John, James and William were the top three most popular boys' names in Scotland every year from 1935 - the earliest year national records go back to - until 1960, according to National Records of Scotland figures.
John's record reign
John remained Scotland's number one boys' name from 1935 right through to 1970, when it was finally overtaken by David. Even then, John stayed in either second or third place until 1983, making it the most popular boys' name in Scotland's records.
Most Scottish families can probably think of at least one John, whether that is a dad, grandad, uncle, cousin or family friend. The name has also been shared by plenty of famous Scots, including Glasgow-born actor John Hannah, best known for films including Four Weddings and a Funeral and The Mummy.
James and William's popularity
James was another popular choice, sitting behind John for much of the period before David eventually took its place in the rankings in 1963. It is another name that has remained firmly rooted in Scottish life, with famous namesakes including Glasgow-born actor James McAvoy, who has starred in major Hollywood films including Atonement, X-Men and Split.
Then there was William, which held third place until 1960 before David took over. Although it fell out the top three, William remained a familiar name across Scotland and has plenty of famous associations. Scottish actor Billy Boyd, known for playing Pippin in The Lord of the Rings, was born William Boyd. While one of Scotland's most famous historical figures was William Wallace.
David's rise and changing trends
The most popular name chart began to shift during the 1960s, with David quickly becoming a favourite name for many parents in Scotland. It took second place from James in 1963, before eventually becoming Scotland's number one boy name in 1970, ending John's decades long reign at the top. Although as naming fashions changed in Scotland, John continued to appear the top of the rankings for years afterwards.
For anyone who grew up in Scotland during the mid-20th century, these three names would have been almost impossible to escape. However, John, James and William remain some of the most instantly recognisable names in Scottish families today.
