The baby name Campbell belongs to a Scottish clan and an iconic can.
Thanks to Marie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME CAMPBELL MEAN?
There’s no question that the baby name Campbell comes from Scotland, and is typically considered a surname.
Like nearly any surname, especially accessible ones of English, Irish, and Scottish origin, they were sometimes used as firsts – almost always because they were a family name.
That’s changed in recent generations, with families embracing the style, rather than using a relative’s surname as a child’s given name.
One strike against Campbell: it has a twisted meaning. Quite literally.
It comes from the Gaelic cam – crooked or bent – and beul – mouth. So Campbell means “crooked mouth” and might have originated as a nickname.
Some suggest it might mean wry. A crooked smile can suggest dry humor or sarcasm.
Another intriguing meaning: in Latin, Campbell was reinterpreted as de bello campo. It even became Beauchamp in Anglo-Norman. Translate that back into English, and it means “the beautiful field.”
CLAN CAMPBELL
Something else that defines the way we think about this name?
Clan Campbell, an ancient and storied Highland Scottish clan, dating to the thirteen century. The clan chief is also the Duke of Argyll.
Their descendants might embrace the name for a child, just like they embrace the Black Watch tartan.
CAMPBELL’S SOUP
In 1869 New Jersey, Abraham Anderson and Joseph A. Campbell founded a processed food company. They sold canned vegetables and soups from their earliest days in business.
Anderson even named his son Campbell.
There’s plenty more company history, but let’s say this: the Campbell’s soup can is among the most iconic food packaging items of our time. Andy Warhol painted it in 1962; it elevated a familiar grocery store staple to a piece of pop art history.
It’s not like naming your child Dasani. Campbell has been a bona fide name for generations. If anything, the tie-in adds a surprising sort of fun to the name.
FAMOUS FIGURES CALLED CAMPBELL
Plenty of famous people – real and fictional – answer to the name.
- Journalist Campbell Brown was an Emmy-winning television news anchor early in the 2000s.
- American actor Campbell Scott has had a long career, appearing on television series and narrating audio books for everyone from Stephen King to Nicholas Sparks. He’s the son of legendary actor George C. Scott. The elder Scott’s C. also stands for Campbell. It’s a family name on his mother’s side.
- Jodi Picoult’s novel My Sister’s Keeper gives us a heart-breaking story about illness and loss. Campbell Alexander is the fictional attorney who represents the younger sister. Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin starred in the 2009 film adaptation.
Factor in the surname and the list expands dramatically. There’s everyone from actress Neve Campbell to country music’s singer-songwriter Glen Campbell to supermodel Naomi Campbell and scholar of religion and mythology Joseph Campbell.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME CAMPBELL?
In the United States, Social Security Administration data reports baby names given to at least five boys or girls beginning with the year 1880.
As early as 1881, five boys were named Campbell.
There’s a steady drip of boys receiving the name, but it wasn’t until 1989 that Campbell debuted in the SSA data as a girls’ name.
Earlier in the 21st century, the name ranked in the US Top 1000 for both boys and girls, but it faded.
And then in 2024, that trend reversed. The baby name Campbell returned to the US Top 1000 most popular names at #922 for boys and #951 for girls. That makes it a gender neutral possibility with momentum.
STYLISH SCOTTISH SURNAME
Campbell might be the perfect Scottish heritage choice for families looking for a first name that’s a little on the unexpected side, but still mainstream.
It’s easy to imagine a little girl Campbell answering to Cammie or Bella. At the same time, Cam names like Cameron and Camden are established, masculine choices. This name feels effortlessly unisex.
While the baby name Campbell has been in the spotlight before, the 2020s just might be the perfect moment for this name.
What do you think of the baby name Campbell?
First published on March 9, 2010, this post was revised on May 16, 2025.
My son, 5 years old, is named Campbell Calvin-both family names. Of course for me, it’s definitely male, but I have heard a few girls named Campbell and it strikes me the same as girls named Charlie or Ryan, the exception rather than the rule. He’s always Campbell to others, but we have called him Campbell Scramble and Campbell Ramble on occasion. We are not nickname people. As far as the soup is concerned, it’s what I use as an example when I get the rare question of how it’s spelled. To us, Campbell is Soup-er, pardon the pun. His class is filled with Austins, Logans, Trentons, Wyatts and Christians, so for now, his name is just what I wanted-a classic that stands out from the crowd, pronounced correctly by almost all.
