Holding steady.
Popularity of Macdonald since 1915
Babies named Macdonald per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1961, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Macdonald's real moment was 1929.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 10 |
| 1920s | 13 |
| 1930s | 18 |
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 43 |
| 1960s | 37 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Macdonald is a rare given name in the United States, with records indicating its first use as a first name in 1915. Its peak year was 1929, when it saw modest usage, but it has never entered the top 1000 rankings. The name's trajectory has remained stable over the decades, reflecting its status as an uncommon choice, often selected by families with strong Scottish ties. The name is derived from the powerful Scottish Clan Donald, and etymologically means 'son of Donald', a Gaelic patronymic. As a given name, it carries a strong sense of heritage and clan identity, but remains outside mainstream use.
Macdonald is a Scottish patronymic surname derived from the Gaelic Mac Dhomhnaill, meaning 'son of Donald'. The name Donald itself comes from Domhnall, composed of the elements 'domno' (world) and 'val' (rule), thus 'ruler of the world'. Historically, it is the name of one of Scotland's most powerful clans, the Clan Donald, which dominated the Hebrides and parts of the Highlands from the 13th to 15th centuries. As a given name, Macdonald has seen occasional use, often as a nod to Scottish heritage rather than common first-name adoption.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Mac, Don
Variants: McDonald, MacDonell, McDonell
Sibling names for Macdonald
Names that share Macdonald's style, for a brother or sister.
