Hamish
Boy name · Celtic · Gaelic · Scottish
Meaningsupplanter · Scottish form of James
- US rank
- #6,143
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #4,105 in 2017
14 babies were named Hamish in the US in 2025. It has dropped 692 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1981–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Hamish you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Hamish
Hamish Linklater
American actor
Choose Hamish and your child shares a first name with Hamish Linklater, an American actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Hamish, like who?” Hamish Linklater's Wikipedia article is available in 32 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Hamish Linklater on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Marie-Lan Nguyen, CC BY 2.5 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 121,951 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Hamish, 14 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Hamish would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryHamish first shows up in US birth records in 1981, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 44 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2017, when it reached #4,105.
- Then vs nowHamish is 2.6× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 322,581 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 121,951.
- TrendHamish has slipped 692 places over the last five years and now sits at #6,143. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningHamish is a Scottish form of James, which means “supplanter”. Our records link it to Celtic, Gaelic and Scottish roots.
About the name Hamish
Hamish is a boy name of Celtic, Gaelic and Scottish origin meaning “supplanter”. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with H and ending in “-ish”. US birth records list Hamish for boys from 1981 to 2025, in 30 of those 45 years. Its best year was 2017, when it ranked #4,105 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #6,143, with 14 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesGaelic namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 0.3 | 3,214,286 boys |
| 1990s | 0.9 | 1,149,425 boys |
| 2000s | 4.6 | 217,391 boys |
| 2010s | 7.7 | 129,534 boys |
| 2020s | 10 | 98,847 boys |
More Celtic boy names
- Unisex name: Owen · well-born
- Unisex name: Logan · little hollow
- Unisex name: Rowan · little red-haired one
- Unisex name: Nolan · descendant of Nuallán
- Unisex name: Cameron · crooked nose
- Boy name: Ian · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Gael · a Gael
- Boy name: Arthur · possibly bear
Questions about the name Hamish
What does the name Hamish mean?
Hamish means “supplanter” in Scottish, as a form of James.
What is the origin of the name Hamish?
Hamish has Celtic, Gaelic, Scottish roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Owen, Logan, Rowan.
Is Hamish a boy or girl name?
Hamish is a boy name.
How popular is the name Hamish?
Hamish ranked #6,143 for US boys in 2025, given to 14 babies. Its best year was 2017 (#4,105).