NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Macauly

A masculine name of Scottish origin meaning "son of the unseeing or blind man".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2012. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Macauly is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Macauly popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3416, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 26 births.

This profile covers 100 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1996 to 2012. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 99 living people in the UK are called Macauly. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2013 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Macauly ranked #3416 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 5 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 26 boys were registered as Macauly.
  • About 99 living people in the UK are estimated to have Macauly as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3416

2012

Births in 2012

5

Latest year

Peak year

1996

26 births

Estimated living

99

2026

Meaning

What does Macauly mean?

The name Macauly has its origins in the Gaelic language, specifically the Scottish Gaelic variation, and can be traced back to medieval times. It is derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "Aulay" which is a diminutive form of the name Olaf or Olave. The name Olaf itself is of Old Norse origin, meaning "ancestor's descendant" or "heir to an inheritance."

In ancient Scottish history, the name Macauly was associated with the Clan MacAulay, a Highland Scottish clan that held lands in the area of Argyll and the Hebrides islands. The earliest recorded use of the name Macauly dates back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various Scottish charters and records.

One of the earliest notable figures to bear the name Macauly was Aulay MacAulay (c. 1300-1380), a Scottish warrior and chieftain of the Clan MacAulay. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against the English, fighting alongside Robert the Bruce.

Another historical figure with the name Macauly was Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859), a British historian, essayist, and politician. He is best known for his extensive historical writings, particularly his "History of England" and his critical essays on literature.

In the literary world, Thomas Macaulay (1917-2003) was an American novelist and playwright, best known for his works such as "The Cuckoo's Child" and "The Waking Dream."

In the field of music, Macaulay Culkin (born 1980) is an American actor and musician, famous for his roles in the "Home Alone" movie series and his work with the band, The Pizza Underground.

Another notable figure with the name Macauly is Macaulay Amechi Chrisantus Okeke (born 1948), a Nigerian civil servant and administrator who served as the Governor of Anambra State from 1986 to 1993.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Macauly over time

The chart below shows babies named Macauly registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Macauly, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2012, compared with 26 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Macauly
07132026199620042012

Decades

Macauly by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Macauly was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #4047 8 2
2000s #2906 34 6
1990s #1068 58 4

Related

Names similar to Macauly

FAQ

Macauly: questions and answers

How popular is the name Macauly in the UK right now?

In 2012, Macauly was ranked #3416 for boys in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.

When was Macauly most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 26 babies registered as Macauly in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Macauly?

A masculine name of Scottish origin meaning "son of the unseeing or blind man".

How many people are called Macauly in the UK?

A total of 100 babies have been registered as Macauly across the 12 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.