Duncan

Meaning of Duncan

It means 'dark warrior' or 'brown warrior'. The name comes from old Gaelic words relating to color and battle.

Duncan has Scottish Gaelic roots — browse every Scottish Gaelic baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Duncan

After ranking as high as #448 in 2000, Duncan has fallen out of the US top 1,000 as of 2025.

Notable people named Duncan

• Tim Duncan
  Legendary NBA basketball player
• Duncan Jones
  Acclaimed film director
• Duncan Sheik
  Grammy-winning singer-songwriter
• King Duncan I
  11th-century Scottish king
• Duncan Bannatyne
  Scottish entrepreneur and investor

More Scottish Gaelic names

Questions about the name Duncan

What does the name Duncan mean?

Duncan means it means 'dark warrior' or 'brown warrior'. the name comes from old gaelic words relating to color and battle, and it comes from Scottish Gaelic origins.

Is Duncan a boy's or a girl's name?

Duncan is most commonly used as a boy's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Duncan?

Duncan did not appear in the top 1,000 baby names in 2025, which makes it a genuinely uncommon pick.

When was Duncan most popular?

Duncan peaked at #448 in 2000.