What does Hamish mean?
Hamish is the Scottish form of James, “supplanter.”
What does Lachlan mean?
Lachlan means “from the land of lochs,” originally “Viking” or “from Norway.”
Hamish vs Lachlan
Which is more popular?
Lachlan is more popular than Hamish today: about 468 US babies were given the name Lachlan in 2025, compared with 14 named Hamish.
| Hamish | Lachlan | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Supplanter | From the land of lochs |
| Origin | Scottish | Scottish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | HAY-mish | LOK-lan |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1981 | 1952 |
| Peak year | 2017 (25) | 2025 (468) |
| In 2025 | 14 | 468 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Hamish
Lachlan
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Hamish | Lachlan |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 105 | 2,249 |
| 2010s | 145 | 2,697 |
| 2000s | 92 | 920 |
| 1990s | 17 | 185 |
| 1980s | 5 | 31 |
| 1970s | 0 | 5 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
| 1950s | 0 | 16 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Hamish or Lachlan more popular?
Lachlan is more popular than Hamish today: about 468 US babies were given the name Lachlan in 2025, compared with 14 named Hamish.
What is the difference between Hamish and Lachlan?
Hamish means Supplanter (Scottish origin), while Lachlan means From the land of lochs (Scottish origin).
Which name is older, Hamish or Lachlan?
In US records, Hamish first appears in 1981 and Lachlan in 1952, so Lachlan has the longer recorded history.