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Home › Baby Names Directory › Mcdonald

Mcdonald

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Mcdonald

Pronounced mik-DON-uld /mɪkˈdɒn.əld/Medium

Meaning: Mcdonald is the Scottish clan surname meaning 'son of Donald'; Donald comes from the Gaelic Domhnall, joining domhan ('world') and val ('rule'), so 'world-ruler.' Used as a first name it honors the family line.Medium

In 30 seconds: Mcdonald is a Scottish surname meaning 'son of Donald,' used as a first name. It stayed rare, peaking early around 1918 (said mik-DON-uld).
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Origin MediumScottish, Gaelic
MeaningMcdonald is the Scottish clan surname meaning 'son of Donald'; Donald comes from the Gaelic Domhnall, joining domhan ('world') and val ('rule'), so 'world-ruler.' Used as a first name it honors the family line.
U.S. rank (2000)#11559 ↘ Falling
2000 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1918
Total births (all-time)≈ 605

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191819132000

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

Mcdonald is one of the great Scottish clan surnames, 'son of Donald,' from the Gaelic Domhnall, 'world-ruler.' As a given name it usually honors a family surname, and it appears mostly in the early twentieth century.

Mcdonald was never common as a first name, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak around 1918, and it stays rare. It carries clear Scottish-heritage weight for the families who chose it.

Did you know? Mcdonald means 'son of Donald,' and Donald itself means 'world-ruler'; Clan Donald is one of the largest of the Scottish Highland clans.
Overall data confidence 55%
References - Mcdonald — Scottish surname 'son of Donald'; Gaelic Domhnall 'world-ruler'

Variations

MacdonaldMcdonnell

Nicknames

MacDonald

Famous Bearers

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If you like Mcdonald…

Donald— the name inside the surname
Donal— the Irish form of Donald
Mckinley— a like Scottish Mc- surname name
Mcarther— shares Mcdonald's Scottish roots
Macallan— a similarly popular pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mcdonald mean?

It is a Scottish surname meaning 'son of Donald'; Donald itself means 'world-ruler.'

How do you pronounce Mcdonald?

It is said mik-DON-uld /mɪkˈdɒn.əld/, three syllables with the stress in the middle.

Is Mcdonald a boy or girl name?

Mcdonald is used as a boy's name.

How popular is Mcdonald?

It has always been rare in the United States as a first name, given to only about twenty boys a year at its peak in the late nineteen-tens.

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