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Mackay

♂ Boy

Pronounced muh-KY /məˈkaɪ/Medium

Meaning: A Scottish surname from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh — 'son of Aodh', a name meaning 'fire'Low

In 30 seconds: Son of Aodh (son of fire): Mackay is Scottish. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'muh-KY').

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Origin LowScottish, Gaelic

MeaningA Scottish surname from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh — 'son of Aodh', a name meaning 'fire'

U.S. rank (2024)#9499 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births8 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 276

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Mackay is a Scottish surname from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh — 'son of Aodh', a name meaning 'fire'. A crisp, classic name (said 'muh-KY').

In the U.S. it appears as a Scottish clan surname-turned-given-name. Rare, son-of-fire at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Mackay is a Scottish surname from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh, 'son of Aodh' (a name meaning 'fire') — a crisp, storied name (said 'muh-KY').

Overall data confidence 38%

References — Mackay — Gaelic Mac Aoidh

Variations

MacKayMcKayMackie

Nicknames

Mac

Famous Bearers

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If you like Mackay…

Mckay— a kin spelling

Mackenzie— a fellow Mac- Scottish name

Macklin— a companion Mac- boys' name

Maddox— a sound-adjacent surname name

Explore names like Mackay

By themesurname-name scottish gaelic

By meaningFire

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mackay mean?

Mackay is a Scottish surname from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh — 'son of Aodh' (a name meaning 'fire').

How do you pronounce Mackay?

It's said muh-KY /məˈkaɪ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Mackay a boy or girl name?

Mackay is a boy's name.

How popular is Mackay?

Mackay is a very rare name in the U.S.