The baby name Stuart stepped out of European castles to the American mainstream. But today this traditional Scottish surname is underused.
Thanks to Bizzy for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME STUART MEAN?
The surname Stuart started out as an occupational name for a steward.
Steward, in turn, comes from the Old English stigweard, from stig – house – and weard – guard.Originally, a steward served an estate, managing household provisions and supplies.
Steward leads logically to Stewart, and like many job titles, it became a surname, too.
THE HOUSE OF STEWART
Case in point: Walter Stewart was the 6th High Steward of Scotland.
During the twelfth century, King David I of Scotland gave the title to Walter Fitz Alan.
The family would be wrapped up with the royals for generations:
- Born around 1296, Marjorie de Bruce was the daughter of King Robert, better known as Robert the Bruce. The Scottish ruler married his daughter to Walter Stewart, the 6th High Steward of Scotland. Their son reigned as Robert II, starting the House of Stewart. More Stewart kings followed, eventually leading to the the future Mary, Queen of Scots, born in 1542.
- Also in the 1200s, Alexander Stewart served as the 4th High Steward. Several generations later, the descendants of one of Alexander’s younger sons was Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley. Lord Darnley married Mary, Queen of Scots in 1565.
STEWART OR STUART?
Curious about that spelling?
Mary, future queen, was raised in France and briefly married to King Francis II.
Stuart is simply the French form of the name. Today, of course, it feels authentically Scottish, rather than a French language version.
STUART IN HISTORY and POPULAR CULTURE
Both the surname and given name, in both spellings, filtered into general use.
You might think of:
- During the 18th century, Charles Stuart – better known as “Bonnie Prince Charlie” claimed he was the rightful heir to the throne of Great Britain.
- Scottish-born explorer Robert Stuart was part of the North West Company in the early 1800s, blazing much of the Oregon Trail.
- 19th century philosopher John Stuart Mill remains influential today.
- Actor James Stewart won an Oscar for the romantic comedy The Philadelphia Story, and is remembered for countless movies, including It’s a Wonderful Life and Harvey.
- Stuart Sutcliffe was the original bassist of The Beatles.
- NASA astronaut Robert Stewart was a decorated Vietnam veteran before he went to space in the 1980s.
- Classic Saturday Night Live character Stuart Smalley, an off-screen self-help guru known for insisting that doggone it, people like him.
- Musician Stewart Copeland is best known as the drummer of The Police.
- Comedian turned television host Jon Stewart is a late night fixture.
Dozens more, with both the first and last name, could easily be added to this list.
STUART LITTLE
In 1945, EB White penned one of his classic children’s books. Stuart Little described the adventures of a boy who looks like a mouse.
Adapted as a live action movie in 1999, Stuart became an anthropomorphic mouse, an enduring image for a certain generation.
STEWIE GRIFFIN
Seth MacFarlane’s animated sitcom Family Guy gives us Stewie Griffin, an animated toddler bent on world domination. He’s an iconic character, who also debuted in 1999.
If not the small, brave, and kind-hearted mouse, odds are the name Stuart brings to mind the small, brilliant, and often devious toddler.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME STUART?
The two spellings make popularity a little difficult to gauge.
- Stuart peaked circa 1960 in the US, reaching into the mid-100s. It was even more popular in England and Wales during the middle of the twentieth century, ranking the Top 50 baby names for boys. From the 1960s into the early 1990s, Stuart ranked in the Top 25 in Scotland.
- Stewart lagged behind the U spelling in the US, peaking in the Top 300 around the same era. That’s true elsewhere in the English-speaking world.
Indeed, both spellings are known as surnames and first names throughout the English-speaking world, including Australia and New Zealand. But the pattern is consistent. None of the names are particularly popular now.
As of 2023, 20 boys were named Stewart in the US, along with 50 named Stuart.
OVERLOOKED TRADITIONAL
There’s no question that the baby name Stuart is out of favor now.
Given its midcentury peak populartiy, Stu and Stew and Stewie sound more like a Baby Boomer grandpa than a new baby boy.
But that won’t last forever. This might be the perfect name to celebrate Scottish heritage, or if your family claims royal descent from all those Scottish rulers.
The first name Stuart is steadily more popular, but both spellings have potential.
If you’re after a name with plenty of history that’s familiar but seldom heard, Stuart might belong on your list.
What do you think of the baby name Stuart?
First published on December 14, 2008, this post was revised on April 3, 2025.
In England (where I lived for several years), Stuart is not an uncommon name – I knew a few – and it never seemed like a clunky or strange choice to me – even the nickname Stu felt fine. Once your ear gets used to hearing it, it seems like a downright fine name. If you absolutely can’t abide “Stu”, then maybe “Artie” or “Art” would work for you? In all, I like the name Stuart. It sounds dashing and British to me.
The only Stuart I know is female, which has altered this name for me to the extent that I now thing of it as feminine (she certainly is) . As for nicknames? The only one I know of is “Stu-rat” based on a mispelling of her name on a Starbucks cup. Lovely, right? 😛
A female Stuart? That’s a new one!
I went to high school with a Stuart. No one ever called him Stu. He was a great kid, quite popular, too, not teased at all because of his name. I think he’s definitely workable, especially with siblings like Alice and Edward. Not on my short list for now, but I’m starting to think of him as a possibility. I’ll have to see if he fits into my family tree anywhere.
I went to school with brothers Stewart and Lewis, and Stewart was Ward. Ward was in my classes for years and Wis worked with me in the ambulence core. Other than that I hate the name Stuart/Stewart. Stu really sucks. If there was another option for Stuart, I think more people would like it. Otherwise, it’s not coming back anytime soon, IMO.
I love Stuart but not Stewart. The w version strikes me as more surnamey, maybe because I know one. Stuart *is* dashing and handsome. Not in my family tree anywhere recent. There was one in the mid 1700’s but nary a one since. Stuart Townsend is awesome (I so loved him as Dorian Gray in A League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” *swoony*). I’ve been toying with the thought of him, but wonder; does it seem a bit too Scots when paired with a a Mac- surname? I think maybe not, but then maybe. Waffling here. Stewart Copeland’s a pretty awesome Stewart, if anyone wanted a reference in that direction. Interesting guy.
Never know, he may yet catch on, this is the second discussion of Stuart/Stewart I’ve had in three days. And he surely beats Brayden! 😀
Hmm, when you put him next to Walter and Arthur, he does sound kind of cute. But yeah, Stu and Stewie are no good, Art is a little better, I guess. I’d keep it in the middle, unless you can handle never using a nickname.
Stuart in full is quite nice, but Stu really sucks. Stuart Townsend is also the hotness, but I digress. Stuart has just had a bad rap. Between Stu Pickles, Stuart Little, and Stewie from that loathsome show, it’s just bad associations all around. I would love to see more little Stuarts running around despite all of this, though. It’s a nice solid classic name.
not for me, I guess. The sound doesn’t appeal and neither do the nicknames. But I’d be fine with it as a middle name to honor a Stuart, if I knew one.
Thanks, Verity! I love Stuart. I also love Arthur, so I suppose my taste can range in the “clunky” direction. I was a bit surprised to see him as becoming so obscure. I think it’s a choice that could either be ahead of the curve or fall even further into obscurity, only time will tell. I agree that it’s classic and handsome! I’m not crazy over Stu, either, but I kind of feel like 2 syllable names can avoid nicknames altogether, if you’re careful!
I really like Stuart. It’s a family name that’s on our list for serious consideration. The nickname Stu really isn’t my cup of tea, which is probably while I’d keep him in the middle. But it’s too bad really. I think Stuart is classic and handsome.