At a Glance: Name: Uisdean – Meaning: from Old Norse Eysteinn, combining 'ey' (island) and 'steinn' (stone); conventionally used as the Gaelic equivalent of Hugh, though not actually related to Hugh's Germanic root – Origin: Old Norse (via Scottish Gaelic) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: OOSH-tun
Uisdean is an Old Norse (via Scottish Gaelic) boy's name meaning “from Old Norse Eysteinn, combining 'ey' (island) and 'steinn' (stone); conventionally used as the Gaelic equivalent of Hugh, though not actually related to Hugh's Germanic root”. It appears in 2 of our baby name lists.
Meaning & Origin of Uisdean
Meaning: From Old Norse Eysteinn, combining 'ey' (island) and 'steinn' (stone); conventionally used as the Gaelic equivalent of Hugh, though not actually related to Hugh's Germanic root.
Origin: Old Norse (via Scottish Gaelic).
A common claim: Scottish Gaelic form of Hugh Actually: Uisdean is used as the Gaelic equivalent of Hugh by convention, but it isn't derived from Hugh's Germanic root ('heart/mind'); it has its own separate Old Norse origin (Eysteinn, 'island stone').
How to Pronounce Uisdean
Phonetic: OOSH-tun IPA: /ˈuːʃtʲən/
Popularity of Uisdean
Uisdean doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Uisdean
- 200+ Rare Baby Names for Boys You’ll Absolutely Love 2026
- 150+ Scottish Baby Boy Names With Rugged Celtic Character
Similar Names
Taliesin · Sören · Senan · Aldric · Torben · Aldwin
