Maclin

Meaning & origin

Maclin is a modern masculine given name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1996, just before the turn of the millennium. It reached its peak popularity in 2018, and has since been on a gradual decline, with a trajectory of falling usage from 2019 onward. Despite its rarity (about 1 in 65,695 boys in 2025), it has maintained a consistent presence in the naming landscape. The name's origins are uncertain, but it is often considered a surname-turned-first-name, possibly derived from Irish or Scottish roots. Maclin has never appeared in the top states list, indicating its usage is spread thinly across the country. Its modern, surname-style quality aligns with trends favoring last names as first names, and it offers a fresh alternative to more common choices like Macklin or McKinley.

Maclin is a modern given name that likely derives from the Irish or Scottish surname Mac Glinn or McGlin, meaning 'son of Glinn'. It emerged as a first name in the late 20th century, possibly influenced by the -lin suffix popular in modern coinages. The name has seen modest use in the United States since the 1990s.