What does Angus mean?
Angus comes from the Gaelic Aonghas, “one choice” or “one strength.”
What does Hamish mean?
Hamish is the Scottish form of James, “supplanter.”
Angus vs Hamish
Which is more popular?
Angus is more popular than Hamish today: about 58 US babies were given the name Angus in 2025, compared with 14 named Hamish.
| Angus | Hamish | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | One strength | Supplanter |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | ANG-gus | HAY-mish |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1981 |
| Peak year | 2006 (126) | 2017 (25) |
| In 2025 | 58 | 14 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Angus
Hamish
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Angus | Hamish |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 423 | 105 |
| 2010s | 856 | 145 |
| 2000s | 1,042 | 92 |
| 1990s | 754 | 17 |
| 1980s | 360 | 5 |
| 1970s | 307 | 0 |
| 1960s | 283 | 0 |
| 1950s | 345 | 0 |
| 1940s | 405 | 0 |
| 1930s | 394 | 0 |
| 1920s | 660 | 0 |
| 1910s | 496 | 0 |
| 1900s | 128 | 0 |
| 1890s | 143 | 0 |
| 1880s | 155 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Angus or Hamish more popular?
Angus is more popular than Hamish today: about 58 US babies were given the name Angus in 2025, compared with 14 named Hamish.
What is the difference between Angus and Hamish?
Angus means One strength (Scottish origin), while Hamish means Supplanter (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Angus or Hamish?
In US records, Angus first appears in 1880 and Hamish in 1981, so Angus has the longer recorded history.