A spunky word name first considered a given name possibility from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout is lurking just outside the top 1000 as of 2019. A viable option for either gender, Scout has a chipper and bright sound and plenty of young namesakes to vouch for its youthful touch. Celebabies in particular are primary bearers of this cheerful moniker. But does Scout really grow up with a child well? Or are nay-sayers simply picking at a name that isn’t their style? Today, we’re taking a deep dive into the name Scout. A name that’s climbing up the charts quickly, I’ll take a look at some of the problems and benefits of choosing this name for your son or daughter. And now, let’s get right into it!
Pros
The name Scout suggests an adventurous child with endless curiosity and an affinity with the natural world, thanks to the influence of the boy and girl scouts. It seems to perfectly sum up the inquisitive spirit of a child, bright and cheerful with a little bit of a daredevil twist. For many parents, a son or daughter that is eager for answers and spunky is lovely, and a name that connotes such a spirited and energetic personality is a wonderful option. The name does have nature-y ties too, being connected to the boy and girl scouts, which are an inherently nature related group, which makes it an extra in-demand appellation, a suitable brother name to River, Bear, and Co., and a fitting sister name to Wren and Ivy. Nature names are all the rage, and one that hints towards such connections without making them blatantly obvious is a win-win for many soon-to-be parents.
The name is even a word name! The name Scout comes from the word scout, as in searching or exploring something, which is where the peppy and adventurous vibe of the name comes from. Since it is a word name, you get all of the benefits spelling wise with it, meaning that it’s instantly recognizable when said or spelled out on a form or worksheet at your child’s school. The name Scout can even be grouped with virtue names like Hope and Ace because of the phrase “good scout,” which essentially is used to describe someone compassionate and helpful. With a wonderful and active feel, a nature-y vibe, and even virtuous ties, there’s no reason why saying the name Scout won’t bring to mind a helpful, curious, and kind little boy or girl. And then there’s the main factor behind Scout’s rise as a girl name in particular: the character in To Kill a Mockingbird. The main character in an incredibly successful novel, it’s not a surprise that the name has taken a little influence from the popularity of the book. Scout, whose full name is Jean Louise Finch, is both the narrator as an adult rehashing events from her childhood. A playful and quick-witted tomboy, the character of Scout is a positive and lovely one that appeals to many parents reading the novel. Yet even with the honorable character and positive associations connected to the name, it’s still delightfully rare. Scout is crouching just underneath the surface of the top 1000, lurking at #1040. So she’s incredibly unique, and yet most everyone knows how to say and pronounce her thanks to her word name status. Again, a win-win, especially with the spunky-cool vibe attached.
Cons
Looking at the stats, Scout is roughly 17 times more popular for dogs then people. Let that sink for a minute. For every one baby boy or girl given the name Scout, there are 17 dogs called that same name. Given that the overwhelming majority of little Scouts are four-legged friends, it might not be an ideal name for a child, particularly when your daughter discovers that her friend in class has a mutt with the same name as her, or Aunt Edith and her puppy pal raise an eyebrow when you share with her that your son will answer to the same moniker as her mongrel. While this uneven popularity of children to dogs may inspire playground teasing, it may also be an unpleasant shock when the neighbors are constantly hollering for their dog Scout and confusing or annoying you and your child. So even if Scout is rare to the point where they won’t meet many other little boys and girls with the name, they might find themselves surrounded by pets with their name, which, in many parent’s opinion, may be worse. To put that in context a tad more, you have a similar likelihood of meeting a baby called Colton or Elena to meeting a dog called Scout. Colton and Elena are names that may not teem in your social circle, but they’re pretty common, and to have the image of some family pet or neighbor dog float in people’s heads when they’re introduced to little Scout isn’t the best, particularly when he or she heads into a job interview.
And then there’s the issue of the name’s youthfulness, to put it nicely. Sure, Candy aged perfectly well. But that familiarity came with excessive use, which is exposure that Scout hasn’t gotten yet. So try and picture a supreme court judge called Scout Smith. Or a 40 year old bald man in a suit called Scout. Or the marriage officiant announcing a 25 year old Scout married. Scout is a name that I can’t picture on a boy over 6 and a girl over 10, and certainly cannot see the name being incredibly dignified or sophisticated in a business situation. Even as a teenager, I would’ve found the name burdensome and a little too quirky and cute. Sure, the name’s adorable. But sweet and cutesy isn’t necessarily what a child will need past toddlerhood. If you do want to use Scout as a full name as opposed to a childhood nickname, then you face an array of not only dog and childish issues, but also the constant “is that your reeeeaal name?” and “Is that a stage name? Pen name?” etc. The rarity aspect, especially as a full name, makes it a little tiring to wear the name. It inherently forces it’s bearer to stand out, which may not appeal to your child if they grow into a personality that wants to blend in rather than stick out. Scout also sounds and appears very close to a name that was very popular once-upon a time: Scott. Chances are, you’ll introduce your son, Scout, to his teacher, librarian, or daycare employee, and they will respond with “Hi Scott!” Even skimming names on a registry or list can cause teachers, doctors, and dentists to stumble into Scott instead of the more obscure Scout.
But even though the sounds are similar to very popular names, the name Scout is still a very controversial one. People argue that it’s too youthful, won’t age well, is too trendy, too weird, etc. In addition, there’s also mixed opinions surrounding what gender Scout is truly appropriate for, so prepare to get some backlash and compliments alike surrounding your little one’s name. Although some people are fine with having a rare name and all of the pros and cons that accompany one, other parents will be crushed when Grandma Jade scoffs at the idea of calling your little girl Scout over Allison.
Predictions For Scout:
Scout’s been on the rise for quite a while, and with Birdie, Wren, and other modern nature names surging back into style, I have no doubt that parents will love her enough to hoist her up out of the obscurity of the void beyond the top 1000. Yes, Scout may not be everyone’s favorite, and she’s obviously not even the majority of people’s favorites. But she has strong literary, natural, and virtuous associations in addition to stylistic power that may woo plenty of parents looking for a name for their son or daughter. I hope you enjoyed this article, and stick around for more from the Name Warehouse.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Do you like the name Scout? Have you ever met a little Scout? Let me know in the comments or by submitting my contact form!