Highland Cow Name Generator
Scottish, Gaelic and shaggy names for Highland coos
Generate Highland cow names for real folds, pet Highlands, sponsored cows and plush coos: Scottish names like Hamish and Morag, Gaelic color words like Ruadh and Dubh, places like Skye and Lomond, and jokes like Hairy Coo and Moo-rag.
About Highland cow names
Highland cattle carry their homeland in their looks, so most names for them start in Scotland. The largest group here is Scottish given names in Scots and Gaelic forms: Hamish, Morag, Eilidh, Murdo and Senga, with Seumas, Màiri and Ùisdean for owners who want the Gaelic spelling. Places come next, from islands such as Skye, Iona, Mull and Tiree to glens, lochs and mountains such as Glencoe, Rannoch, Etive and Schiehallion.
Gaelic color words suit the breed, because Highlands come in red, black, yellow, dun, white and brindle. Ruadh is red, Dubh black, Buidhe yellow, Donn brown, Bàn fair and Riabhach brindled, and a color can follow a name, as in Mòrag Ruadh or Iain Dubh. English coat names cover the same ground with Rusty, Russet, Conker and Peaty.
The rest is about the animal itself. The long fringe is called a dossan, and Dossan, Moptop, Bedhead and Handlebars are for the hair and the horns. Hill plants and weather (Heather, Bracken, Haar, Dreich), Scottish food (Tablet, Bannock, Cranachan) and a run of coo jokes such as Hairy Coo, Moo-rag and Thane of Cowdor finish the list. A group of Highland cattle is a fold, not a herd, which is why Laird of the Fold is here.
How to choose Highland cow names
- Say a Gaelic name aloud before you choose it. Eilidh is AY-lee, Mhairi is VAH-ree, Ruaridh is ROO-a-ree and Dubh is doo, so check that you are happy to spell the name out for the vet and for visitors.
- Match the color word to the coat. Ruadh suits the classic red, Buidhe a yellow, Dubh a black, Bàn a white and Riabhach a brindle.
- For a whole fold, pick a theme and stay with it. Islands (Skye, Iona, Eigg, Canna), the tea table (Tablet, Bannock, Shortbread, Oatcake) and mountains (Nevis, Suilven, Slioch) each give a set that sounds like one family.
- A calf grows into its hair and horns, so a name such as Moptop or Dossan fits better with every year, while Fluff may need a second look on a grown bull.
- For a plush toy or a nursery coo, the short friendly names work best: Hamish, Morag, Tufty, Toffee, Coorie and Wee Coo.
Frequently asked questions
What are good names for a Highland cow?
Scottish names are the classic choice: Hamish, Morag, Fergus, Eilidh and Flora. Place names such as Skye, Iona and Lomond, plants such as Heather and Thistle, and coat names such as Rusty and Conker work well too. A few names come from the screen: Merida and Elinor from the film Brave, and Jamie and Claire from Outlander.
What are some funny Highland cow names?
The jokes here are about the word coo, the fringe and Scotland: Hairy Coo, Moo-rag, Och Aye the Moo, Fringe Benefits, McShaggy, McFringe and Thane of Cowdor. Bad Hair Day, Bedhead and Hat Rack make fun of the hair and the horns.
What do the Gaelic color names mean?
Ruadh means red, Dubh black, Buidhe yellow, Donn brown, Bàn fair or white, Geal white, Liath gray, Odhar dun and Riabhach brindled. In Gaelic the color follows the name, and after a female name its first sound softens, so it is Màiri Bhàn and Ùna Dhubh but Dòmhnall Bàn and Iain Dubh.
What is a group of Highland cows called?
A group of Highland cattle is called a fold, after the open stone shelters where the cattle were kept overnight in winter. Buaile, a Gaelic word for a fold or cattle enclosure, is in the list, along with Laird of the Fold.
