UK boy's name
Maclaren
The Scots Gaelic origin name meaning "son of a servant".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2000. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Maclaren is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Maclaren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2000 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3036, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2000 to 2000. 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.
Maclaren is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Maclaren. 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 2001 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Maclaren ranked #3036 for boys in England and Wales in 2000, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 3 boys were registered as Maclaren.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maclaren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3036
2000
Births in 2000
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Maclaren mean?
The given name Maclaren has its origins rooted in the Scottish Gaelic language and culture. It is derived from the combination of the Gaelic words "mac" meaning "son" and "laren" which is derived from the name Labhran, a diminutive form of the name Laurence.
The name Maclaren gained prominence in the 12th and 13th centuries among the Highland clans of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyllshire and Perthshire. It was commonly used as a patronymic surname, indicating the bearer's lineage as the "son of Laren" or "son of Laurence".
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Maclaren can be found in the ancient Gaelic manuscript known as the Book of Deer, which dates back to the 9th century. This manuscript contains various land grants and charters, some of which mention individuals bearing the name Maclaren.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Maclaren. One of the earliest recorded was Gillecrist Macillaren, a 13th-century Scottish nobleman who served as the Constable of the Isle of Mull. Another prominent figure was Donald Maclaren (c. 1570-1640), a Scottish historian and poet who authored the renowned work "The Lament for the Lords of Argyll".
In the 18th century, Archibald Maclaren (1755-1826) gained recognition as a Scottish minister and author. He served as the minister of the parish of Crieff and published several religious works, including "Sermons on Important Subjects" and "Lectures on the Book of Proverbs".
During the 19th century, James Maclaren (1818-1890) made significant contributions as a Scottish engineer and shipbuilder. He established the renowned Maclaren shipyards in Dumbarton, Scotland, where he designed and built several innovative steam-powered vessels.
Another notable figure was Sir Charles Maclaren (1876-1935), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Justice Clerk of Scotland, one of the highest judicial positions in the country at the time.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the name Maclaren throughout history, reflecting its deep-rooted Scottish heritage and the various fields in which those bearing this name have made their mark.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Maclaren by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maclaren 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3036 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Maclaren
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Maclaren: questions and answers
How popular is the name Maclaren in the UK right now?
In 2000, Maclaren was ranked #3036 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Maclaren most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 3 babies registered as Maclaren in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Maclaren?
The Scots Gaelic origin name meaning "son of a servant".
How many people are called Maclaren in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Maclaren across the 1 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.