Mackenzi
A feminine name of Scottish origin meaning "born of the fire".
Name Census estimates that about 2,014 living Americans carry the first name Mackenzi. It is a predominantly female name (99.5% of registrations). The average person named Mackenzi today is around 23 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mackenzi births was 2003 (105 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mackenzi. 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.
People living today
2.0K
~ 1 in 170,186 Americans
Peak year
2003
105 babies that year
Average age
23
years old
1989 SSA rank
#4,699
Tracked since 1978
Gender
Gender distribution for Mackenzi
Out of the 2,055 babies given the name Mackenzi since 1880, 99.5% were registered as female. The name sits firmly on the female side of the spectrum, with only a handful of male registrations across the entire dataset.
Mackenzi as a male name
- Ranked #4,699 in 1989
- 11 male births in 1989
- Peak: 1989 (11 births)
Mackenzi as a female name
- Ranked #9,948 in 2024
- 10 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2003 (105 births)
Popularity
Mackenzi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mackenzi from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 864 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mackenzi 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 Mackenzi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mackenzis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 19 states and territories. Texas, Ohio, New York recorded the most babies named Mackenzi, while Wisconsin, Utah, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 32 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Mackenzi
The name Mackenzi is a variation of the Scottish surname Mackenzie, which is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cendaigh" meaning "chisholm" or "bright". The name has its origins in the Scottish Highlands, where the Clan Mackenzie was one of the most powerful and influential clans in the region.
In the 12th century, the Mackenzies were granted lands in Ross-shire by the Scottish king and became known as the "Lords of Kintail". The name Mackenzi first appeared in historical records around this time, with one of the earliest recorded instances being a charter from the year 1263 that mentions a "Kennache Mackenzi".
During the Wars of Scottish Independence in the 13th and 14th centuries, the Mackenzies played a significant role in supporting Robert the Bruce, and their loyalty was rewarded with additional lands and titles. One notable figure from this period was Iona Mackenzi, a female warrior who fought alongside her husband in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
In the 16th century, the Mackenzies continued to gain prominence, with John Mackenzi (1510-1556) serving as a member of the Scottish Parliament and playing a key role in the Reformation. Another notable figure was Kenneth Mackenzi (1570-1630), a poet and scholar who wrote extensively about the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands.
The name Mackenzi also has connections to the Church of Scotland, with several clergymen bearing the name throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. One example is William Mackenzi (1665-1728), a Presbyterian minister who was known for his eloquent sermons and writings on theology.
In more recent times, the name Mackenzi has been used as a feminine given name, often spelled with variations such as Mackenzie or McKenzie. Some notable individuals with this name include Mackenzie Phillips (b. 1959), an American actress and singer, and Mackenzie Dern (b. 1993), a Brazilian-American mixed martial artist.
Overall, the name Mackenzi has a rich history rooted in the Scottish Highlands, with connections to influential clans, historical events, and cultural traditions. It has been borne by warriors, poets, clergymen, and modern-day celebrities, reflecting its enduring popularity and significance across various eras and societies.
People
Mackenzi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mackenzi 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
Mackenzi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mackenzi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,014 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mackenzi 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 170,186 US residents.
Is Mackenzi a common name?
We classify Mackenzi as "Rare". It ranks above 93.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,055 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mackenzi most popular?
The single biggest year for Mackenzi was 2003, when 105 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mackenzi is about 23 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mackenzi a female name?
Yes, 99.5% of people registered as Mackenzi 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.
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.