In the book Cold Sassy Tree (takes place in a small Southern town around the turn of the 20th century), there is a male Campbell who goes by Camp. Because of that book I always think of Campbell as male.
BTW, there is a teenage girl in the book named Lightfoot! Some great Southern names and dialect in the book. 🙂
Bleck…I am not a fan. I don’t know why I don’t like it, but I don’t. If I did use it, (like maybe my future husband loves the name and its in his family tree) it would be on a boy, not a girl. It just doesn’t seem that girly to me. I’d rather use Camille or Camilla.
Campbell’s chicken noodle, Campbell’s Chunky sirloin burger, Campbell’s cream of mushroom, etc.
There is the actor Campbell Scott, who adds some substance to the name, but it still makes me think of soup.
It’s ‘not my cup of tea’ – with the soup association and the “Camp Bell” spelling. I’d prefer Camila.
Frankly, that people use this on girls is both shocking and hilarious to me. It’s solidly male here in NZ and about as androgynous as Donaghue or Duncan. It’s ultra butch. But, then the popular use of Mackenzie, McKenna et al perplexes me still so Campbell is apt to get a strong response.
I grew up with a male Campbell. If I ever run across it on a female child here I’m gong to find it hard to stifle my horror.
Bewildertrix, I noticed that your blog is now open only to invited viewers. Could you invite me (I don’t know how else to contact you to request an invite)?
I’d like to 2nd that, if possible?
I’d love to Kelly and JNE, but I’ve decided to put it to rest for now given my hectic schedule coming up. I was midway through another theme change attempt and it’s dawned on me that I don’t want to feel like it’s ‘work’ and it really is starting to 😛 I’m not sure how much time I will have to commit to it over the next few months so it’s best I quit now. Cold turkey!
And it’s not as much fun when you’ve chosen a name for your new baby already and it’s most likely the last child you will get to name 🙁
I will definitely keep tabs on this blog though.
Oops and I will have it open again for ‘reference’ as soon as I’ve stopped mucking around with the theme!
Yep, Campbell Brown. She makes it a girl name in my head. Alma and she went with Campbell, eh? I guess Alma felt too southern and feminine in a tough biz? And yet Katie (sweet, girlish sounding Katie) Couric made it without strapping on the androgynous name. Maybe I’m being harsh and she never went by Alma…
And while both Cami and Belle are perfectly acceptable nns for Campbell, Belle is only there in spelling… I’ve always been slightly put off by the pronunciation: CAM bull – just don’t love that second syllable. No one would be using the nn Bully, I hope! I’d be surprised to meet a little boy Campbell, but I think if it weren’t for Ms Brown, it would seem natural for a Campbell to be a boy… funny how that works.
To me it’s a little 80’s, a preppy parody with a sweater tied around his – or her- neck.
I can see the nicknames Cam, Cammy, Bell and Bella for Campbell, but I’d probably stick with just Campbell. I’d only use it if it was a family name, but I love its androgynous appeal.
For the record, surnames in my own family include Miller, Jennings, McCarty and Ryon (with an O).
With the name Alma Dale I can see why she chose to use Campbell!
I’m probably going to get the red eye from the gender patrol for this, but Campbell to me is gender androgynous leaning towards the girl side. I know it’s usage from watching Campbell Brown on CNN, so that’s who I associate it with & I also read a book years ago with a minor character named Campbell. Your point about -Cam names for girls is EXCELLENT.
The name to me, sounds way more feminine & even girly to me ( I think of the NN Cammi), so I don’t really like it on a boy. It’s kind of like Aubrey for me, it’s structure is linked to way more feminine names even though it started off as masculine.So, for a girl- yes
I am of Scottish descent, so it would be going back to the roots. Overall, I actually like the name, though not enough to use. It’s more of a MN pick .
Ironically, I don’t like Addison & even Alison is only ok. Addie reminds me of algebra which I’d much sooner forget about 😉 A very interesting read today, thanks