Somhairle
Boy name · 11 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Somhairle: 11 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 4 births in 2013.
A strong Gaelic name, Somhairle is the original Goidelic form of the Norse name *Sumarliði*, meaning "summer sailor" or "summer warrior"—a fitting title for the Viking raiders who plied the Scottish coasts. Perhaps its most famous bearer was Somerled, the 12th-century Lord of the Isles who led a rebellion against the Norse and is considered a founding figure of Clan Donald. The name is deeply tied to the Hebrides, as Argyll's own Sleat peninsula shares the same root. While largely unheard outside Gaelic-speaking communities, it has a classic counterpart in the anglicised "Sorley," and a distant link to the surname "MacSorley."
Boy 3 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20134 babies
- Latest (2024)
- #7273 babies
- Total births
- 11since 2013
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y