Find out how popular the first name Mckenzie has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Mckenzie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Mckenzie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 97% of people named Mckenzie being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 707 female babies and 7 male babies born with the name Mckenzie.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 7 baby boys were named Mckenzie in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Mckenzie

The name Mckenzie has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It derives from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "cuinn" meaning "fair" or "bright." The name was initially a patronymic surname, referring to a son of someone named Cuinn.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in the form of "Makennedy" in Scotland. Over time, it evolved into various spellings such as Mckennedy, Makkenzy, and eventually, Mckenzie. The name was particularly prevalent among Scottish clans, especially the Clan Mackenzie, which had a significant presence in the Scottish Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mckenzie can be found in the 14th century, when Kenneth Mckenzie (c. 1350-1418) was a prominent Scottish nobleman and chief of the Clan Mackenzie. He played a crucial role in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, where he led his clan against the forces of Lord Donald of the Isles.

Another notable bearer of the name was Sir George Mckenzie (1636-1691), a Scottish lawyer, writer, and advocate. He served as Lord Advocate of Scotland and was a prominent figure in the legal and political spheres of his time.

In the realm of literature, Mckenzie Porter (1853-1920) was an American novelist and short story writer known for her works depicting life in the American South during the late 19th century.

The name Mckenzie also gained recognition in the field of sports. Mckenzie Milton (born 1997) is an American football quarterback who played for the University of Central Florida and was drafted by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the 2020 XFL Draft.

Another notable figure was Mckenzie Wark (born 1961), an Australian scholar, writer, and theorist known for his work in media studies, critical theory, and cultural studies.

While the name Mckenzie has Scottish roots, it has gained popularity worldwide and is now used across various cultures and regions. However, it remains closely associated with its Scottish heritage and the rich history of the Clan Mackenzie.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Mckenzie was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mckenzie, please contact us.

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