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

Mckinley is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 9,756 recorded births.

When was Mckinley most popular?

Mckinley reached its peak popularity in 2014 with 862 births that year. It is currently ranked #742 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Mckinley?

Mckinley is currently ranked #742 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 12,700 babies since 1978.

Mckinley

A Scottish Gaelic name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysScottish GaelicDeclining Also a pet name

#742▼ 106in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name transferred from the surname.

McKinley is a girl's and boy's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, from the Scottish surname Mac Fionnlaigh meaning 'son of Fionnlagh' — Fionnlagh combining fionn (fair, white) and laogh (warrior) to mean 'fair warrior.' President William McKinley and North America's highest peak, Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), made the name part of American presidential and geographic history.

McKinley has a commanding presence as a given name — presidential, geographical, and Scottish all at once. Its use as a girls' name has grown significantly as parents embrace strong surname names for daughters. The nickname Mac or Kinley keeps it friendly and flexible.

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Popularity Over Time

Mckinley climbed 316 spots in the last 20 years — from #1058 to #742.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Mckinley
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	2,390	#626	▼
2010s	7,218	#444	▲
2000s	2,365	#1047	▲
1990s	633	#3085	▲
1980s	83	#8290	▲
1970s	11	#10248	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(46 years, 1978–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Mckinley
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	378	#742	-82 (-17.8%)
2023	460	#636	+7 (1.5%)
2022	453	#654	-110 (-19.5%)
2021	563	#543	+27 (5.0%)
2020	536	#555	-79 (-12.8%)
2019	615	#513	-103 (-14.3%)
2018	718	#447	-11 (-1.5%)
2017	729	#438	-30 (-4.0%)
2016	759	#428	-101 (-11.7%)
2015	860	#379	-2 (-0.2%)
2014	862	#379	+70 (8.8%)
2013	792	#392	+110 (16.1%)
2012	682	#458	+7 (1.0%)
2011	675	#450	+149 (28.3%)
2010	526	#556	+150 (39.9%)
2009	376	#759	+67 (21.7%)
2008	309	#900	+50 (19.3%)
2007	259	#1023	-15 (-5.5%)
2006	274	#953	+47 (20.7%)
2005	227	#1052	+8 (3.7%)

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

Mckinley as a Boy's Name

Mckinley is a true unisex name. As a boy's name, it has 9,756 recorded births since 1890.

#4380

Current rank

9,756

Total births

1920

Peak year

Compare Mckinley as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Mckinley be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Mckinley is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #742. As a boy's name, it ranks #4380.

Mckinley has two lives

Mckinley, the baby name

#742girls

12,700 babies

Currently viewing

Mckinley, the pet name

#6889pet name

9 pets

View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1978–2024) · Methodology