Scott
Meaninga Scot · English
- US rank
- #534
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #10 in 1971
561 babies were named Scott in the US in 2025. It has climbed 28 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, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Scott you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Scott
Scott Joplin
American composer, musician, pianist (1867/68-1917)
Choose Scott and your child shares a first name with Scott Joplin, an American composer, musician, pianist. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Scott, like who?” Scott Joplin's Wikipedia article is available in 64 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Scott Joplin on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 3,045 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Scott, 561 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Scott would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryScott has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Scotts, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1971, when it ranked #10. Today it's #534, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowScott was 3.8× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 799 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 3,045.
- TrendScott has climbed 28 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #534. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedScott is most popular in Rhode Island, where it ranks #200, followed by West Virginia (#299) and Massachusetts (#318). It's in the top 1,000 in 34 states.
- MeaningIn English, Scott means “a Scot”. Our records link it to English and Scottish roots.
About the name Scott
Scott is a boy name of English and Scottish origin meaning “a Scot”. It has 5 letters and 1 syllable, starting with S and ending in “-ott”. US birth records list Scott for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1971, when it ranked #10 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #534, with 561 babies.
Origin:English namesScottish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 443 | 2,259 boys |
| 1890s | 333 | 3,003 boys |
| 1900s | 256 | 3,902 boys |
| 1910s | 207 | 4,835 boys |
| 1920s | 173 | 5,774 boys |
| 1930s | 186 | 5,363 boys |
| 1940s | 753 | 1,328 boys |
| 1950s | 5,412 | 185 boys |
| 1960s | 13,942 | 72 boys |
| 1970s | 11,695 | 86 boys |
| 1980s | 5,886 | 170 boys |
| 1990s | 2,495 | 401 boys |
| 2000s | 818 | 1,223 boys |
| 2010s | 366 | 2,734 boys |
| 2020s | 289 | 3,459 boys |
Other spellings of Scott
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Scott
What does the name Scott mean?
Scott means “a Scot” in English.
What is the origin of the name Scott?
Scott has English, Scottish roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Scott a boy or girl name?
Scott is a boy name.
How popular is the name Scott?
Scott ranked #534 for US boys in 2025, given to 561 babies. Its best year was 1971 (#10).