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All 500 Highland cow names
A: 26 names
- Aberfeldy
- Abernethy
- Adharc
- Affric
- Aggie
- Ailsa
- Àirigh
- Alasdair
- Alba
- Alligin
- Anna Bheag
- Annag
- Annie Laurie
- Antlers
- Appin
- Applecross
- Aran
- Archie
- Ardgour
- Ardnamurchan
- Argyll
- Arisaig
- Arran
- Assynt
- Atholl Brose
- Autumn
B: 53 names
- Bad Hair Day
- Badenoch
- Bagpipe
- Bainne
- Balach
- Ballater
- Balmoral
- Bàn
- Bangs
- Bannock
- Barley
- Barra
- Beag
- Beathag
- Bedhead
- Beehive
- Beinn
- Beithe
- Benbecula
- Berneray
- Besom
- Big Hair
- Birch
- Black Bun
- Blow Dry
- Bodach
- Bog Myrtle
- Bogle
- Bòidheach
- Bonfire
- Bonnie Coo
- Bouffant
- Bracken
- Braemar
- Braeriach
- Bramble Jam
- Brass
- Braveheart
- Braw Coo
- Breac
- Brigadoon
- Brindle
- Bronze
- Brose
- Bruce
- Bruin
- Buachaille
- Buaile
- Buidhe
- Bunnet
- Bunty
- Butterie
- Butterwort
C: 51 names
- Caber
- Caboc
- Caileag
- Cailean
- Cailleach
- Cairngorm
- Callum
- Calum Ruadh
- Canisp
- Canna
- Caorann
- Capercaillie
- Caraid
- Caramel
- Carrot
- Catriona
- Ceilidh
- Ceit
- Ceit Ruadh
- Ceò
- Ceòl
- Chieftain
- Ciar
- Claire
- Clan Chief
- Clapshot
- Cleg
- Clootie
- Clootie Dumpling
- Cloudberry
- Cluaran
- Cock-a-Leekie
- Coinneach
- Coll
- Colonsay
- Conker
- Coorie
- Coorie In
- Copper
- Copperpot
- Cowberry
- Cowlick
- Cranachan
- Crescent
- Cridhe
- Crowberry
- Crowdie
- Cruachan
- Cuillin
- Cullen Skink
- Curtains
D: 21 names
- Darach
- Davina
- Dearg
- Dòmhnall
- Dòmhnall Bàn
- Donn
- Dossan
- Dougal
- Dreich
- Drookit
- Drop Scone
- Duart
- Dubh
- Dugald
- Dùghall
- Dun
- Duncan
- Dundee Cake
- Dunvegan
- Durness
- Dust Mop
E: 17 names
- Eachann
- Eachann Ruadh
- Ealasaid
- Eck
- Edinburgh Rock
- Eigg
- Eilean
- Eilidh
- Elinor
- Elspeth
- Ember
- Empire Biscuit
- Eòghann
- Eriskay
- Etive
- Eudail
- Ewan
F: 23 names
- Fàilte
- Farquhar
- Feather Duster
- Fergus
- Fingal
- Finlay
- Fionn
- Fionnlagh
- Flora
- Flòraidh
- Flower of Scotland
- Fluff
- Foinaven
- Forelock
- Foxy
- Fraoch
- Fraser
- Fringe
- Fringe Benefits
- Fringe Festival
- Fuzzball
- Fuzzy
- Fyne
G: 22 names
- Gairloch
- Gaisgeach
- Geal
- Gealach
- Ghillie
- Gigha
- Ginger
- Gingernut
- Gingersnap
- Giuthas
- Glas
- Gleann
- Glencoe
- Glenelg
- Glenfinnan
- Glenshee
- Golden Syrup
- Gorm
- Gorse
- Gregor
- Grian
- Grizzly
H: 20 names
- Haar
- Haggis
- Hairy Coo
- Hamish
- Hamish McMoo
- Handlebars
- Harris
- Hat Rack
- Hayrick
- Heather
- Heather Honey
- Hector
- Heilan Coo
- Highland Fling
- Highland Laddie
- Highland Lass
- Hind
- Hirta
- Hoots
- Hughie
I: 11 names
- Iain
- Iain Dubh
- Iain Mòr
- Ìm
- Ina
- Inveraray
- Iona
- Iseabail
- Ishbel
- Isla
- Islay
J: 5 names
- Jamie
- Jeanie
- Jessie
