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Mackenna

♀ Girl

Pronounced mah-KEN-ah /məˈkɛn.ə/High

Meaning: From the Scottish Gaelic Mac Cionaodha, meaning son of Cionaodh. Cionaodh means born of fire or born of Aodh (the Celtic fire god).High

In 30 seconds: Mackenna is a fiery Scottish-Gaelic surname name meaning born of fire, made feminine by its flowing three-syllable sound. It has a strong, clan-heritage feel combined with modern approachability.
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Origin HighScottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic
MeaningFrom the Scottish Gaelic Mac Cionaodha, meaning son of Cionaodh. Cionaodh means born of fire or born of Aodh (the Celtic fire god).
U.S. rank (2024)#2990 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births55 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2008
Total births (all-time)≈ 3,612

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200819862024

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

History & Origin

Mackenna comes from the Scottish Gaelic Mac Cionaodha, a clan surname meaning son of Cionaodh. The element Cionaodh (also spelled Kenneth) breaks into *cion* (born of) and *Aodh* (the fire god), making the full meaning born of the fire god.

McKenna and Mackenna have been used as given names in the United States since at least the 1990s, part of the trend for Mc/Mac surname names as first names for girls, alongside Mackenzie and Mckayla. The spelling Mackenna is less common than McKenna but has its own dedicated fan base.

Did you know? The element Aodh at the root of Mackenna was the name of the Celtic fire god — the same root gives us the Irish names Aidan and Hugh, meaning that Mackenna, Aidan, and Hugh share a blazing divine ancestry.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — McKenna — Etymology and historyClan MacKenna history — Scottish Gaelic clan surname background

Variations

McKennaMcKennahMckennaMakenna

Nicknames

MacKennaKenny

Famous Bearers

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If you like Mackenna…

Mckenna— Standard spelling of the same name
Mackenzie— Scottish Mac surname name of the same naming tradition
Kenna— Short form / standalone version of the same second element
Kenya— Similar rhythm and sound as a feminine name
Brenna— Celtic -enna ending girls name with similar feel

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mackenna mean?

Mackenna means born of fire or son of Cionaodh, from the Scottish Gaelic Mac Cionaodha. Cionaodh itself means born of Aodh, the Celtic fire god.

How do you pronounce Mackenna?

Mackenna is pronounced mah-KEN-ah, three syllables with stress on the second: /məˈkɛn.ə/.

Is Mackenna a boy or girl name?

Mackenna is used almost exclusively as a girl's name today, though it originates as a masculine clan surname.

How popular is Mackenna?

Mackenna is less common than McKenna, which has been a top-200 US girls name. Both spellings are recognized.