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Boyd

Boy name · 188 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Boyd: 188 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 25 births in 2009.

The name Boyd has deep Scottish roots, derived from the Gaelic *buidhe*, meaning “yellow” or “fair-haired,” originally a descriptive surname for someone with blond locks. Famous bearers include the beloved Scottish actor Billy Boyd, who played Pippin in *The Lord of the Rings*, and the Oscar-nominated actor William Boyd, who brought Hopalong Cassidy to life on screen. Place connections are less direct, but the name appears in locations such as Boyd County, Kentucky, and Boyd, Texas—both named after individuals with the surname rather than the given name. Notably, Boyd remains a popular first name in Scotland despite its surname origins, and it shares a linguistic cousin with the Irish name Byrne, which also stems from a word for “yellow.” A sturdy, one-syllable choice with a distinctly Highland flavour.