Mckinsey

Meaning & origin

Mckinsey is a modern feminine given name that emerged in the United States in the late 20th century. First recorded in 1979, it gained traction during the 1990s and early 2000s, peaking in popularity in 2006. Since 2005, its usage has been in steady decline. The name is a respelling of the Scottish surname McKinsey, itself a variant of MacKenzie. While it has never ranked among the top 1000 names, it reflects the trend of transforming surnames into distinctive first names. The spelling with 'Mc' and 'sey' sets it apart from the more common 'Mackenzie.' Mckinsey remains a rare name with no recorded top states of common use.

Mckinsey is a modern feminine spelling variant of the Scottish surname McKinsey, which is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Coinnich, meaning 'son of Coinneach.' Coinneach is a personal name meaning 'fair one' or 'handsome,' often associated with 'warrior.' The surname was traditionally borne by a Scottish clan. The respelling with 'Mc' rather than 'Mac' and the substitution of 'sey' for 'zie' likely arose to create a distinctive feminine given name, particularly in the United States from the late 20th century.