Scottish and northern Irish: habitational name derived from any of the various Blair locations in Scotland, named with the Scottish Gaelic blar (genitive blair) meaning "plain", "field", especially a battlefield (Irish blar).
American: after Charles William Blair, who was an American lawyer and politician.
French: surname adopted by Americans.
Arabian: given to children of Arab traders.
Persian: used by members of the Iranian ethnic group known as Blairs. It may also be used as a surname itself.
Blair is now used as a surname itself in many countries around the world.
Gaelic (Scottish) Blair is an English name with Scottish Gaelic origins. The surname is derived from any of the various Blair locations in Scotland, which are derived from the Scottish Gaelic blar, which means "plain," "meadow," or "field." Blair is a unisex given name derived from the surname.
Blair is now used as a given name too. It was originally only used as a surname.
There are several places in the United States that have adopted the name Blair after the president: Blair, Nebraska; Blair, Pennsylvania; and Blair, Wisconsin. There is also one community in Canada named after the president: Blairmore, Alberta.
The name Blair has been used as a first name since the 1960s. Originally, it was used exclusively as a last name.
There are many variations of names that use the word Blair or Blaire as a prefix or suffix. These include Blazier, Bloomer, Blum, Blundell, Blunt, Blythe, and Bryne.
Blair is pronounced "blare" as a girl's name (it is also used as a boy's name, Blair).
Blair is a male name in Scotland and Canada, although it is more common in the US, where it is also a feminine name. Blaire is a spelling variation of the given name. In England, Ireland, and Australia, there is no difference in meaning between naming a boy after David or William Blair.
Blair is used as a first name by itself for people born in Britain, especially those who have never used their middle name. For example, Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth II) was known as Miss Elizabeth Rosemary when she was born in February 1926. She was given her father's Christian name as well as his birth date to help distinguish him from other people with the same name. She also received two other names at birth: Rufus for her mother and Arthur for King George VI. Only when she came of age did she become Queen Elizabeth II.
In the United States, the name Blair has been popular among both men and women since it was introduced in 1915. It may be used as a diminutive name for someone who is named after David Blair, such as "Davie" or "Dave". As an adult female name, Blair is sometimes used as a version of Bernadette, especially among Catholics.
Britain is one of the oldest known names for Great Britain, an island off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It derives from the common Brittonic term "Pritani." The titles Briton and British, which are derived from the same word, apply to its residents as well as, to varied degrees, the smaller islands in its vicinity.
The original meaning of Britain was "the whole island," but it came to be used specifically for England after the Romans arrived. Ireland and Scotland were known as separate entities within Britain at that time. England wasn't united until the 12th century when Henry II ruled all four parts of the kingdom with one voice.
Before the Romans arrived in England, the area now known as Britain was inhabited by a people called the Celts. They were spread out over what today is France, Ireland, and portions of Germany and Spain. The Celts made their homes in small villages that they tended to be nomadic by nature, moving from place to place looking for better food, security, and opportunities. It's believed they came into contact with the Romans around 200 B.C., who adopted many aspects of Celtic culture including language. After the collapse of the Roman Empire in A.D. 400, the presence of Celts in Britain declined significantly.
This was the general name given to the inhabitants of the island of Britannia by the ancient Britons themselves.
Blair is a newborn unisex name that is mostly used in the Christian religion and has a Gaelic origin. It means "white" or "blond". Although it was originally given as a boys' name, now also used for girls.
- According to the website Nameberry, Blair is listed as one of the most popular names for babies born in the United States.
- In Canada, the name Blair is the second most common name given to baby boys. It was introduced into Canada in the early 20th century and became very popular especially among English-speaking Canadians.
- In Australia, the name Blair is the ninth most popular name given to baby boys. It was introduced into Australia in the 1920s and 1930s and became widely known after World War II.
- In New Zealand, the name Blair is the tenth most popular name given to baby boys. It was introduced into New Zealand in the 1940s and became popular after World War II.
- In England, the name Blair is the 11th most popular name given to baby boys. It was introduced into England in the 16th century and became popular after its use by British soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars.