Duncan

Meaning: Dark warrior, or brown chieftain
Origin: Scottish Gaelic — Anglicized form of Donnchadh

Boy's name · #1124 in the US (2025) · 90s wave

Popularity over time

Duncan's best rank, #378, came in 1997; it has settled back to #1124 today. Roughly 21,000 boys have been named Duncan since 1880.

Across the states

See where Duncan is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 23 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Duncan ranks in other countries and regions.

#253 in Scotland (2025) · #916 in Canada (2025) · #1,538 in England & Wales (2025) · #2,372 in France (2025) · #2,159 in Sweden (2024) · #2,207 in Austria (2023) · #10,108 in Italy (2023) · #823 in Netherlands (2021) · #2,572 in Ecuador (2021) · #1,366 in Belgium (2013) · #301 in New Zealand (2011) · #506 in Ireland (2004) and 1 more.

Famous Duncans

Duncan Haldane — British physicist (born 1951)
Duncan Laurence — Dutch singer (born 1994)
Duncan I of Scotland — King of Alba from 1034 to 1040 (c. 1001–1040)
Duncan Edwards — English footballer (1936–1958)
Duncan II of Scotland — King of Alba in 1094 (1060–1094)
Duncan Jones — British film director (born 1971)
Duncan Ferguson — Scottish football manager and former player (born 1971)
Duncan James — English singer (born 1978)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 135,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

Isadora Duncan — American dancer and choreographer (1877–1927)
Michael Clarke Duncan — American actor (1957–2012)
Tim Duncan — American basketball player (born 1976)

In stories & tradition

Duncan Idaho — Dune (novel series)
Duncan MacLeod — Fictional character from the Highlander multiverse
Duncan Stewart — Home and Away (TV series)

What Duncans become

Among 954 notable people named Duncan:

Military figures appear 1.92× more often than among typical names — e.g. Duncan D. Hunter, American politician and U.S. Marine Corps officer (born 1976).

Similar names: Keenan · Dustin · Kody · Brennan · Trevon · Devan

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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