106 Pictish Names And Last Names With Meanings And History

Georgia Stone
Feb 16, 2024 By Georgia Stone
Originally Published on Dec 15, 2020
Baby girl wearing yellow hat and dress



The Picts were the group of people who lived in the northern and eastern parts of Scotland during the Iron age.

It is believed that the Pictish people were the indigenous group who had originally come from Scythia (Scandinavia) and later settled down in the Orkney of Scotland and later migrated to its other regions. The history of the Picts is believed to be from the 6th century to the 8th century.

If you liked our article, please have a look at our other articles on Celtic boys names or Old English girls names, for more inspiration.

Pictish Names For Girls

Some say the Picts used to call themselves Albidosi, but this information has been disputed as it does not have any historical records. If you are looking for unique and different Pictish female names, have look at our list of female Pictish names.

1. Áine (Gaelic and Irish origin) meaning "radiance". Was also the name of the Irish Celtic goddess of wealth.

2. Aislinn (Gaelic and Irish origin) meaning "dream or vision". Is a beautiful name for Pictish women.

3. Alys (Old French and Old German origin) meaning "noble".

4. Avalon (Welsh origin) meaning "island of apples". Is one of the unique names from the Pict tribe.

5. Boudicca (Ancient Celtic origin) meaning "victory". Is a sober name for females.

6. Brianna (Celtic origin) meaning "strong", "virtuous", and "honorable".

7. Brighid (Irish origin) meaning "strength or exalted one". The name is royal and elegant.

8. Brigid (Irish origin) meaning "power", "strength" or" vigor". Is the notable saint that has Pictish ties.

9. Bronwen (Welsh origin) meaning "fair" and "white". The Pictish form of such a name is totally unheard.

10. Bryn (Welsh origin) meaning "hill". Is one of the cutest female names.  

11. Caitlin (Irish origin) meaning "pure beauty". Is one of the beautiful female names.

12. Caoimhe (Gaelic origin) meaning "dear or noble". Is a magnificent form of the name for female Picts.

13. Cerridwen (Welsh origin) meaning "beautiful as a poem". Is one of the beautiful names.  

14. Coblaith (Pictish origin) meaning "victorious sovereignty". Daughter of Pictish prince.

15. Darlugdach (Irish origin) meaning "daughter of the God Lugh". Is the name of the Irish saint who visited Pictland.

16. Deidre (Gaelic and Irish origin) meaning "broken-hearted" or "sorrowful".

17. Doireann (Irish origin) meaning "Sullen". The Irish Picts usually prefer this name.  

18. Eithne (Pictish and Irish origin) meaning "kernel" or "grain". This was the name of a Pictish woman who was a princess.

19. Enid (Welsh origin) meaning "spirit" or "souls". Is one of the short and sweet female names.

20. Erin (Gaelic origin) meaning "green water". Is a cute Pictish female name.

21. Ethne (Irish origin) meaning "kernel".  Mother of a famous saint who was active in Pictland.

22. Eurgein (Welsh origin) meaning "beautiful".  Is the personal name of the sister of the Pictish King.

23. Kentigerna (British and Irish origin) meaning "Kind ruler". Was the personal name of a saint in Pictland.

24. Ligach (Pictish and Irish origin) meaning "pearly". Was the daughter of a Pictish princess who was raised in Ireland.

25. Mael (Pictish origin) meaning "chief" or "head princess". Is one of the unique female names, the name is inspired by the name of a Pictish princess.

26. Mongfind (Pictish origin) meaning "fair hair" or "white hair". Even the non-Celtic people prefer this beautiful and simple name.

Pictish Names For Boys

The descendants of the Picts were the groups and the peoples from the Iron Age of Northern Scotland. We have compiled here the list of Pictish names for boys inspired by Pictish language, Pictish religion, and Pictish kings.

