How to say it
BLAIR
blɛr
Unisex
Blair
Field, plain
What it means
Scottish Gaelic blàr, 'field' or 'plain' (also 'battlefield' in some contexts). Originally a surname tied to many Scottish places; now a unisex first name with several distinct cultural anchors.
Blair comes from the Scottish Gaelic blàr, meaning 'field' or 'plain,' sometimes 'battlefield.' It was a topographic surname tied to many Scottish places (Blair Atholl, Blairgowrie) and clans. As a first name Blair is unisex. The Blair Witch Project (1999) brought the name into US pop awareness; Tony Blair (UK Prime Minister 1997-2007) anchored the British political reference; Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester, 2007-2012) gave the feminine usage a teen-drama anchor; Linda Blair from The Exorcist (1973) covers the horror reference. As a US given name Blair has been climbing for girls since the Gossip Girl years. Single syllable, no shorter form.
How to spell Blair
The standard spelling is Blair. Common variants include Blaire, Blayre, but Blair is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #169 in 2025, currently #169 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #434 in 1953, currently #2094 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl, 2007-2012) is the dominant millennial-feminine anchor; The Blair Witch Project (1999) and Tony Blair give the other two strong references.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Tony Blair UK Prime Minister, 1997-2007
- Blair Waldorf Leighton Meester's character in Gossip Girl, 2007-2012
Spelling variants
- Blaire
- Blayre
Names with the same feeling
See Blair from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Blair mean?
- Scottish Gaelic blàr, 'field' or 'plain' (also 'battlefield' in some contexts). Originally a surname tied to many Scottish places; now a unisex first name with several distinct cultural anchors.
- What does Blair mean in Scottish Gaelic?
- In Scottish Gaelic, Blair means "Field, plain." Blair comes from the Scottish Gaelic blàr, meaning 'field' or 'plain,' sometimes 'battlefield.' It was a topographic surname tied to many Scottish places (Blair Atholl, Blairgowrie) and clans. As a first name Blair is unisex. The Blair Witch Project (1999) brought the name into US pop awareness; Tony Blair (UK Prime Minister 1997-2007) anchored the British political reference; Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester, 2007-2012) gave the feminine usage a teen-drama anchor; Linda Blair from The Exorcist (1973) covers the horror reference. As a US given name Blair has been climbing for girls since the Gossip Girl years. Single syllable, no shorter form.
- How do you pronounce Blair?
- Blair is pronounced blɛr. Say it as BLAIR, with the stress on the "blair" syllable.
- How do you spell Blair?
- The standard spelling is Blair. Common spelling variants include Blaire, Blayre.
- Is Blair a boy or girl name?
- Blair is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Blair?
- Blair ranked #169 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.