Mac Names
- Mclain
Origin:
Irish, ScottishMeaning:
"son of the servant of St. John"Description:
A stylish but as yet undiscovered surname-style name, with the familiar sounds of Lane, Mack, and and Kane.
- Macallister
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of Alasdair"Description:
Macallister as a first name is attracting new attention as the name chosen by Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and venture capitalist Zack Bogue for their young son. Macallister is usually heard as a patronymic surname, meaning son of Alasdair or Alistair or any one of the spellings of the Scottish form of Alexander. Like all other names of this type, Macallister leads to the cute short form Mac.
- Mccanna
Origin:
Irish surnameMeaning:
"son of the wolf cub"Description:
Gary Sinise chose this Mc name for his late son McCanna, called Mac, in 1990, before Irish and Scottish surnames beginning with Mc or Mac became common as first names. Mac Sinise passed away from a rare form of cancer at the age of 33.
- Mckinlee
Description:
Mckinlee is a modern feminine name that originated as a creative variation of the surname McKinley, which itself is derived from Scottish and Irish origins meaning 'son of the fair warrior.' As a first name, Mckinlee represents a trend of transforming surnames into distinctive given names, often with modified spellings. The name gained modest popularity in the United States during the early 21st century as parents sought unique alternatives to traditional names. The spelling variation with 'ee' instead of 'ey' gives it a more feminine appearance while maintaining its strong, confident sound. Mckinlee conveys qualities of leadership and determination, possibly influenced by associations with President William McKinley.
- Mccartney
Origin:
Scottish surnameMeaning:
"son of Artan"Description:
McCartney is a widely familiar surname that is infrequently given as a first name. It first appeared on the charts for girls in 1996 but has never been given to more than 21 baby girls in a single year. McCartney meets our definition of a unisex name, although it used more often for girls.
- Mccartney
Origin:
Scottish surnameMeaning:
"son of Artan"Description:
This highly recognizable surname means "son of Artan," an Irish derivative of the name Art. It's most closely tied to Beatle Paul McCartney — we'd be willing to bet that some of the parents who give this name to their children each year are fans.
- Maclain
Description:
Maclain is a masculine name of Scottish Gaelic origin, functioning as an Anglicized spelling variant of 'MacIain' or 'MacIan,' which literally means 'son of John.' As a surname-turned-first-name, it carries the strong heritage and clan associations common to Scottish patronymic naming traditions. The name has a distinguished, somewhat aristocratic quality while maintaining a contemporary sound. Though rare as a first name, Maclain appeals to parents with Scottish heritage or those seeking a distinctive name with clear cultural roots. The pronunciation may vary, with some saying 'mak-LANE' while others prefer 'mak-lin.' Maclain offers the trendy appeal of surnames as first names while providing a direct connection to Celtic heritage and history.
- Maclan
Description:
Maclan appears to be a variant spelling of MacLean or MacLaine, Scottish clan surnames derived from the Gaelic "Mac Gille Eáin," meaning "son of the servant of John." This name carries strong Scottish Highland heritage and might be chosen to honor Scottish ancestry. As a first name, Maclan is extremely uncommon, giving it a distinctive quality while maintaining connections to traditional naming patterns. The name has a strong, masculine sound with its crisp consonants and straightforward pronunciation. The prefix "Mac" clearly signals its Scottish origins, making it appealing for families wishing to emphasize Celtic heritage. Despite its rarity as a first name, its familiar surname elements make it recognizable and pronounceable, offering a balance between uniqueness and accessibility.
- Macarthur
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of Arthur"Description:
The Mc and Mac surnames are asserting themselves as first names and this is among the most usable. MacArthur or McArthur makes a perfect honorific for an ancestral Arthur and leads directly to the nicknames Mac or Art
- Macrae
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of grace"Description:
MacRae -- or McRay or McCrae -- is a Scottish surname-name whose meaning is most often given as son of grace or sometimes son of luck. The hero of Lonesome Dove's last name was McCrae. A good honor name for a Ray or Rae, it can also be shortened to Mac.
