Bowie

At a Glance

Meaning

Fair-haired, yellow-haired (Scottish Gaelic branch); alternatively, descendant of the victorious one (Irish branch)

Origin

Irish/Scottish Gaelic (surname)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

BOH-ee (David Bowie: BOH-ee; Jim Bowie: BOO-ee)Listen

Bowie traces back to an Irish and Scottish Gaelic surname, and its meaning splits along those two branches: in the Scottish Gaelic line it means "fair-haired" or "yellow-haired," while in the Irish branch it's read as "descendant of the victorious one." That gives parents two different stories behind the same name, depending on which root they want to lean into.

Meaning & Origin of Bowie

Meaning: Fair-haired, yellow-haired (Scottish Gaelic branch); alternatively, descendant of the victorious one (Irish branch).

Origin: Irish/Scottish Gaelic (surname).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Bowie

Popularity of Bowie

Bowie hit its high point in 2021, ranking #951 with 237 babies given the name that year, and has since eased back to #1206 in 2024 with a count of 167.

Names Like Bowie

These names have followed a similar path to Bowie in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Cove
• Jhene
• Zahara
• Cartier
• Jalani
• Mazi

FAQ

What does the name Bowie mean?

Fair-haired, yellow-haired (Scottish Gaelic branch); alternatively, descendant of the victorious one (Irish branch). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Bowie?

Bowie is pronounced BOH-ee (David Bowie: BOH-ee; Jim Bowie: BOO-ee) (IPA: /ˈboʊi/).

Is Bowie a popular name right now?

Bowie peaked at #951 in 2021 and is ranked #1206 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1920–2024.)

Make Bowie Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Bowie, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.