27. Aidan (Old Irish origin ) meaning "bringer of fire". Is one of the most popular Pictish names.

28. Allcallorred (Pictish and Old Irish origin) meaning "Eil". The pics most favorite name.

29. Alpin (Pictish origin) meaning "blond". Is the name of a Pictish king.

30. Angus (Old Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin ) meaning "one" and "choice".

31. Bedwyr (Welsh origin ) meaning "Legendary son of Pedrawd". Is a bole name for girls.

32. Blaine (Gaelic origin ) meaning "yellow". Was one of the King of the Picts.

33. Braden (Irish Gaelic origin ) meaning "salmon". The name is royal and noble.

34. Broichan (Pictish and Celtic origin) meaning "independence" and "love". Is a very uncommon name.

35. Caedmon (Celtic origin ) meaning "prudent or wise warrior" or "poet". Was one of the Pictish Kings.

36. Carvorst (Pictish origin) meaning "sensitive" and deep natured". Was one of the Pictish warriors.  

37. Ciniod (Pictish origin ) meaning "Lord". A Pictish form of name form a king.

38. Drest (Pictish and Ancient Celtic origin) meaning "is a variant of the name Drust".

39. Drustanus (Late Latin origin) meaning "to clatter". Is a superior and noble name.

40. Drystan (Welsh origin ) meaning "noise" and "sorrowful". Is a magnificent name for Males from Scotland.

41. Dunstan (Old English origin) meaning "hill of stone", "dark", or "brown". Is a common Picts name.

42. Eoganan (Pictish origin ) meaning "king".  Was a Pictish King and a ruler of the Scots of Dalriad.

43. Gartnait (Pictish origin ) meaning "gem" and "loving nature". A common royal Pictish name

44. Tristan (Celtic origin) meaning "tumult" or "sorrowful". The form of the name is inspired by the Picts.

45. Tristano (Italian and Celtic origin) meaning "noise or sorrowful". Is a special name for the picts children.

46. Tristram (Welsh and English origin) meaning "noise" or "bold". The name is unique and rarely heard.  

47. Trystan (Cornish and Welsh origin) meaning "tumult" or "outcry". The name is best for the boys in Scotland.

Pictish Last Names

The Picts people used to speak the Pictish language but are now changed to the Gaelic language. The Scottish Picts now commonly use this language. The Pictish surnames are the last names of the pre-Celtic and Pict people from the 6th century.

