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Mckinlee
Pronounced mə-KIN-lee /məˈkɪn.li/High
Meaning: From the Scottish-Irish surname McKinley, 'son of Fionnlagh', a Gaelic name meaning 'fair-haired hero' or 'fair warrior'High
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
Mckinlee is a modern respelling of McKinley, the anglicized Gaelic surname Mac Fhionnlaigh, 'son of Fionnlagh' — a personal name combining fionn, 'fair, white', with laoch, 'warrior, hero'. The surname's fame in America flows largely from President William McKinley, and the first-name fashion arrived with the 2000s surname boom.
For daughters, spellings multiplied fast — McKinley, Mckinley, Mckinlee, Makinley — with the -lee forms reading most clearly as feminine. Mckinlee remains a rare, all-American take on a Highland patronymic.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Mckinlee mean?
Mckinlee comes from the Scottish-Irish surname McKinley, 'son of Fionnlagh', a Gaelic name meaning 'fair-haired hero'.
How do you pronounce Mckinlee?
It's said mə-KIN-lee /məˈkɪn.li/ — three syllables, stress on the second.
Is Mckinlee a boy or girl name?
Mckinlee is used today mainly as a girl's name.
How popular is Mckinlee?
Mckinlee is a rare spelling in the U.S.; McKinley is the more familiar form.