Bottom of the Barrel: Mccartney

Paul and Stella McCartney

In 2010, 7 American girls were given the name McCartney.

The Mc/McK/Mac names are big. In 2010, the top 1,000 included

• Makayla (#43)
• Mackenzie (#69)
• Mckenzie (#146
• Makenzie (#153)
• Mikayla (#179)
• Makenna (#201)
• Mckenna (#228)
• Michaela (#392)
• Mikaela (#431)
• Mckinley (#556)
• Mckayla (#614)
• Makena (#900)
• Micaela (#956)

There are dozens of variations in the extended list: McClain, Makynli, Mckeyla, Makya, Macayle, Makyla, Mckenzy, Makhia, Mckell, Mckay, Makiya, Makaylin, etc. I would make a comprehensive list, but I can't spend two hours writing a blog post. It's somewhat like the -ayden ending for boys: it's unusual in other historical eras and has dozens of variants. Though the frilly -ellas and -lias are very popular as well, Mc- is certainly a leading sound in androgynous American girls' names of the early 2000s. Is it a short-lived trend or the emergence of a new classic? I think Michaela is already well established and that Mckenzie will be around for a long time, but I have a hard time imagining much of a shelf life for Mckinley.

McCartney is one of the more unusual variants out there. Fans of the Beatles? Of Stella? Your guess is as good as mine.