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March 31, 2026 · Article · 8 min read
Outlander Baby Names: Scottish Names Inspired by Diana Gabaldon's Series
Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series — and the hit Starz show that followed — did something remarkable for baby naming: it made Scottish names cool in America. Suddenly, parents who'd never been to the Highlands were considering names like Fergus and Marsali for their kids. And the SSA data backs it up.
What makes Outlander names interesting is that most of them are real, established names — not invented fantasy words. The show didn't create these names. It reintroduced them. And that distinction matters in the data.
The Lead Characters
Claire — Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser is one of the most beloved heroines in modern fiction, and her name was already popular before Outlander. But the data shows a clear Outlander effect: Claire peaked at 5,216 births in 2016 (the show premiered in 2014), up from about 3,300 in the early 2000s. That's a 58% increase during the show's peak years. It's settled to 3,329 in 2024 — still higher than pre-Outlander levels.
2,474 (1995) → 5,216 (2016 peak) → 3,329 (2024)
Births per year — SSA data
Jamie (boys) — Here's where things get complicated. Jamie as a boy's name was actually declining before Outlander — from 791 in 1995 to 278 in 2011. Then the show premiered, and it started climbing back: 351 in 2020, 448 in 2022, and 453 in 2024. Jamie Fraser didn't just boost the name. He reversed a 20-year decline. That's the power of a really, really good fictional Scotsman.
791 (1995) → 278 (2011 low) → 453 (2024, post-Outlander recovery)
Births per year — SSA data (boys)
The Supporting Cast
Brianna — Claire and Jamie's daughter. Brianna was a huge name in the 1990s (over 12,000 births per year), and it's been declining since. The Outlander character didn't reverse the decline, but she may have slowed it — the name has stabilized around 1,700 births in 2024, and there's been a slight uptick in 2022-2023 (1,708 and 1,883) that coincides with the show's later seasons featuring Brianna prominently.
12,417 (1999 peak) → 1,597 (2021 low) → 1,883 (2023 uptick) → 1,673 (2024)
Fergus — The lovable French pickpocket raised as a Fraser. Fergus is a rare name in America — typically 5-15 births per year. But it's shown a modest Outlander bump: 20-23 births in recent years (2016-2024), up from single digits in many years before the show. For a name this uncommon, even a small increase is meaningful.
7 (1995) → 21 (2015) → 23 (2024)
Marsali — This is the purest Outlander effect on the list. Marsali didn't exist in SSA data before 2020. Then Marsali Fraser became a fan favorite on the show, and suddenly: 12 births in 2020, 16 in 2021, 21 in 2022, and 29 in 2023. A name that literally didn't exist in American naming is now being used because of one character. That's magic.
0 (before 2020) → 12 (2020) → 29 (2023 peak) → 21 (2024)
The Classic Scottish Names
Rowan (boys) — While not exclusively an Outlander name, Rowan has strong Scottish roots and has been on an absolute tear. From 64 births in 1995 to 4,647 in 2024 — a 73x increase. Outlander is one of several cultural forces pushing Celtic names into the mainstream, and Rowan is the biggest beneficiary.
64 (1995) → 955 (2010) → 4,647 (2024, still climbing)
Births per year — SSA data (boys)
Ian — Young Ian Murray is a beloved character, and his name has been a solid performer for decades — consistently above 4,500 births per year. Ian was already popular before Outlander, hovering around 5,500-6,500 from 1995-2015. It's settled to 4,547 in 2024. Not a decline driven by Outlander (more like a broader trend), but the name's continued strength owes something to the show keeping it in people's minds.
5,595 (1995) → 6,688 (2005 peak) → 4,547 (2024)
Angus — Angus Mhor is a minor but memorable character. The name has stayed remarkably stable at 70-120 births per year for decades. It's the kind of strong Scottish name that never breaks through to mainstream but never goes away either. In 2024, 68 boys were named Angus.
78 (1995) → 126 (2006 peak) → 68 (2024)
Fiona — Not a major Outlander character, but a Scottish name that benefited from the broader Celtic name trend. Fiona grew from 252 in 1995 to a peak of 1,683 in 2017 — a 7x increase. In 2024, 782 girls were named Fiona. Between Outlander, Shrek (yes, Princess Fiona counts), and the general rise of Celtic names, this one has had a great run.
252 (1995) → 1,683 (2017 peak) → 782 (2024)
Roger — Roger Wakefield/MacKenzie is a major character in later Outlander seasons. Roger as a name has been in steady decline — from 1,002 in 1995 to 340 in 2024. Outlander doesn't seem to have reversed this trend, though it may have slowed it. Roger is fighting the broader pattern of traditional names falling out of fashion, and even a beloved fictional character can't overcome that entirely.
1,002 (1995) → 550 (2009) → 340 (2024)
The Names That Didn't Cross Over
Laoghaire — It's pronounced "Leery," it requires a pronunciation guide, and the character is... not well-liked. Laoghaire doesn't appear in SSA data at all. Some names are just too challenging, even for dedicated fans.
Dougal — The war chief of Clan MacKenzie. Despite being a great character, Dougal hasn't hit the SSA's 5-birth minimum in recent years. It's more popular in Scotland and Ireland than in the US.
The Outlander Legacy
Outlander's naming impact is more subtle than, say, Twilight's. It didn't create a massive spike in one invented name. Instead, it did something arguably more important: it reintroduced an entire category of Scottish and Celtic names to American parents. Marsali, Fergus, and Rowan are all names that parents might never have considered without the cultural bridge that Outlander built.
And Jamie Fraser? He might be the only fictional character to single-handedly reverse a two-decade decline in a baby name. Not bad for a Highland warrior from the 18th century.
For more fictional character names, check out our articles on book character baby names, Twilight names, and Vikings names.
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