UK girl's name
Mackenna
A feminine given name of Scottish origin meaning "born of sweetness or tenderness".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mackenna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mackenna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4684, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 6 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2001 to 2014. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 67% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 24 living people in the UK are called Mackenna. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mackenna ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 6 girls were registered as Mackenna.
- • Mackenna ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
- • About 24 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mackenna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4684
2014
Births in 2014
4
Latest year
Peak year
2002
6 births
Estimated living
24
2026
Meaning
What does Mackenna mean?
The name Mackenna has its origins in the Gaelic language, stemming from the combination of the prefix "mac" meaning "son of" and the name "Cionnath," which is derived from the Old Irish word "cenn" meaning "chief" or "leader." This name was prevalent among clans in Scotland and Ireland during the medieval period, particularly in the Scottish Highlands and the northern regions of Ireland.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mackenna can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, dating back to the 12th century. This historical record mentions a MacCionnaith clan, which is believed to be an early variation of the name Mackenna.
In the 16th century, a notable figure named Mackenna Og led a rebellion against the English forces in Ireland, displaying the significance of this name among Irish clans during that era. Another prominent individual named Mackenna was Sir John Mackenna, an Irish military officer who served in the Spanish Army of Flanders during the Eighty Years' War in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
Moving forward, the name Mackenna gained recognition in the literary world with the Irish writer and playwright St. John Mackenna (1856-1919), who was known for his works on Irish culture and mythology. Additionally, Sir Joseph Nathaniel Mackenna (1903-1984) was a prominent jurist and legal scholar from South Africa.
Another notable figure was John Mackenna (1808-1888), an Irish-born journalist and newspaper editor who played a significant role in shaping public opinion during the 19th century in the United States. Furthermore, the name Mackenna has been associated with several religious figures, including Reverend Mackenna, a Catholic priest who served as a chaplain in the American Civil War during the 1860s.
Throughout history, the name Mackenna has held a strong presence, particularly in regions where Gaelic culture and traditions were deeply rooted. Its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, and it has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including military leaders, writers, jurists, and religious figures, leaving an indelible mark on various aspects of society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mackenna over time
The chart below shows babies named Mackenna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mackenna, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2014, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mackenna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mackenna 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 | #4684 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3176 | 14 | 3 |
Geography
Where Mackenna is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Mackenna. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Mackenna ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
Across the UK
Mackenna in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#760 in 2022
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Mackenna
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Mackenna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mackenna in the UK right now?
In 2014, Mackenna was ranked #4684 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Mackenna most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 6 babies registered as Mackenna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mackenna?
A feminine given name of Scottish origin meaning "born of sweetness or tenderness".
How many people are called Mackenna in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Mackenna across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Mackenna most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Mackenna ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #760 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.