Macoy
A masculine name of Scottish origin representing one from the clan Mackay.
Name Census estimates that about 524 living Americans carry the first name Macoy. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Macoy today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Macoy births was 2020 (36 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Macoy. 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
524
~ 1 in 654,111 Americans
Peak year
2020
36 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,328
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Macoy: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Macoy from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 242 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Macoy remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Macoy 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 Macoy 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 Macoy
The name Macoy is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic language. It is thought to be a diminutive form of the name Muireach, which means "descendant of the sea." This suggests that the name may have been used by Scottish clans or families with a strong maritime heritage or connection to coastal regions.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Macoy can be found in the 16th century Scottish Highlands. A figure named Macoy of Clan MacGregor was mentioned in historical records from this time period, though specific details about this individual are scarce.
In the late 18th century, a man named Macoy Drummond was born in the Scottish Lowlands. He later became a renowned physician and was credited with pioneering medical practices that improved the health and well-being of many communities in his region.
During the 19th century, the name Macoy gained some prominence in the United States. Macoy McDermott, born in 1832 in Virginia, was a notable figure in the American Civil War. He served as a Union Army officer and was recognized for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Macoy was Sir Macoy Llewelyn, a Welsh explorer and adventurer who lived from 1867 to 1942. He is renowned for his daring expeditions to remote regions of the world and his contributions to the field of geography and cartography.
In the early 20th century, Macoy Tyner, born in 1938, became a highly acclaimed American jazz pianist and composer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the development of modern jazz, and his innovative playing style has inspired countless musicians.
While the name Macoy is not as common as some other given names, it has a rich history and has been borne by several remarkable individuals throughout the ages. Its origins can be traced back to the Scottish Gaelic language, and it has been associated with themes of maritime heritage, bravery, exploration, and artistic expression.
People
Macoy + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Macoy 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
Macoy: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Macoy?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 524 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Macoy 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 654,111 US residents.
Is Macoy a common name?
We classify Macoy as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 529 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Macoy most popular?
The single biggest year for Macoy was 2020, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Macoy is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Macoy a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Macoy in the SSA data are male. 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.