Unisex name · Scottish Gaelic
Mackenzie
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: son of the handsome oneMackenzie is a gender-neutral name that comes from a Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of the handsome one". It is used in English and Scottish.
- Meaning
- Son of the handsome one
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #228 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Mackenzie
As a gender-neutral name, Mackenzie comes from a Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of the handsome one". It is used in English and Scottish.
In Scottish Gaelic, say ma-KEN-zee. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Mackenzie is also a surname: the 2,621st most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 13,446 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Mackenzie on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Mackenzie on 3 lists.
“From Mac Coinnich, son of the handsome one; mostly a girls' name in the US. Say ma-KEN-zee.”
From Scottish boy names, scottish clan and surname names for boys
“From Mac Coinnich, son of Coinneach, the handsome one. Say ma-KEN-zee.”
From Scottish girl names, scottish place and clan names for girls
“Son of Coinneach, comely or handsome; Ross-shire chiefs”
From Scottish last names, highland Mac clan names
How popular is Mackenzie?
In 2025, 1,343 girls and 99 boys in the US were named Mackenzie.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #228
- 1,343 babies, 836 per million girls
- Best rank
- #40 in 2001
- 6,934 babies that year
- Babies since 1973
- At least 141,274
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 54 per million |
| 1980s | 268 per million |
| 1990s | 1,932 per million |
| 2000s | 2,953 per million |
| 2010s | 2,016 per million |
| 2020s | 1,153 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #85 | #100 | #106 | #111 | #119 | #123 | #142 | #167 | #200 | #228 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,671
- 99 babies, 58 per million boys
- Best rank
- #366 in 1994
- 648 babies that year
- Babies since 1974
- At least 7,861
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 11 per million |
| 1980s | 72 per million |
| 1990s | 232 per million |
| 2000s | 52 per million |
| 2010s | 18 per million |
| 2020s | 44 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,852 | #3,288 | #3,281 | #2,749 | #2,681 | #2,247 | #2,053 | #1,821 | #1,870 | #1,671 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Mackenzie
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- KenzieSon of the handsome one (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
Names with a similar meaning
- HassanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- KennethAnglicized Coinneach, handsome, and Cináed, perhaps born of fire (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- BeauHandsome, beautiful (French, boy)
- JunTalented, handsome (depends on characters) (Chinese, boy)
- CoinneachHandsome (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- HasanHandsome, good (Arabic, boy)
- HosseinLittle handsome one (Arabic, boy)
- HüseyinLittle handsome one (Arabic, boy)
- HusseinLittle handsome one (Arabic, boy)
- IorwerthHandsome lord (Welsh, boy)
Middle names for Mackenzie
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More names from Scottish Gaelic
- MurielBright sea (Scottish Gaelic, girl)
- AngusOne strength (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- BlairPlain, field (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- BowieYellow (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CameronCrooked nose (Scottish Gaelic, unisex)
- CampbellCrooked mouth (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- ColinWhelp, young dog (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- CraigRock, crag (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonaldWorld ruler (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
- DonnchadhBrown warrior (Scottish Gaelic, boy)
Mackenzie: common questions
What does the name Mackenzie mean?
Mackenzie comes from a Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of the handsome one".
Is Mackenzie a boy or girl name?
Mackenzie is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,343 girls and 99 boys in the US were named Mackenzie, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Mackenzie come from?
Mackenzie comes from a Scottish Gaelic surname meaning "son of the handsome one". Today it is used in English and Scottish.
How popular is the name Mackenzie?
Mackenzie ranked #228 in the US in 2025, with 1,343 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Mackenzie?
Forms of Mackenzie with the same meaning and origin include Kenzie (English).
What middle names go with Mackenzie?
Middle names that flow well with Mackenzie include Anne, Faith, Honor, Jean and Joan. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.