- Jock
- Jura
K: 10 names
- Katrine
- Kelpie
- Kerrera
- Kilda
- Kiltie
- Kintail
- Kirsteen
- Kishorn
- Knoydart
- Kyloe
L: 21 names
- Lachlan
- Lady McMoo
- Lady of the Glen
- Lady of the Lake
- Laird
- Laird of the Fold
- Laochan
- Laogh
- Lawers
- Lewis
- Liath
- Liathach
- Linnhe
- Lismore
- Lochaber
- Lochinver
- Lochnagar
- Lomond
- Lord of the Isles
- Lorna
- Lucky Tattie
M: 51 names
- Macaroon
- Macbeth
- Macdui
- Machair
- MacMoo
- Magnus
- Mairead
- Màiri
- Màiri Bhàn
- Maisie
- Malcolm
- Mallaig
- Mammoth
- Maree
- Marsaili
- Marten
- McFluff
- McFringe
- McHairy
- McShaggy
- Merida
- Merry Dancer
- Mhairi
- Midge
- Mil
- Milkwort
- Mingulay
- Misty
- Mizzle
- Moidart
- Mòine
- Molach
- Monarch of the Glen
- Moo-nro
- Moo-rag
- Moo-rdo
- Mop
- Moptop
- Mòr
- Morag
- Mòrag Bheag
- Mòrag Ruadh
- Morar
- Morven
- Muckle Coo
- Muckle Horns
- Mull
- Mullet
- Mungo
- Murchadh
- Murdo
N: 5 names
- Neep
- Nessie
- Netta
- Nevis
- Niall
O: 9 names
- Oatcake
- Oban
- Och Aye the Moo
- Odhar
- Oighrig
- Òr
- Oronsay
- Osprey
- Ossian
P: 18 names
- Pàdraig
- Pan Drop
- Peaty
- Peekaboo
- Peigi
- Penny
- Petticoat Tail
- Pibroch
- Pinecone
- Piper
- Pitlochry
- Plaid
- Plockton
- Pom-Pom
- Pompadour
- Portree
- Ptarmigan
- Puff Candy
Q: 3 names
- Queen of the Hill
- Quiff
- Quinag
R: 24 names
- Raasay
- Rabbie
- Rannoch
- Raonaid
- Rapunzel
- Red Kite
- Red Squirrel
- Redhead
- Rena
- Reul
- Riabhach
- Rìbhinn
- Rob Roy
- Robert the Coos
- Ròmach
- Rory
- Rowan
- Rowanberry
- Rowie
- Ruadh
- Ruaridh
- Rum
- Russet
- Rusty
S: 45 names
- Sandy
- Scalpay
- Schiehallion
- Scotch Broth
- Scots Pine
- Scruffy
- Selkie
- Senga
- Seònaid
- Seònaid Dhonn
- Seòras
- Seumas
- Seumas Donn
- Shaggy
- Sheena
- Shiel
- Shieldaig
- Shortbread
- Sienna
- Sìne
- Sìne Bhuidhe
- Skirlie
- Skye
- Slàinte
- Slioch
- Smirr
- Sneachd
- Snell
- Snowdrift
- Somhairle
- Sona
- Sooty
- Sorcha
- Spey
- Sporran
- Squirrel
- Staffa
- Stag
- Stornoway
- Strathnaver
- Strathspey
- Struan
- Suilven
- Sunart
- Sutherland
T: 37 names
- Tablet
- Tam
- Tam o' Shanter
- Tangles
- Taransay
- Tartan
- Tattie
- Tattie Bogle
- Tattie Scone
- Tawny
- Tay
- Tayberry
- Teàrlach
- Teddy Bear
- Teenie
- Terracotta
- Thane
- Thane of Cowdor
- Thatch
- Thistle
- Thrift
- Tiara
- Tipsy Laird
- Tiree
- Titian
- Tobermory
- Tod
- Toffee
- Topknot
- Tormentil
- Tormod
- Tormod Buidhe
- Torquil
- Torridon
- Tousle
- Trossachs
- Tufty
U: 8 names
- Uilleam
- Ùisdean
- Uist
- Ullapool
- Ulva
- Ùna
- Ùna Dhubh
- Upsweep
V: 3 names
- Vatersay
- Viking
- Vorlich
W: 16 names
- Wallace
- Wean
- Wee Bairn
- Wee Beastie
- Wee Coo
- Wee Laddie
- Wee Lassie
- Wee McCoo
- Wee Sleekit
- Wee Yin
- Wildcat
- Windswept
- Wishbone
- Woolly
- Wullie
- Wyvis