Names of Scotland

Discover the stories, meanings, and Gaelic origins hidden
within Scotland’s place names.

Explore Scotland’s Linguistic Landscape

From the Highlands to the Borders, every Scottish place name has a story to tell. Names like Inverness (“mouth of the River Ness”) or Balquhidder (“the farm by the winding water”) reveal centuries of Gaelic influence woven through the land.

The Names of Scotland tool helps you uncover these layers of history and language, showing how Scotland’s landscape was shaped by Gaelic, Norse, and Pictish tongues.

Instantly Search 2,000+ Place Names

Names of Scotland is a completely free online tool that lets you search the meanings of over a thousand Scottish locations — towns, lochs, glens, and islands — in seconds.

It’s fully browser-based, works beautifully on mobile, and gives you clear, authentic explanations of each name’s Gaelic roots and cultural background.

Connecting Past and Present

Names of Scotland is a completely free online tool that lets you search the meanings of over a thousand Scottish locations — towns, lochs, glens, and islands — in seconds.

It’s fully browser-based, works beautifully on mobile, and gives you clear, authentic explanations of each name’s Gaelic roots and cultural background.