48. Beaton (Gaelic and Scottish origin) meaning "the son of Beatrice".

49. Boswell (Norman and Old German origin) meaning "spring" or "stream".

50. Caltram (Pictish origin) meaning "ancestors".  The peoples with this last name are ethnic group in Scotland.

51. Coinneach (Gaelic origin) meaning "handsome".  This is the most common last name for the Picts.

52. Comyn (Norman origin) meaning "bent or crooked". The last name is brought by the Norman settlers.

53. Cumming (Scottish and Irish origin) meaning "crooked". The last name is inspired by a Breton personal name.

54. Elliot (Celtic origin) meaning "with strength and right". The Picts are mostly found with this last name.

55. Fleming (Norman and Scottish origin) meaning "originated from Flanders".

56. Flett (Scottish and Old Norse origin) meaning "swift" or "speedy". Is one of a short Pict names as a last name.

57. Fraser (Gaelic origin) meaning "a clan from Scotland". The last name is very popular in the regions of Scotland.

58. Frizzell (Gaelic and German origin) meaning "decoration", "ribbon", or "tassel".

59. Grant (English, Irish and Scottish origin) meaning "tall" or "large". Is a famous Scottish last name.

60. Gunn (Older Pictishand Old Norse origin) meaning "who operated a siege engine or cannon".

61. Kennedy (Celtic and Gaelic origin) meaning "helmeted chief or leader".

62. Kerr (Old Norse origin) meaning "wrong-handed" or "left-handed". Is a popular Scottish name.

63. Lamont (Old Norse and Scottish origin) meaning "the lawman". This is a special last name for the Pictish people.

64. Mac (Scottish, Irish and Gaelic origin) meaning "son of". The last is also used as a first name.  

65. Manson (Scottish origin) meaning "son of Magnus".  

66. McClymont (Old Norse and northern Irish origin) meaning "son of Laomann" or "lawgiver"

67. Ogilvie (Pictish and Old Welsh origin) meaning "high place".

68. Pit (Pictish origin ) meaning "hollow". Is a last name refers to a part or piece of something.

69. Pittendreich (Pictish origin) meaning "the place of the aspect".

70. Rennie (Gaelic origin) meaning "the son of Reynold". The name is also kept as a first name.  

71. Sinclair (French and English origin) meaning "pure","renowned" or "illustrious".

72. Stewart (Old English, Norman, and Scottish origin) meaning "guardian" or "warden".

73. Stuart (Norman and Old English origin ) meaning "guardian" or "house-hold".

74. Swanson (Scottish origin ) meaning "Sven's son".

Pictish Place Names

The Pict history is the history of the Pictish Kings, the Picts and the Celts lived in the Northeastern part of ancient Scotland. We have listed here the most common and known Pictish place-names of Scotland.

75. Aberarder, is a county of council area Aberdeenshire in Scotland.  

76. Aberchirder, is a county of Banffshire in Scotland.

77. Abercrombie, is a county of Fife and is a small administrative district of St Monance.

78. Aberdeen, is a county of Aberdeenshire in Scotland.  

79. Aberdona, is a county of Clackmannanshire and is in the parish of Clackmannan.

80. Aberdour, is located in the parish of Aberdour in Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

81. Abergairn, is currently in the form of a castle in Aberdeenshire.

82. Abergeldie, is in the form of a castle and is located in the parish of Crathie and Braemar.  

83. Aberlady, is a county of East Lotian and is located in the parish of Aberlady.

84. Aberlemno, is a county of Angus and is in the parish of Aberlemno in Scotland.

85. Aberlour, is a county of Banffshire and is in the small administrative district of Aberlour.

86. Abermilk, is located in the small administrative district of St Mungo and is a county of Dumfriesshire in Scotla.

87. Pitairlie, is in the forms of the castle, farm, and Quarry in Angus in Scotland.

88. Pitcairlie, is a county of Fife and a small parish of Newburgh in Scotland.

89. Pitcruvie, is a small administrative district in Largo and a county of Fife.

90. Pitcullo, is a castle and a county of Fife located in the parish of Leuchars in Scotland.

91. Pitempton, is a county of Angus and is currently in the form of a farm in Scotland.

92. Pitfichie, is a castle and a county of Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

93. Pitfirrane, is a county of Fife and a small administrative district in Dunfermline in Scotland.

94. Pitfodels, is a castle and is in the parish of Peterculter of Aberdeenshire.

95. Pitgorno, is a county and a parish of Strathmiglo in Fife in Scotland.  

96. Pitlochie, is a county in Fife and a parish in Strathmiglo in Scotland.

97. Pitlurg, is a county and is located in the small administrative district of Banffshire.

98. Pitmedden, is a castle and a county of Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

99. Pitmilly, is a county of Fife and is located in the parish of Kingsbarns.

100. Pitreavie, is a small administrative district and a castle in Dunfermline and is a county of Fife.

101. Pitsligo, is in the parish of Pitsligo of Aberdeenshire in Scotland.

102. Pittarthie, is located in the parish of Dunino and is a county of Fife.

103. Pittconmark, is a small administrative district in Kirkcaldy and Dysart of Fife.

104. Pitteadie, is a castle and county of Fife and is located in the parish Kinghorn.

105. Pittodrie, is known for the Chapel of Garioch in Aberdeenshire.

106. Pittulie, is a castle and is in the parish of Pitsligo of Aberdeenshire.

Kidadl has lots of great baby names articles to inspire you. If you liked our suggestions for Pictish names then why not take a look at something different like unisex Latin names or Mesopotamian names.

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Written by Georgia Stone

Bachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

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Georgia StoneBachelor of Arts specializing in French with Film Studies, Bachelor of Arts (Year Abroad) specializing in Literature, History, Language, Media, and Art

Georgia is an experienced Content Manager with a degree in French and Film Studies from King's College London and Bachelors degree from Université Paris-Sorbonne. Her passion for exploring the world and experiencing different cultures was sparked during her childhood in Switzerland and her year abroad in Paris. In her spare time, Georgia enjoys using London's excellent travel connections to explore further afield.

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