Analysis of first names - Scottish branches
Some interesting results emerged from an analysis of first names for members of the Scottish branches born in the UK and elsewhere in the world. The information is based on the data held as at November 2025. The data were collected and are held differently compared to those for the English branches. As a result, the analysis covers all the entries with a family surname (including variants) that occur on the four trees from the start of the tree to the most recent entries. It does not cover people who are not on a tree.
Margaret
Elizabeth
Mary
Janet
23
20
18
15
The most frequently used female names were:
The most frequently used male names were:
James
John
William
Andrew
38
34
19
19
The variety of female names is significantly greater than for male names: 124 verses 83. By reverse the first two most common male names are used far more than the first two female names - which can make it more difficult to work out which William or James is which.
Some of the more unusual older first names in the Scottish branches for men are Anstruther, Johnston, Ebenezer and Turnbull. For women Bethiah, Elenora, Elspeth and Etheldred.
George
Thomas
18
17
Adam
17
Mary is also the most common female name in England, but Margaret and Janet do not occur there at all.
Image by maximillianovich from pixabay.com
