Meaning and Origin of the Name Tearlach

A masculine name pronounced TYEH-ar-ləkh, the name Tearlach is a variant of the English name Charles and the Gaelic name Toirdhealbhach. A popular meaning of Tearlach is “strong”. Other meanings include manly, strong, vigorous, and army. Much like the name’s English counterpart, Charles, it can also mean free man.

Popularity

As more people go with the variant Charles, it is a very uncommon name to hear now. According to the latest statistics from the Scottish government, Tearlach was not in the top 100 popular boy names in Scotland in 2019. Also, it was not ranked in the top 1000 names between 1900 and 2018. The popularity of Tearlach seems to have reached its peak in the 1930s and has been gradually dropping since.

Famous People Called Tearlach

Famous people with variations of the name Tearlach include Irish poet Tarlach Rua Mac Dónaill and the piper Tarlach Mac Suibhne.

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Meaning and Origin of the Name Sorley

The name Sorley was taken from the Scottish Gaelic word Somhairle. The meaning of Sorley for the Irish and the Scottish is summer wanderer, but it also stands for summer sailor.

Popularity

The popularity of Sorley is almost nonexistent right now as many people seem to not be fans of the name. It did not even rank the charts for popular baby names, especially in the United States.

Famous People with the Name

There are some popular people by the name of Sorley that should be mentioned though, and two of these are Sorley Boy MacDonnell and Sorley MacLean.

Sorley Boy MacDonnell was a Scoto-Irish prince as well as chief. He was best down fro establishing the MacDonnell clan in Antrim, and he resisted the campaign of Shane O’Neill. He also resisted the campaign of the English crown expelling the clan from Ireland.

Sorley MacLean was a Scottish Gaelic poet that is extremely popular in the modern era. Sorley music is a very unique sound that mixes infectious grooves, acute vocal hooks, and tantalising bass riffs.

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Meaning and Origin of the Name Willy

The name Willy has a long history. It can be short for William, but can also stand by itself. The meaning of Willy is ‘Resolute Protector’, a strong masculine trait. In 2012 only 25 baby boys in the United States were named Willy.

Popularity

The popularity of Willy has never been high, making the name unique. This name was not in the top 100 baby boys’ names in Scotland in 2018. However, William was in the 33rd most popular boys’ name.

Famous People with the Name Willy

Because the name is not used very often, the number of famous Willys is limited. But there are a few. Willy Russell is a well known British actor and composer. Willy William is a French DJ, singer and composer, who had a major hit with his song “Ego” in 2016. Willy Brandt was Chancellor of Germany and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. And Willy Ley is a famous American science writer.

In the world of fiction, we all know Willy Wonka, a character by Roald Dahl and Willy, the orca whale from the movie “Free Willy”.

The Willy family has lived in the mountains in western Scotland and on the Hebrides Islands for centuries. From there they have emigrated to Canada and America in the 17th and 18th centuries, adding Scottish lore, fiery tempers and courage to the melting pots of the world.

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Meaning and Origin of the Name Ailean

The name Ailean is Scotish and means “rock” and “handsome”.

The popularity of the Name

It is a boy name that wasn’t very popular in Scotland in 2016. The popularity of Ailean was low enough that it didn’t make it to the top 100 baby names list. But, it is a simple sounding and good looking name with a great meaning. The meaning of Ailean is simple and appropriate for any baby boy.

Famous People with the Name Ailean

The name Ailean has been used a few times in Scotish history, including for Ailean mac Ruaidhri, who was a leading figure in the thirteenth century. And Ailean Macclean is a notable 16th-century fictional character.

Why Choose the Name for your Baby?

The boy name Ailean has been used throughout history and is a great name with history behind it. It is a name that Scotish people can be proud of because of how it has been used in the past. Ailean isn’t popular in modern times, but it is still recognisable and an easy name to love because of its simplicity.

Famous People with the Name Ailean

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Origin and History of the Name Roddy

Roddy is a pet form of the name Roderick. Roddy is a simple Scottish boys name that was not one of the most popular names in 2015 in Scotland.

The popularity of Roddy was never too great, but the name was given to a few notable people. Roddy Doyle was one of those people, and he is an author who will long be remembered for his works, from novels to screenplays. Roddy Radiation is an American musician who is well known, and Roddy Piper was a Canadian wrestler and actor.

Meaning of Roddy

So, even though this is not a popular name, it was used as the first name of a few figures that people recognise. The meaning of Roddy is “famous power” and that is a special meaning.

This name is simple, yet it sounds good when it is spoken. It was used as the first name of a few famous people, and the name Roddy was a meaning that people will like, too. Fans of Roddy Doyle, Roddy Radiation, and Roddy Piper will especially love this unique baby boy name.

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The Popularity and History of Ninian as a name

When a new baby is being expected, the parents will spend a lot of time pondering over what to name him or her when they are born. There are many names that have become popular or are trendy like Cameron or Beckham. However, one name for a boy that is beginning to thrive in popularity is the name Ninian.

