Dugald is a Scottish name of Gaelic origin, derived from the personal name Dubhghall, which means "dark stranger." It was historically popular among the Highland clans and has been used in Scotland for centuries. The name gained some recognition outside Scotland through notable figures such as Dugald Dalrymple, a 19th-century Scottish lawyer and historian. There is also a Scottish Gaelic form of the name, Dubhghall, which is sometimes used interchangeably with Dugald.
The name Dugald was not particularly popular during these years, with a total of only 16 babies given this name between 1919 and 1948. The highest number of births occurred in 1931 and 1948, both with five babies named Dugald. However, there was a noticeable gap of nineteen years between these peaks, suggesting that the popularity of this name may have been cyclical or region-specific during this period.