Mcarthur

A boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 2,275 recorded U.S. births.

Boy's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

At 8 letters and two syllables, Mcarthur is a longer name that carries presence on a page and formality in full, while likely inviting a natural nickname in daily life. It has been used as a boy's name in the U.S. since 1912, with 2,275 total recorded births.

Mcarthur is not in the current top 1,000, which means your child is unlikely to share the name with a classmate — a plus for parents who value distinctiveness.

Mcarthur is not in the current top 1,000 boy names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

McArthur is a boy's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, from the clan surname meaning 'son of Arthur,' with Arthur possibly derived from the Celtic artos meaning 'bear.' The name carries the legacy of General Douglas MacArthur, one of America's most decorated military commanders of the 20th century.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Mcarthur's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Mcarthur follows that masculine pattern.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Mcarthur's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

2,275

Total births

Since 1912

1942

Peak

290 births

1912

First recorded

112 years of data

Compare Mcarthur with another name

Popularity Over Time

Mcarthur has 80+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1912.

First appeared: 1912Peak: 1942 (290 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Mcarthur
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	13	#11510	▼
2010s	38	#10334	▼
2000s	56	#9970	▼
1990s	96	#6917	▼
1980s	156	#3255	▼
1970s	216	#2325	▼
1960s	323	#1427	▼
1950s	365	#1364	▼
1940s	980	#1008	▲
1930s	19	#3408	▲
1910s	13	#3094	—

The Story of Mcarthur

A Silent Generation name

Peaking in 1942, Mcarthur is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Mcarthur are most likely born between 1932 and 1952.

How rare is Mcarthur?

With 2,275 total births on record, Mcarthur remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1912, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1940s with 980 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Mcarthur by the numbers

Would fill 47 school buses
Meeting one Mcarthur per day would take 6.2 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(80 years, 1912–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Mcarthur
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	5	#13471	-3 (-37.5%)
2022	8	#9548	+3 (60.0%)
2015	5	#13365	-3 (-37.5%)
2014	8	#9337	-4 (-33.3%)
2013	12	#6887	+5 (71.4%)
2011	7	#10378	+1 (16.7%)
2010	6	#11703	0
2007	6	#11861	-3 (-33.3%)
2006	9	#8506	+3 (50.0%)
2005	6	#11005	+1 (20.0%)
2004	5	#12566	0
2003	5	#12101	-5 (-50.0%)
2002	10	#6875	+3 (42.9%)
2001	7	#8912	-1 (-12.5%)
2000	8	#7937	+3 (60.0%)
1999	5	#11004	-1 (-16.7%)
1998	6	#9235	-4 (-40.0%)
1997	10	#5942	+5 (100.0%)
1996	5	#9999	-1 (-16.7%)
1995	6	#8506	-5 (-45.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mcarthur a boy's or girl's name?

Mcarthur is primarily a boy's name.

When was Mcarthur most popular?

Mcarthur reached its peak popularity in 1942 with 290 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Mcarthur?

Mcarthur is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 2,275 babies in the U.S. since 1912. Its peak was in 1942.

Explore More

By Length8-letter names By OriginScottish Gaelic names By EndingNames in -r TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1912–2023