Nairn
Boy name · 338 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Nairn: 338 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 19 births in 2014.
Taken from the Nairn river in the Scottish Highlands, Nairn is a habitational surname turned first name meaning “dweller by the alder tree river,” from the Celtic elements *nau* (river) and *verno* (alder). Unlike many place-names that became given names in the 19th century, Nairn has a quieter legacy—famously borne by the Scottish painter Francis Nairn, known for his architectural landscapes. The name shares its root with the town of Nairn in Moray, which sits at the mouth of the river, and also echoes in the surname of James Nairn, a New Zealand impressionist artist. A unisex choice in modern Scotland, it’s far rarer than Isla or Skye, making it a subtly distinctive nod to the country’s northern geography.
Boy 35 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 201419 babies
- Latest (2024)
- #6194 babies
- Total births
- 338since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 9%vs prior 5y