Mcray
Short and cheery Scottish name derived from the Gaelic "mac raith" meaning "son of grace".
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Mcray. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mcray today is around 87 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mcray births was 1934 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mcray. 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
- • The typical person named Mcray is about 87 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Mcrays were born before 1949.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Mcray. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1934
5 babies that year
Average age
87
years old
1934 SSA rank
#4,026
Tracked since 1934
Popularity
Mcray: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Mcray 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 Mcray during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Mcray
The name Mcray has its origins in the ancient Gaelic language, tracing back to the early medieval period in what is now Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "raith" meaning "grace" or "favor." The name is believed to have originated among Celtic communities in the 6th or 7th century AD.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mcray is found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The entry from the year 845 AD mentions a warrior named Mcray mac Conchobair, suggesting the name was in use among the Gaelic nobility and warrior class during that time. However, its exact origins and meaning remain shrouded in the mists of antiquity.
In the 11th century, a notable figure named Mcray mac Domhnaill is mentioned in the Book of Leinster, an important medieval Irish manuscript. He was a renowned poet and scholar who contributed significantly to the preservation of Gaelic literature and cultural traditions. This record provides evidence of the name's continued use among the learned class of that era.
The name Mcray also appears in various Scottish historical records from the 12th and 13th centuries, indicating its presence among the Gaelic-speaking populations of that region. One notable bearer of the name was Mcray mac Uilleam, a respected clan chieftain and warrior who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.
In more recent times, several individuals with the first name Mcray have achieved recognition in various fields. Mcray Johnstone (1871-1947) was a prominent Scottish painter and artist, known for his landscapes and portraiture. Mcray O'Connell (1901-1985) was an Irish-American author and playwright, celebrated for his works exploring the immigrant experience in the United States.
Additionally, Mcray Macleod (1924-2003) was a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament for over two decades. Mcray Sinclair (1948-2020) was a respected Indigenous rights activist and leader from Australia, who tirelessly advocated for the recognition and preservation of Aboriginal cultures and languages.
While the name Mcray may not be as common today as it once was, it carries a rich historical legacy and a connection to the ancient Celtic roots of Scotland and Ireland. Its enduring presence across centuries serves as a testament to the cultural resilience and linguistic diversity of these regions.
People
Mcray + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mcray 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
Mcray: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mcray?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mcray 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 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Mcray a common name?
We classify Mcray as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mcray most popular?
The single biggest year for Mcray was 1934, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mcray is about 87 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 Mcray in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Mcray a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mcray 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.
Is Mcray still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Mcray 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 Mcray 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 are called Mcray?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.