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Scout

♂ Boy

Pronounced SKOWT /ˈskaʊt/Medium

Meaning: One who scouts or observes aheadMedium

In 30 seconds: Scout is an English word-name for one who scouts or observes ahead.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningOne who scouts or observes ahead
U.S. rank (2024)#1486 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births122 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,960

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219922024

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

History & Origin

It comes from the role of a scout, someone sent out in front to watch and gather information, ultimately rooted in Old French. Used as a given name, it carries that sense of alertness, curiosity, and adventure.

Scout has a plucky, outdoorsy ring and works equally well for a boy or a girl.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Scout is 'one who gathers information covertly', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Scout — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Scout…

Hunter— another English word-name built on an active outdoor role
Ranger— shares the scouting, watchful-of-the-wilderness theme
Finn— matches the short, adventurous, modern boy-name feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Scout mean?

Scout is usually explained as meaning 'one who gathers information covertly' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Scout?

It's commonly said SKOWT /ˈskaʊt/.

Is Scout a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Scout is used as a boy name.

How popular is Scout?

In 2024, Scout ranked #1486 in the U.S. for boys, with 122 births recorded.