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Home › Baby Names Directory › Campbell

Campbell

♀ Girl

Pronounced KAM-bel /ˈkæm.bəl/High

Meaning: From Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, composed of cam ('crooked,' 'bent') and beul ('mouth'), meaning 'wry-mouthed' or 'crooked mouth'; the original descriptive nickname of the founding ancestor of Clan CampbellHigh

In 30 seconds: Campbell means 'crooked mouth' in Scottish Gaelic — the clan nickname that became one of Scotland's most powerful dynasties. As a girls' name it is refined, bold, and distinctly modern.
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Origin HighScottish Gaelic
MeaningFrom Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, composed of cam ('crooked,' 'bent') and beul ('mouth'), meaning 'wry-mouthed' or 'crooked mouth'; the original descriptive nickname of the founding ancestor of Clan Campbell
U.S. rank (2025)#617 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births474 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 7,300

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519892025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Campbell comes from the Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul, a descriptive nickname meaning 'wry mouth' or 'crooked mouth,' given to an ancestor of the Clan Campbell. The Campbells became one of the most powerful Scottish Highland clans, and the name spread widely through Scotland and eventually to North America through Scottish emigration.

Campbell crossed from purely surname use to given name use in the United States in the 20th century. Its use as a girls' name grew in the 1990s–2000s alongside other Scottish surname-names (Kennedy, McKenzie). It now ranks in the U.S. top 1000 girls' names and projects a confident, sophisticated character.

Did you know? Clan Campbell became so powerful by the 17th century that they were referred to as the 'Kings of the Highlands' — controlling vast swaths of Scotland and providing multiple Dukes of Argyll — making Campbell one of the most historically consequential surname-names in British history.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Campbell — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

CambelleCam

Nicknames

CamCammieBelle

Famous Bearers

  • ★Campbell Scott (1961-)
    American actor and director, son of George C. Scott
  • ★Campbell Brown (1968-)
    American journalist and former CNN and NBC News anchor
  • ★Campbell Newman (1963-)
    Australian politician and former Premier of Queensland

If you like Campbell…

Kennedy— Irish-Scottish clan surname crossing to girls with the same bold, aristocratic character
Mackenzie— Scottish Gaelic clan surname used as a girls' name with the same Highland prestige
Harper— English occupational surname crossing to girls with the same two-syllable, modern appeal
Callan— a fellow Scottish Gaelic choice
Logan— a fellow Scottish Gaelic choice

Explore names like Campbell

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Campbell mean?

Campbell comes from Scottish Gaelic Caimbeul meaning 'wry-mouthed' or 'crooked mouth,' the descriptive nickname of the founding ancestor of Clan Campbell.

How do you pronounce Campbell?

It is said KAM-bel — two syllables with stress on the first. The p is silent.

Is Campbell a boy or girl name?

Campbell is used predominantly as a girls' name in the U.S., though it originated as a Scottish surname.

How popular is Campbell?

Campbell ranks in the U.S. top 200 girls' names and has been growing since the 1990s as a sophisticated surname-name choice.

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