up eight names that were included in Scotland’s top 100 at one point or another during the 1930s that haven’t featured since. While some may sound a little bit old-fashioned, they are all deserving of a comeback almost 100 years later.


Continue reading for eight baby names that were among the most popular in Scotland in the 1930s that have been lost to time.

Meanwhile, for those searching for further inspiration, 900 Scottish Baby Names: Choose the perfect name for your own little Braveheart and Celtic Names for Irish, Scottish and Welsh Babies are available to buy from Amazon and Waterstones respectively.

Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – sign up to the Scotland Now newsletter here.

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According to the National Records of Scotland, the name Betty was last featured in the top 100 girls’ names in the country back in 1938. Hebrew and English in origin, the lovely name is a short version of the more popular pick Elizabeth. It means ‘oath of God’ or ‘God is satisfaction’.


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The name Cecil was only among Scotland’s top 100 picks for boys once, in 1937. An anglicised version of the Welsh surname Seissylt, it originally comes from the Latin names Sextilius or Sextus — meaning ‘sixth’.

(Image: RapidEye / Getty Images)

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Hilda is a strong-sounding girls’ name that has Scandinavian and Germanic roots. It means ‘maid of battle’ or ‘fight’, making it the perfect choice for those who want their daughter to be powerful and courageous. The name last featured among the top 100 in Scotland in 1938.

(Image: cyberhawk / Getty Images)

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Hamilton is a boys’ name that is Old English in origin, meaning flat-topped hill. While the 2015 musical of the same name by Lin-Manuel Miranda has become a favourite all over the world, the name itself was last seen in Scotland’s top 100 back in 1937.

(Image: Sarah Mason / Getty Images)

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Jemima is a lovely girls’ name of Hebrew origin that means ‘dove’. It was last featured in top 100 in 1939 according to the National Records of Scotland. In terms of famous Scots to bear the name, painter Jemima Blackburn (whose work is pictured) is among the most well known.

(Image: National Galleries Of Scotland/Getty Images)

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Murdoch is a Scottish name that means ‘sea warrior’. According to the National Records of Scotland, it was last included in the top 100 picks in 1937. Its waning popularity over the decades may have something to do with Australian-born American business magnate Rupert Murdoch, but there is no denying that it is a great name with a unique meaning.

(Image: James Warwick / Getty Images)

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Another name given to a famous Scottish painter, those with an interest in art may be familiar with Edinburgh-born artist Mabel Pryde. The name itself, which many will also associate with the popular English singer, was last among Scotland’s top 100 in 1938. Meaning ‘lovable’, it comes from the Latin names Amabilis and Amabel.

(Image: Mabel Pryde, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

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Finally, the name Constance was last seen in the top 100 girls’ names in Scotland all the way back in 1936 according to the National Records of Scotland. Meaning ‘steadfastness’, the French name is another great pick for those who want to give their bundle of joy a strong-sounding moniker.

(Image: Lorado / Getty Images)

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