UK boy's name
Mccartney
A masculine name of Scottish origin likely meaning "son of cartney".
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.
Mccartney is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mccartney popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2012 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4805, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2012 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.
Mccartney is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Mccartney. 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
- • Mccartney ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales in 2012, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 3 boys were registered as Mccartney.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mccartney as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4805
2012
Births in 2012
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Mccartney mean?
The name Mccartney is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic phrase "mac Artain," meaning "son of Artan." Artan itself is a diminutive form of the name Art, which was a common Gaelic personal name believed to have meant "bear" or "hero." The prefix "mac" simply means "son of" in Gaelic.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Mccartney can be traced back to the 12th century in Scotland. It was primarily used as a surname, indicating a person's paternal lineage. However, over time, the name also gained popularity as a given name, particularly in Irish and Scottish communities.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Mccartney was Sir John Mccartney (1690-1760), a Scottish physician and botanist. He was appointed as the King's Botanist and served as the director of the Chelsea Physic Garden in London.
Another historical figure with the name Mccartney was George Mccartney (1737-1806), an Irish-born British diplomat and colonial administrator. He served as the first envoy from Britain to China and was instrumental in establishing trade relations between the two nations.
In the 19th century, Mccartney gained further recognition through the life of Sir George Mccartney (1834-1900), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Cape Colony (now part of South Africa) from 1869 to 1874.
One of the most famous individuals with the name Mccartney is Sir Paul Mccartney (born 1942), the legendary English singer, songwriter, and musician. As a member of the iconic band The Beatles, he co-wrote numerous hit songs and is considered one of the most influential and successful musicians of all time.
Another notable Mccartney was Jesse Mccartney (born 1987), an American singer, songwriter, and actor. He rose to fame in the early 2000s with his pop albums and has since appeared in various television shows and movies.
The name Mccartney, with its rich Scottish and Irish heritage, has a long and diverse history. While it has been primarily used as a surname, its adoption as a given name has allowed it to transcend generations and cultural boundaries, making it a recognizable and enduring moniker across the globe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Mccartney by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mccartney 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 | #4805 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mccartney
- 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
Mccartney: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mccartney in the UK right now?
In 2012, Mccartney was ranked #4805 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mccartney most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 3 babies registered as Mccartney in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mccartney?
A masculine name of Scottish origin likely meaning "son of cartney".
How many people are called Mccartney in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Mccartney 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.