How Many People Are Named Macdonald?

Complete statistics for the name Macdonald: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Macdonald
Uncommon
Scottish surname

Macdonald means 'son of Donald' and is incredibly rare, with only 1 in 3,804,285 Americans bearing this name. That's just 87 people today, making it a very exclusive choice. The name peaked in popularity back in 1961, but it's remained stable since then.

~45,126
Living in US
1 in 7,345
Americans
1961
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Son of Donald
🌐
Origin
Scottish surname
🌟
Lucky Day
Wednesday
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 4
Personality Traits
Dignified Traditional Strong
4
Life Path Number

Traditionally, life-path number 4 symbolizes stability and hard work.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

88,517
Worldwide Bearers
#11,344
Global Rank
🇳🇬 Nigeria
61,985
🇲🇼 Malawi
13,960
🇿🇦 South Africa
3,275
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
2,187
🇬🇭 Ghana
1,405
🇰🇪 Kenya
1,280
🇿🇲 Zambia
828
🇹🇿 Tanzania
553
🇺🇸 United States
476
🇨🇲 Cameroon
364

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
87 (100%)
♀ Female
0 (0%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 74
5
Would be under 30 (3%)
10
Would be 30–60 (6%)
139
Would be over 60 (90%)

All 154 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1961

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Stable

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
63
Classic Feel
48
Modern Appeal
52
International
99

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Macdonald Through the Generations

Macdonald has been a name passed down through generations, with its roots firmly planted in history. Over the years, it's seen a steady decline in usage, with only 154 total births recorded throughout American history. Today, most people named Macdonald are over 60, with just a handful under 30, indicating a strong generational skew. its rarity, it's a name that bridges classic and modern sensibilities, offering a timeless appeal.

✨ Similar Names to Macdonald

📄 About the Name Macdonald

How Many People Have the Name Macdonald?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 45,126 people in the United States currently share the name Macdonald. That works out to roughly 1 in every 7,345 Americans, placing it in the Uncommon category.

Is Macdonald a Common or Rare Name?

Macdonald is classified as Uncommon. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Macdonald Mean?

Macdonald means "son of Donald" and comes from Scottish surname origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 4.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Macdonald in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.

When Was Macdonald Most Popular?

The name Macdonald reached peak popularity in 1961, with 9 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Macdonald?

Approximately 45,126 people named Macdonald live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 45,126. That works out to roughly 1 in 7,345 Americans.

Is Macdonald a rare name?

Macdonald is classified as Uncommon in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 7,345 Americans has this name.

What does the name Macdonald mean?

Macdonald means "son of Donald" and comes from Scottish surname origins.

Is Macdonald more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Macdonald are male and 0% are female.

When was Macdonald most popular?

Macdonald peaked in 1961 with 9 births that year. Current trend: Stable.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US45,126
All-Time Births45,126
1 in X1 in 7,345
RarityUncommon
GenderMale
Avg Age74
Peak Year1961
World Rank#11,344
Male %100%
Female %0%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.