- Mccauley
Description:
Mccauley is a masculine name derived from an Irish and Scottish surname, originating from the Gaelic "Mac Amhalghaidh," meaning "son of Amhalghaidh" (an ancient personal name). As a first name, it emerged following the trend of using family surnames as given names, gaining modest recognition in the late 20th century. The name received a boost in visibility through actor Macaulay Culkin's fame in the 1990s, though the spelling Mccauley remains less common than Macaulay. The prefix "Mc" clearly signals its Celtic heritage, giving it a distinctive cultural connection. While never reaching widespread popularity, Mccauley appeals to parents seeking a name with strong Irish or Scottish roots and a confident, distinctive sound. It carries associations of tradition and heritage while maintaining a contemporary edge.
- Mcguire
Description:
Mcguire is a masculine name that originated as an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic 'Mag Uidhir,' meaning 'son of Odhar' or 'son of the pale-colored one.' As a first name, it represents the growing trend of using family surnames as given names. While still uncommon as a first name, Mcguire carries strong Irish cultural connections and projects a bold, distinctive quality. It first appeared as a given name in the late 20th century in the United States but remains rare. The name has associations with loyalty and heritage, often chosen by families with Irish ancestry or those appreciating its strong, masculine sound and unique character.
- Macbeth
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of life"Description:
Although appearing as a patronym (nope, it doesn't mean "son of Elizabeth"), Macbeth originated as a given name. It is derived from the Gaelic MacBeatha, describing a religious man.
- Mackay
Origin:
GaelicMeaning:
"son of Aodh"Description:
MacKay is the Anglicized form of Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh" in Gaelic. Aodh is the origin of names such as Aidan and Hugh, making McKay a subtle way to honor people with those names. It could also work as an alternative for of Mackayla, derived from Michael, or to honor a Kay.
- Mcdermott
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"son of Diarmaid"Description:
McDermott is a common Irish surname that means, as all Mc or Mac names do, "son of" --then Dermott or Dermot, which is an Anglicization of the Irish Gaelic Diarmaid. The legendary Diarmaid was the lover of Grainne and the real King Diarmaid, in the twelfth century, first invited the English into Ireland. Actor Dermot Mulroney made his name famous in the U.S.
- Mclean
Description:
McLean is a masculine name derived from the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Gille Eáin, meaning 'son of the servant of John.' As a first name, it represents the trend of using ancestral surnames as given names, which became increasingly popular from the late 20th century onward. McLean carries strong Scottish heritage connections and projects an intellectual, distinguished quality—possibly influenced by associations with prestigious institutions like McLean Hospital and McLean County in various states. The name remains relatively rare as a first name but has steady usage in families with Scottish ancestry or those appreciating its refined sound. It offers the friendly nickname 'Mac' while maintaining a sophisticated full form. McLean bridges traditional naming conventions with modern surname-as-first-name styling in an understated, elegant way.
- Maclayne
Description:
Maclayne is a distinctive masculine name with Scottish and Gaelic influences. It appears to be a modern compound formation, possibly combining elements of 'Mac' (meaning 'son of' in Gaelic) with 'Layne' or 'Lane.' This creates a name with aristocratic overtones that suggests heritage and lineage. Maclayne has an appealing contemporary sound while maintaining connections to traditional naming patterns. It remains quite uncommon, appealing to parents seeking a masculine name with strength and uniqueness. The name carries a sophisticated quality with its blend of traditional prefix and modern-sounding suffix. Its rarity gives a child named Maclayne a distinctive identity without being unpronounceable or too unusual.
- Macgyver
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"son of Ivor"Description:
The eponymous TV hero has inspired a handful of parents to use his name for their sons. Macgyver first appeared on the charts in 1989, four years after the original television series began.
- Mckay
Origin:
English variation of Mckayla, GaelicMeaning:
"who is like God; son of Aodh"Description:
McKay is the Anglicized form of Mac Aodha, meaning "son of Aodh" in Gaelic. Aodh is the origin of names such as Aidan and Hugh, making McKay a subtle way to honor people with those names.
Alternatively, the name might be a variation of Mckayla, Michaela, and similar, making it a form of Michael, or, it could be translated as "song of Kay".
- Mccarthy
Origin:
Irish surnameMeaning:
"son of Cárthach"Description:
McCarthy is one of the most common Irish surnames, all fair game as first names for American babies, especially baby girls!