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Home › Baby Names Directory › Mckay

Mckay

♂ Boy

Pronounced mə-KY /məˈkaɪ/High

Meaning: From the Scottish/Irish surname MacKay — 'son of Aodh', Aodh being a fire-god/name meaning 'fire'Medium

In 30 seconds: Son of fire: McKay is the Scottish clan surname — 'son of Aodh', the fire-god — turned crisp modern name. Highland strength, a fiery root, and surname-cool style.
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Origin MediumScottish, Irish
MeaningFrom the Scottish/Irish surname MacKay — 'son of Aodh', Aodh being a fire-god/name meaning 'fire'
U.S. rank (2025)#3629 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births31 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1995
Total births (all-time)≈ 2,296

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 199519172025

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

Mckay comes from the Scottish and Irish surname MacKay — Mac Aodh, 'son of Aodh', Aodh being an old Celtic fire-god and a name meaning 'fire'. Clan Mackay is a historic Highland clan; the surname crosses to a strong modern first name.

In the U.S. it appears especially in Latter-day Saint and Scottish-heritage families. Rare, son-of-fire at the root, and surname-strong.

Did you know? The Aodh behind McKay was a Celtic god of fire and the sun — so this clan surname literally means 'son of fire', blazing beneath its everyday sound.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name — Mackay — surname etymology

Variations

MacKayMcKaiMackay

Nicknames

KayMac

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Mckay…

Mckenna— a fellow Mc- surname-name
Keegan— a sister Gaelic-fire name (also 'son of Aodh')
Callum— another strong Scottish favorite
Murray— echoes that soft -ay sound
Braden— the same surname-name feel

Explore names like Mckay

By themesurname-nameirishscottish
By meaningGod / DivineFire

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Mckay mean?

Mckay is a Scottish surname, 'son of Aodh' — the fire-god — so 'son of fire'.

How do you pronounce Mckay?

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

Is Mckay a boy or girl name?

Mckay is mainly a boy's name.

How popular is Mckay?

Mckay is a rare name in the U.S.

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