Hamish is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #447 in 2023 with 89 recorded births. This places Hamish in the top 7% of ranked UK boys' names for the year. Its actual usage is classified as Moderately Popular. The name reached its all-time peak in 1998 with 138 births ranking #222. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 34.1%. In 2023, approximately 1 in every 3,108 boys born was named Hamish. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Hamish is the traditional Scottish form of James and shares the broader James family meaning usually given as "supplanter". It has strong Scottish identity and a warm, approachable sound.
The name began as a Gaelic form of James and later became familiar well beyond Scotland. Its charm comes from sounding distinctly regional while still being easy to recognise and use.