Macayle
A derivation of the Scottish surname Mackail, from Gaelic meaning "son of the blind person".
Name Census estimates that about 60 living Americans carry the first name Macayle. It is a predominantly female name (91.8% of registrations). The average person named Macayle today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Macayle births was 2005 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Macayle. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Macayle. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
60
~ 1 in 5,712,572 Americans
Peak year
2005
9 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2011 SSA rank
#13,574
Tracked since 2001
Gender
Gender distribution for Macayle
Macayle leans heavily female at 91.8% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Macayle as a male name
- Ranked #13,574 in 2011
- 5 male births in 2011
- Peak: 2011 (5 births)
Macayle as a female name
- Ranked #14,064 in 2013
- 7 female births in 2013
- Peak: 2005 (9 births)
Popularity
Macayle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Macayle from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 35 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Macayle remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Macayle by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Macayle during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Macayle
The name Macayle is a unique and intriguing one with roots that can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic language. Its origins lie in the regions of Scotland and Ireland, where it was once a common name among the Celtic tribes. The name is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "mac," which means "son," combined with the name "Ayle" or "Aila," which may have been a personal name or a reference to a particular place or geographical feature.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Macayle can be found in the ancient Irish manuscript known as the Annals of the Four Masters, which dates back to the 17th century. In this historical record, there is a reference to a man named Macayle O'Donnell, who was a prominent figure in the O'Donnell clan and played a significant role in the conflicts between the Irish clans and the English forces during the 16th century.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Macayle. One such person was Macayle MacGregor, a Scottish warrior who lived in the 15th century and was known for his fierce loyalty to his clan and his prowess on the battlefield. Another prominent figure was Macayle O'Brien, an Irish poet and scholar who lived in the 17th century and was renowned for his powerful and evocative writings.
In the realm of literature, the name Macayle gained further recognition through the works of the renowned Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. In his novel "Waverley," published in 1814, one of the central characters is a Highland chief named Macayle Dhu, whose bravery and honor are celebrated throughout the story.
Moving into more recent times, the name Macayle has been carried by several distinguished individuals. One such person was Macayle Ferguson, a Scottish engineer who lived in the late 19th century and made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and other mechanical innovations.
Another notable figure was Macayle O'Connell, an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives in the early 20th century and was a vocal advocate for Irish-American rights and interests.
While the name Macayle may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and cultural significance remain a testament to the enduring legacy of the Gaelic and Celtic traditions. Its unique sound and ancient roots make it a name that continues to capture the imagination and evoke a sense of mystery and intrigue.
People
Macayle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Macayle as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Macayle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Macayle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 60 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Macayle going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 5,712,572 US residents.
Is Macayle a common name?
We classify Macayle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 57.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 61 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Macayle most popular?
The single biggest year for Macayle was 2005, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Macayle is about 19 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Macayle in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Macayle a female name?
Yes, 91.8% of people registered as Macayle in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Macayle still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Macayle in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Macayle can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Macayle as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.