Find out how popular the first name Scout has been for the last 32 years (from 1992 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Scout by gender

Based on the last 32 years of data, Scout is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 71% of people named Scout being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 336 female babies and 140 male babies born with the name Scout.

The history of the first name Scout

The name Scout originated as an English word derived from the Old French word "escouter", meaning "to listen" or "to look out". It was first used as a name in the early 20th century, likely inspired by the scouting movement and the idea of exploration and adventure.

Scout was initially more common as a nickname or a middle name, but gradually gained popularity as a gender-neutral first name in the United States and other English-speaking countries. One of the earliest recorded uses of Scout as a first name was in the 1935 novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, where the character Scout Finch was named after her real-life namesake, the writer's childhood friend.

While the name Scout does not have any direct historical or religious references, it does evoke a sense of curiosity, bravery, and a spirit of discovery. Some notable individuals named Scout throughout history include Scout Finch, the fictional character from "To Kill a Mockingbird"; Scout Bingo, an American actress and model born in 1990; Scout Tafoya, an American film critic and writer born in 1985; Scout Willis, the daughter of actors Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, born in 1991; and Scout Masterson, an American singer and songwriter born in 1996.

While the name Scout has been more widely adopted in recent decades, its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century and the scouting movement, which emphasized values of exploration, adventure, and being observant. The name's unique and gender-neutral nature has contributed to its appeal and enduring popularity.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Scout was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Scout, please contact us.

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