Holding steady.
Popularity of Macaela since 1981
Babies named Macaela per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 26 |
| 1990s | 118 |
| 2000s | 151 |
| 2010s | 30 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Macaela is a modern feminine name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1981, reflecting late-20th-century trends for creative spellings of established names. It reached its peak popularity in 2002 but has since become less common, with a stable trajectory. The name is almost always given to girls. While its meaning is uncertain, it is widely considered a variant of Michaela, linking it to the Hebrew question 'who is like God?' Macaela's usage has remained modest, never breaking into the top 1000, and it shows no sign of revival, staying a rare choice.
Macaela is a modern English coinage, likely a respelling or variant of Michaela (feminine form of Michael). The name Michael derives from Hebrew מִיכָאֵל (Mikha'el) meaning 'who is like God?' It gained popularity in the United States in the late 20th century, with Macaela first recorded in 1981. The spelling with 'Mac-' may reflect a trend toward creative phonetic variations.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maca, Kayla, Mickey
Sibling names for Macaela
Names that share Macaela's style, for a brother or sister.
