Mclane
Primarily a boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 127 recorded births. Also given to 15 girls.
Meaning & Origin
Mclane sits in the still in active use zone of American naming: first recorded in 1993, peaking in 1996, with 127 total births across its history.
The open, approachable quality of its ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
In the most recent SSA release, Mclane ranks #11823 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Mclane is a boy's and girl's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, an anglicized form of MacLain or Maclean — from the Scottish Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, meaning 'son of the servant of Saint John.' The McLane/Maclean clan has deep roots in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, centered on the Isle of Mull.
Mclane carries Highland Scottish heritage — the servant of Saint John's descendants, whose clan history spans centuries of Highland warfare, loyalty, and the extraordinary landscape of the Inner Hebrides. A name of Scottish island identity.
EtymologyShow more
Mclane appeared in SSA records in 1993, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Scottish Gaelic roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 127 recorded births, Mclane has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Mclane has 18+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1993.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 18 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 32 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 23 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 54 | — |
The Story of Mclane
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1996, Mclane is a Millennial-era classic. Boys named Mclane are most likely born between 1993 and 2006.
How rare is Mclane?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Mclane — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1993, peaked in the 1990s with 54 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Mclane by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(18 years, 1993–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #11823 |
| 2023 | 6 | #11758 |
| 2022 | 6 | #11794 |
| 2019 | 6 | #11662 |
| 2018 | 8 | #9357 |
| 2017 | 7 | #10407 |
| 2016 | 6 | #11657 |
| 2015 | 5 | #13372 |
| 2008 | 5 | #13908 |
| 2007 | 7 | #10510 |
| 2006 | 5 | #13341 |
| 2005 | 6 | #11009 |
| 1999 | 6 | #9490 |
| 1998 | 9 | #6658 |
| 1997 | 9 | #6434 |
| 1996 | 14 | #4535 |
| 1995 | 10 | #5769 |
| 1993 | 6 | #8324 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Mclane as a Girl's Name
Though more common for boys, Mclane has a notable history as a girl's name too, with 15 births since 2013.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mclane a boy's or girl's name?
When was Mclane most popular?
How popular is the name Mclane?
Can Mclane be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1993–2024