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.