NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Mackayla

From the Gaelic name "Mairearad", meaning "child of light".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Mackayla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mackayla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4764, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 4 births.

This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2007 to 2011. 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.

Mackayla is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Mackayla. 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 2012 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Mackayla ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2011, when 4 girls were registered as Mackayla.
  • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mackayla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4764

2011

Births in 2011

4

Latest year

Peak year

2011

4 births

Estimated living

7

2026

Meaning

What does Mackayla mean?

The given name Mackayla is a relatively modern name with roots tracing back to the Gaelic language. It is a feminine form of the Scottish name Mackay, which originated as a surname derived from the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "aidh" meaning "fire" or "blaze." Therefore, Mackayla can be interpreted to mean "daughter of the fiery one" or "daughter of the blazing one."

The earliest recorded use of the name Mackayla dates back to the late 20th century, likely emerging as a creative spelling variation of the more traditional Scottish name Mackay. While the name itself does not have a long historical lineage, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic culture and language of Scotland.

In terms of notable historical figures bearing the name Mackayla, there are relatively few due to its modern nature. However, some individuals of note include:

1. Mackayla Joy Carter (born 1994), an American child actress known for her roles in films such as "The Blind Side" and "The Descendants." 2. Mackayla Maroney (born 1995), an American former artistic gymnast who won a gold medal as part of the United States women's gymnastics team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. 3. Mackayla Jayde (born 1998), an Australian singer-songwriter and actress who rose to prominence as a contestant on the reality competition show "The X Factor" in 2015. 4. Mackayla Kyla (born 1996), an American independent singer-songwriter and YouTuber known for her acoustic covers and original compositions. 5. Mackayla Pauley (born 1997), an American professional soccer player who currently plays as a defender for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women's Soccer League.

While the name Mackayla may not have a long and storied history, its Gaelic roots and modern popularity have contributed to its growing presence in recent decades. As a name with a strong and fiery meaning, it has become a unique and distinctive choice for parents seeking a feminine name with a touch of Scottish heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mackayla over time

The chart below shows babies named Mackayla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2011. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Mackayla, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2011, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mackayla
01234200720092011

Decades

Mackayla by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mackayla 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 #4764 4 1
2000s #5201 3 1

Related

Names similar to Mackayla

FAQ

Mackayla: questions and answers

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

In 2011, Mackayla was ranked #4764 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Mackayla most popular?

The peak year on record was 2011, with 4 babies registered as Mackayla in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mackayla?

From the Gaelic name "Mairearad", meaning "child of light".

How many people are called Mackayla in the UK?

A total of 7 babies have been registered as Mackayla across the 2 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.