Duncan is a Scottish masculine given name of Gaelic origin. It is derived from the Celtic word "Donn Cu" which means "dark warrior". The name has been associated with the legendary High King of Scotland, Duncan I, who ruled from 1034 to 1040. According to medieval chronicles, Duncan was a just and brave ruler who fought against Viking invasions. However, his reign was short-lived as he was eventually killed by his cousin Macbeth in 1040. Despite this tragic end, the name Duncan has remained popular throughout Scottish history and continues to be used today. In literature, the name is perhaps most famously associated with Shakespeare's tragedy "Macbeth", where Duncan appears as the tragic hero-king.
The name Duncan has seen a slight fluctuation in its popularity over the years in the United States. In 1996, there were 6 babies named Duncan, while in 2015, this number decreased to 5 births. Over these two decades, a total of 11 boys have been given the name Duncan. This data reflects that although Duncan is not one of the most common names, it has maintained a consistent presence among baby boy names in the United States during this period.