Mac Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Mac is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Mac?
Mac is spelled M-A-C. The name has 3 letters.
Mac at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Mac is derived from a Gaelic word meaning “son.”
- Origin
- Mac is commonly used as a prefix in Gaelic surnames to indicate “son of”. It is also used as a standalone given name.
- Pronunciation
- mak · 1 syllable
Mac Popularity in 2025
Rank#14,942
Recorded Births5
Rank#695
Recorded Births390
- Girls usage fell 4,630 places to #14,942 and recorded 4 fewer births compared with 2023.
- Boys usage held steady at #695 and recorded 1 more birth compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Mac Mean?
Mac is derived from a Gaelic word meaning “son.”
Origin: Mac is commonly used as a prefix in Gaelic surnames to indicate “son of”. It is also used as a standalone given name.
How Do You Pronounce Mac?
Pronunciationmak
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Mac?
- History
- The use of Mac as a prefix in surnames is rooted in Scottish and Irish naming traditions. It has sometimes been adopted as a given name in English-speaking countries.
Mac Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2006 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 5 | #14,942 |
| 2025 | Boys | 390 | #695 |
| 2024 | Boys | 389 | #695 |
| 2023 | Girls | 9 | #10,312 |
| 2023 | Boys | 417 | #656 |
| 2022 | Girls | 5 | #15,306 |
| 2022 | Boys | 465 | #605 |
| 2021 | Boys | 401 | #673 |
| 2020 | Girls | 5 | #15,088 |
| 2020 | Boys | 237 | #934 |
| 2019 | Boys | 254 | #868 |
| 2018 | Boys | 206 | #1,005 |
| 2017 | Boys | 185 | #1,066 |
| 2016 | Boys | 174 | #1,121 |
| 2015 | Boys | 177 | #1,096 |
| 2014 | Boys | 163 | #1,158 |
| 2013 | Boys | 159 | #1,141 |
| 2012 | Boys | 147 | #1,212 |
| 2011 | Boys | 110 | #1,476 |
| 2010 | Boys | 116 | #1,425 |
| 2009 | Boys | 99 | #1,604 |
| 2008 | Boys | 86 | #1,752 |
| 2007 | Boys | 86 | #1,728 |
| 2006 | Boys | 77 | #1,790 |
When Was Mac Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2022 · Boys
465 recorded births
National rank #605
2023 · Boys
417 recorded births
National rank #656
2021 · Boys
401 recorded births
National rank #673
1942 · Boys
398 recorded births
National rank #308
Where Mac Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #318 | 17 |
| UT | #327 | 14 |
| IA | #379 | 9 |
| NE | #432 | 5 |
| CT | #440 | 6 |
| MN | #446 | 12 |
| MI | #487 | 17 |
| AR | #489 | 6 |