Duncan
Duncan is a boys' name of Scottish origin meaning “brown warrior, dark-headed chief.” Duncan is a classic Scottish name from the Gaelic 'Donnchadh' meaning 'brown warrior.'
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how do you pronounce Duncan?
DUN-kin
where does the name Duncan come from?
An anglicization of the Gaelic Donnchadh. It is usually read as donn, dark or brown, with cath, battle, giving dark warrior, or with chadh, chief or noble. The Irish surname Duncan, from Ó Duinnchinn, brown head, is unrelated.
Two early Scottish kings bore the name, and Shakespeare's King Duncan in Macbeth cemented its literary status. The name has a rugged, noble quality that evokes the Scottish Highlands and ancient clan leadership.
how popular is this name?
Duncan has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 141 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 3. It peaked at #378 in 1997, and ranked #930 in 2023.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2023 | #930 |
| 2022 | #913 |
| 2020 | #982 |
| 2018 | #915 |
| 2017 | #869 |
| 2016 | #806 |
| 2015 | #790 |
| 2014 | #800 |
| 2010 | #708 |
| 2000 | #447 |
| 1997 | #378 |
| 1990 | #740 |
| 1980 | #901 |
| 1970 | #712 |
| 1960 | #594 |
| 1950 | #588 |
| 1940 | #643 |
| 1930 | #782 |
| 1920 | #691 |
| 1910 | #822 |
| 1900 | #603 |
| 1890 | #667 |
| 1880 | #526 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Duncan fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Duncan
One of the first bearers was Dúnchad mac Dubáin, a king of Dál Riata. The final n of Duncan probably came from confusion between the Latin Duncanus and the unrelated Gaelic ceann, head.
what are the nicknames and variants of Duncan?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Duncan?
- King Duncan (character in Shakespeare's Macbeth)
- Tim Duncan (legendary American basketball player)
what names are similar to Duncan?
what names go well with Duncan?
Sibling names that share Duncan's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Duncan
What does the name Duncan mean?
Duncan means “brown warrior, dark-headed chief”.
What is the origin of the name Duncan?
Duncan comes from the Scottish naming tradition. Related forms include Donnchadh, Donagh, Donaghue and Donahue.
How popular is the name Duncan?
Duncan ranked #930 in the US in 2023, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1997, at #378, and it has spent 141 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Duncan a boy or girl name?
Duncan is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Duncan?
Duncan is pronounced DUN-kin, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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