Scotland’s most popular summer-inspired baby boy names have been revealed, with Harris taking the top spot after 211 baby boys were given the name in 2025.
The list was compiled by experts at Autism Parenting Magazine, who analysed the latest 2025 baby-name data from National Records of Scotland to identify the country’s most popular and rarest seasonal choices. Two of the top four names are connected to Scottish islands.
Harris leads the list
Harris topped the chart of 12 names. The moniker comes from an English surname meaning “son of Harry”, itself a medieval form of Henry, which derives from Germanic elements linked with “home” and “ruler”.
In Scotland, the name also carries a strong geographical identity through the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides, known in Scottish Gaelic as Hearadh. The island is known for white-sand beaches, turquoise Atlantic water, dramatic hills and vibrant machair that flowers along the Hebridean coastline during warmer months.
Lucas and Kai follow
In second place was Lucas, given to 131 boys. Lucas is the Latin form of the Greek name Loukas, meaning someone from Lucania, an ancient region of southern Italy. The name is also the traditional Latin form associated with Luke, and its connection to southern Italy brings imagery of sunlit hills, olive groves, coastal villages and long outdoor afternoons.
Kai took third place, with 101 babies given the name. It has multiple origins: in Hawaiian it means “sea”, while European forms have separate Frisian, German and Scandinavian roots. The Hawaiian meaning links the name directly to the ocean, evoking clear water, island beaches, surfing and swimming under a bright sky. Its short, energetic sound suggests movement, adventure and the freedom of a summer day beside the sea.
The top twelve summer-inspired names
The full top twelve summer-inspired baby boy names in Scotland, based on 2025 births, are:
- Harris – 211 babies
- Lucas – 131 babies
- Kai – 101 babies
- Arran – 75 babies
- Dylan – 46 babies
- Struan – 45 babies
- River – 34 babies
- Rio – 33 babies
- Aiden – 31 babies
- Jasper and Julian – 23 babies each
- Brooks – 16 babies
- Cove and Milan – 11 babies each
Jasper and Julian were joint tenth, while Cove and Milan were joint twelfth.
Quote from Autism Parenting Magazine
Mark Blakey, CEO of Autism Parenting Magazine, said: “What makes this list so distinctive is how clearly Scotland’s landscape runs through it. Harris and Arran connect directly to islands families can visit, while Struan, River, Rio and Brooks all carry water through their origins or meanings. Cove evokes a hidden beach, Kai brings the sea and Aiden introduces the warmth and energy of fire.
“Many of these names feel as though they could hold a family memory: a ferry journey to an island, a walk beside a Highland burn, a day spent exploring rock pools or an evening watching the sun set over the water. That emotional connection may be particularly important when parents are choosing a name they hope will remain meaningful throughout their child’s life.
“The names in this ranking show how parents can draw inspiration from Scotland’s islands, rivers and coastlines while selecting something that can grow naturally with their child from infancy into adulthood.”
