The baby name Scottie is fast-rising favorite for our daughters.
Today’s Baby Name of the Day comes from this list.
WHAT DOES THE NAME SCOTTIE MEAN?
To talk about the baby name Scottie, we tend to turn our attention to Scott, and that means Scotland.
The surname Scott first applied to someone from the country, or possibly someone who spoke the language – a Gael, or a speaker of Gaelic.
The name Scotia was used for the area as early as the 800s.
Like many a surname, Scott made the leap to given name status. It has always ranked in the US Top 1000, but was especially popular in the 1960s and 70s.
Scottie might be familiar as the nickname for the Scottish terrier, an iconic dog recognizable from the Monopoly game piece to Disney’s Lady and the Tramp. (Though that scottie is named Jock.)
While Scottie was sometimes used for males – think of the NBA’s Scottie Pippin – it can also serve as a feminine form of the name.
SCOTTIE FITZGERALD
One famous example of a girl called Scottie?
The author F. Scott Fitzgerald was named for his famous ancestor, Francis Scott Key. (You probably know Key because the penned the lyrics to “The Star-Spangled Banner.”)
He and wife Zelda handed down the family middle name to their only child: Frances Scott Fitzgerald. She answered to the nickname Scottie.
The lends a little jazz age legend to the name.
And while Fitzgerald’s given name was Frances, it’s worth noting that the name Scottie appears in the US data for females as early as 1885.
MORE FAMOUS SCOTTIES
Plenty of famous Scotties were born Scott, and some might’ve answered to it as a nickname.
- Mary Scott McKenzie became a suffrage activist in the early 20th century. She’s better known as Scottie McKenzie Frasier.
- During World War II, Welsh singer Ann Moray was known for entertaining the wounded in military hospitals, and earned the nickname Scottie.
- Actress Scottie Thompson had a recurring role on NCIS, as well as other film and movie appearances.
Back on the masculine side of the list, Scotty Bowman – born William Scott – served as a highly successful ice hockey coach in the NHL, leading three different teams to nine Stanley Cup championships.
CHARLIE, STEVIE, ANDIE
Given the long run of Scott near the top of the popular names, it’s no surprise that some parents chose Scottie as a feminine form even before the 2020s. After all, we’ve seen girls called Charlie and Stevie and Andie plenty of times before.
What’s different now – not just for the baby name Scottie, but for lots of those names? They’re often decoupled from both the masculine original and a longer form. In other words:
- Billie isn’t necessarily named for her dad or grandfather William. In the past, stories like Scottie Fitzgerald were more common.
- We’re also using these as independent names, rather than short forms. There’s not much Scottie could be short for – it doesn’t follow from Scarlett or Charlotte, though place name Scotland might be heard, and double names including Scott, particularly Mary Scott, have history, too. But it doesn’t matter. Parents are choosing to use nickname names in full.
Speaking of Scotland, it’s also worth noting that eldest Kardashian grandchild, Penelope Scotland Disick, got her middle name from her dad.
And while this choice could celebrate Scottish heritage more generally, odds are parents are simply drawn to the sound.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME SCOTTIE?
As of 2024, the baby name Scottie ranks #202. That’s a stratospheric rise. The name only entered the girls’ Top 1000 in 2022 at #925.
Worth noting: other Scot- names for girls have trending, including:
- Scotland, given to 87 girls and 15 boys in 2024, a new high
- Scotlyn, given to 162 girls in 2024
- An additional 16 were named Scotlynn
- 99 were named Scottlyn and 37 Scottlyn
- Scotti, Scotty, Scottee, Scotlynd, Scottland, Scotlin, and Prescott also appear in the girls’ data in small numbers
UNSTOPPABLE SCOTTIE
We do love a name with a TT, whether that’s as frilly as Juliette or as sharp as Everett. Now factor in our love of nickname names, particularly potentially unisex ones like Billie and Charlie.
And so it’s not surprising that picks like Scottie appeal to parents now.
Based on the numbers, the baby name Scottie feels unstoppable right about now, a modern favorite with a throwback vibe. A heritage pick that’s more versatile than you might expect.
We’ll be hearing more of this name in the years to come.
I think I prefer Billie and even Stevie- the Scott sound isn’t my favorite. But I could see it as a cute, boyish nickname for Scarlett.
I’m really feeling this name, though I’ve never been a fan of Scott. I think twin girls named Stevie and Scottie would be adorable!