Makinley
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from Scottish surnames meaning "son of the tallest".
Name Census estimates that about 1,809 living Americans carry the first name Makinley. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Makinley today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Makinley births was 2013 (174 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Makinley. 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
- • Makinley is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 13 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.8K
~ 1 in 189,472 Americans
Peak year
2013
174 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,081
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Makinley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Makinley 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 1,122 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Makinley 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 Makinley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Makinleys live
The SSA's state-level files cover 23 states and territories. Texas, Tennessee, Alabama recorded the most babies named Makinley, while West Virginia, Washington, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 33 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Makinley
The name Makinley is a relatively modern invention, likely originating in the late 20th century. It appears to be an elaboration or variation of the more common name Mackenzie, which has Scottish roots. The prefix "Mac" or "Mc" in Scottish names means "son of," and the name Mackenzie itself means "son of the fair, bright one."
While the name Makinley does not have a documented historical origin, its similarity to Mackenzie suggests it was likely created by parents seeking a more unique or creative version of the traditional Scottish name. The addition of the suffix "-ley" may have been inspired by other popular surnames or place names ending in "-ley," such as Ashley or Bentley.
As a relatively modern name, there are no known historical references or appearances in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, a few notable individuals have borne this name in recent times.
Makinley Burton (born 1997) is an American actress known for her roles in the television series The Byrdes and The Outpost.
Makinley Wlашek (born 2004) is a Canadian child actress who has appeared in various television shows and films, including Supernatural and The Man in the High Castle.
Makinley Hill (born 1991) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender for various teams in the National Women's Soccer League.
Makinley Rice (born 1998) is an American singer and songwriter who rose to prominence as a contestant on the reality singing competition The Voice.
Makinley Butcher (born 1995) is an American artist and illustrator known for her whimsical and vibrant artwork featuring nature and fantasy themes.
While the name Makinley may lack a deep historical lineage, its uniqueness and connection to the Scottish name Mackenzie have contributed to its growing popularity in recent decades, particularly among parents seeking distinctive and creative names for their children.
People
Makinley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Makinley 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
Makinley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Makinley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,809 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Makinley 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 189,472 US residents.
Is Makinley a common name?
We classify Makinley as "Rare". It ranks above 93.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,826 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Makinley most popular?
The single biggest year for Makinley was 2013, when 174 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Makinley is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Makinley a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Makinley 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.