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Home › Baby Names Directory › Hamish

Hamish

♂ Boy

Pronounced HAY-mish /ˈheɪ.mɪʃ/Medium

Meaning: An anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Seumas (the vocative Sheumais) — the Scottish James, from Hebrew Yaakov, 'a supplanter; one who follows/grasps the heel'Medium

In 30 seconds: A supplanter: Hamish is the Scottish James — 'a supplanter; one who follows'. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'HAY-mish').
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Origin MediumHebrew, Scottish
MeaningAn anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Seumas (the vocative Sheumais) — the Scottish James, from Hebrew Yaakov, 'a supplanter; one who follows/grasps the heel'
U.S. rank (2025)#6240 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births14 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 364

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202119812025

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

Hamish is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic Seumas (from its vocative Sheumais) — the Scottish form of James, from Hebrew Yaakov (Jacob), 'a supplanter; one who follows or grasps the heel'. A crisp, classic, distinctive Scottish name (said 'HAY-mish'; nickname Ham).

In the U.S. it appears in Scottish families. Rare, a-supplanter at the root, and distinctive.

Did you know? James comes from Jacob, 'a supplanter; one who grasps the heel/follows' (Hebrew Yaakov) — Hamish is its crisp Scottish form (from the Gaelic Sheumais), classic and distinctive (said 'HAY-mish').
Overall data confidence 72%
Behind the Name — Hamish — root etymology

Variations

SeumasJamesHam

Nicknames

Ham

Famous Bearers

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If you like Hamish…

Seamus— the Irish form
James— the English form
Angus— a fellow Scottish boys' name
Callum— another Scottish boys' name

Explore names like Hamish

By themehebrewbiblicalscottish

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Hamish mean?

Hamish is the Scottish James — from Jacob, Hebrew 'a supplanter; one who follows'.

How do you pronounce Hamish?

It's said HAY-mish /ˈheɪ.mɪʃ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Hamish a boy or girl name?

Hamish is a boy's name.

How popular is Hamish?

Hamish is a rare name in the U.S.

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