Meaning of Ninian

The meaning of Ninian is unknown. However, it’s origin is Celtic, Scottish and Irish. It has also had a Latin form of Niniavus and is very similar to the Welsh Nynniaw.

Popularity of the Name

Ninian was not in the 100 most popular popular baby boys’s name in Scotland in 2014 (latest stats from the Scottish Government).

Famous People with the Name

The most famous was St. Ninian of Galloway who was a Bishop and a missionary to Scotland. He is known to be the first major preacher of the Gospel for those who lived in Britain north of the Wall, which is what Scotland was called back in that day. He was also known to be responsible for many miracles and cures. Therefore, it has a very marvellous and spiritual history name Ninian.

Another famous Ninian was Ninian Edwards a Senator from the state of Illinois.

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The Meaning of the Name Gus

The name Gus is a diminutive of the Latin Augustus and predominately associated as a boy’s name. The meaning of Gus is mostly derived from the Latin base which carries the meaning “worthy of respect.” The meaning of Gus can also include “majestic.”

Though generally a nickname, the name Gus is at times given independently. It is also a shortened version of a variety of names including the popular Scottish names Angus and Fergus. Based on Scottish birth statistics from 2013, Angus ranked 85th while Fergus ranked 120th. The name Gus is considered fairly uncommon from a global perspective, though some variants such as Gustav maintain a level of popularity in some countries.

The popularity of Gus as a name depends greatly on which name variant is in use. Some versions such as August and Augustus have tended to be on the rise. Angus has remained fairly stable when it comes to its popularity in Scotland.

Famous People Called Gus

Famous persons with the name include Gus Grissom, Gus Poyet, and Baron Gus O’Donnell.

Another Interesting Fact

Though it would be considered quite rare, Gus at times is used as a girl’s name, normally as a shortened version of the name Augustine

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Meaning and Origin of the Scottish Name Jock

In Scotland, the name Jock is one that is among the most loved boys’ names. The name  Jock is a form of the name John.

The exact meaning of Jock is ‘god is gracious’. Scots have been known to use the surname as one that describes a person who is very athletic and is heavily involved in sports. Jock is also known as being a slang term that people used to describe a Scottish soldier as well.

Alternate forms of the name Jock is Jockie or Jockey.

Popularity of Jock

The name Jock was the 680th most popular boy’s name in Scotland in 2014 according to figures released by the Scottish Government.

Famous People with the Name

The popularity of Jock as a name in Scotland is certainly one that can be tied to some of the famous people who have that as their name. Some famous Scottish men and others from the United Kingdom who have the name are the Open Championship and PGA Championship winning golfer Jock Hutchison, the Australian cricket player who played most of his career in England in Jock Livingston, and the cartoon illustrator Mark Simpson who goes by the one name moniker of Jock.

• Jock Stein, was a Scottish football player and manager. He played for the football team Celtic and Llanelli Town.
• Jock Cameron was a South African cricket player, who in his day was one of the best wicket keepers in the world

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The Scottish Surname Balfour

The Scottish name Balfour was taken from the barony of the same name and is first found in recorded history in 1304. The spelling of the name has undergone some changes through the centuries, a common occurrence with many names from this time period. Alternate spellings include Balfure and Balfoure as well as a dozen others which have been recorded over time.

Meaning of Balfour

The name has several meanings, typically broken down to mean “village”, “pasture” or “field”. The motto of the Balfour clan is Fordward, or forward, and the family crest is of an arm holding a baton. The clan is autonomous with no clan chief at this time.

Popularity

Balfour is not a common 1st name and was not in the top 500 Scottish boys’ names in 2013.

People with the Name

There have been numerous notable people with the Balfour surname over time including actors, clergy and scientists. Arthur Balfour was the prime minister of great Britain from 1902 to 1905. The Balfour Declaration of 1926 was named in honour of him. It declared that each country within the British Empire was independent, yet retained an allegiance to the crown.

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Meaning and Origin of the Name Gillies

The Gillies name is a boy’s name derived from the Gaelic name Gille Iossa. The meaning of Gillies, and its ancestor, is “servant of Jesus.”

History of the Gillies

“Gille Iossa” was originally a name of a medieval Scottish chief who was also known as Malise mac Gilleain (1235-1300), who was the head of what would become the Maclean clan. His name has been variously rendered as Gille-Iosa, Maulis, Maolisa, mhaoilisa, Maoiliosa, and Gillise MacGillean. Both “Maol” and “Gille” mean “servant of” in Scots Gaelic, while “Iosa” means “Jesus.” “Malise” is an Anglicized version of mac Gilleain’s first name.

Malise assumed leadership of the clan in 1263, when the Scottish-Norwegian War was at its height. He and his clan fought under the command of the Scottish king, Alexander III. At the Battle of Largs, his leadership and bravery so impressed his foes that the Icelandic historian Sturla Þórðarson wrote about him in his account of King Haakon Haakonson, which he finished in the late 1260’s.

Popularity of the Name

The popularity of Gillies as a first name is low, but it is a relatively common surname or last name. Gillies has five variant forms: Ghilles, Ghillies, Gilles, Gillis, and Gilliss.

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