Middle Names, Surnames, and Nicknames
By Sophie Kihm · Updated September 2026
Across 7 pages
of 7
Irish surname
"son of Cárthach"
McCarthy is one of a wave of new Irish surname-names, one of the most popular last names of Irish origin now translated to a first name. Mac is an attractive nickname.
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…
Mcconnal is a masculine surname-turned-first name with Scottish and Irish Gaelic origins. Derived from 'Mac Dhomhnaill,' meaning 'son of Donald,' it belongs to the category of patronymic names that…
McCormac is a masculine given name derived from the Irish surname meaning "son of Cormac." The original Gaelic name Cormac translates to "charioteer" or "son of defilement." As a first name, McCormac…
McCormack is primarily a surname of Irish origin that has occasionally been adopted as a masculine given name. Derived from the Gaelic 'Mac Cormaic,' meaning 'son of Cormac,' it has deep roots in…
Gaelic
"son of Hugh"
This surname was used by Grant Show and Katherine La Nasa for their daughter Eloise's middle.
Mcdermot is a masculine name derived from the Irish surname McDermott or MacDermott, which itself comes from the Gaelic "Mac Diarmada," meaning "son of Diarmaid." Diarmaid (or Dermot) was a popular…
Irish
"son of Diarmaid"
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…
McDonald is primarily known as a Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic 'MacDhòmhnaill,' meaning 'son of Donald.' Donald itself comes from the Gaelic name Dòmhnall, composed of the elements 'domno'…
McDonnell is a masculine name that originated as a Scottish and Irish surname meaning 'son of Donald' or 'son of Donal.' It belongs to one of the oldest and most powerful Gaelic clans, with roots…
McDougal is a masculine name derived from Scottish and Irish patronymic surnames. It originated from the Gaelic "Mac Dhùghaill," meaning "son of Dougal" or "son of the dark stranger." This name…
McDuff is a masculine surname-turned-first-name with Scottish Gaelic origins. Derived from "mac Dhuibh" meaning "son of Duff" or "son of the dark one," it carries strong historical significance in…
Scottish
"hound of the promontory"
Scottish and Irish Mac and Mc surnames are definitely up for consideration, and this one has sports cred via its link to tennis champ John. It was one of the fastest-rising names on Nameberry in…
Mceuan is an unusual masculine name that appears to be a modern variant spelling of McEwan or MacEwan, traditional Scottish surnames. The prefix 'Mc' or 'Mac' traditionally means 'son of' in Gaelic,…
"son of Ewan"
Shows some promise via its connection to the growing interest in Ewan.
McEwen is a masculine name of Scottish origin that began as a surname meaning 'son of Ewen' or 'son of Eugene.' The Gaelic name Ewen (Eóghan) means 'born of the yew tree' or 'youth.' As part of the…
Mcgee is primarily known as a surname of Irish and Scottish Gaelic origin, derived from 'Mac Aoidh,' meaning 'son of Aodh' (an ancient name meaning 'fire'). Its use as a first name is quite uncommon…
McGeorge is a masculine name that originated as a Scottish and Irish surname, combining the Gaelic prefix 'Mac' meaning 'son of' with 'George,' which derives from Greek 'georgos' meaning 'farmer' or…
Irish and Scottish surname
"son of the foreigner"
Despite its appearance, McGill is not related to any of the Gil- names, including Gilbert, Gilford, and Gilson. The "gill" piece is derived from the Gaelic word gall , meaning "foreigner." Yet, it…
