McKenna Name Meaning

Mckenna is a strong and confident name that has been associated with independent, ambitious, and determined women. It is a name that connotes a sense of strength and resilience, making it a popular choice for parents who want to give their daughters a name that will empower them to be strong and independent women.

History of the Name Mckenna

The name Mckenna is believed to have originated from Ireland, where it was traditionally a surname. The name is derived from the Gaelic “Mac Cionnaith,” which means “son of Cionnaith.” In Ireland, there were many families with the surname Mckenna, and it was a common name in the country for centuries.

Popularity of the Name Mckenna

However, the name Mckenna wasn’t commonly used as a first name for girls until more recently. In the United States, the name Mckenna first appeared on the Social Security Administration’s list of popular baby names in the 1980s. Since then, the name has risen in popularity, becoming a top 100 name for girls in the 2000s.

The popularity of the name Mckenna continues to rise. According to the Social Security Administration, in 2020, Mckenna was the 91th most popular name for girls in the United States. It’s a name that has become popular across many different cultures and countries, with many parents choosing it as a unique and stylish name for their daughters.

Final Thoughts on the Name Mckenna

If you’re named Mckenna, you’re in good company! Some notable people with the name include actress Mckenna Grace, known for her roles in “Designated Survivor” and “Captain Marvel,” and former Olympic gymnast Mckenna Kelley. Plus, with a name like Mckenna, you’re bound to have a witty and clever personality to match.

In conclusion, Mckenna is a name with a rich history, and it’s a name that has been on the rise in recent years. It’s a strong, confident name that connotes a sense of strength and resilience, making it a popular choice for parents who want to give their daughters a name that will empower them to be strong, independent women. So, if you’re looking for a name that’s both classic and modern, Mckenna might just be the perfect fit!

Infographic of McKenna name meaning, which is Meaning son of Cionaodh, McKenna is a Gaelic name.
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McKenna Name Popularity

How popular is the name McKenna? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 0 0%
1911 0 0%
1912 0 0%
1913 0 0%
1914 0 0%
1915 0 0%
1916 0 0%
1917 0 0%
1918 0 0%
1919 0 0%
1920 0 0%
1921 0 0%
1922 0 0%
1923 0 0%
1924 0 0%
1925 0 0%
1926 0 0%
1927 0 0%
1928 0 0%
1929 0 0%
1930 0 0%
1931 0 0%
1932 0 0%
1933 0 0%
1934 0 0%
1935 0 0%
1936 0 0%
1937 0 0%
1938 0 0%
1939 0 0%
1940 0 0%
1941 0 0%
1942 0 0%
1943 0 0%
1944 0 0%
1945 0 0%
1946 0 0%
1947 0 0%
1948 0 0%
1949 0 0%
1950 0 0%
1951 0 0%
1952 0 0%
1953 0 0%
1954 0 0%
1955 0 0%
1956 0 0%
1957 0 0%
1958 0 0%
1959 0 0%
1960 0 0%
1961 0 0%
1962 0 0%
1963 0 0%
1964 0 0%
1965 0 0%
1966 0 0%
1967 0 0%
1968 0 0%
1969 0 0%
1970 0 0%
1971 0 0%
1972 0 0%
1973 0 0%
1974 0 0%
1975 0 0%
1976 0 0%
1977 0 0%
1978 0 0%
1979 0 0%
1980 0 0%
1981 2,973 5 0.0003%
1982 1,923 19 0.0013%
1983 2,808 6 0.0004%
1984 2,333 11 0.0007%
1985 1,650 29 0.0019%
1986 1,854 23 0.0015%
1987 2,264 14 0.0009%
1988 1,556 40 0.0026%
1989 1,620 42 0.0026%
1990 1,198 93 0.0056%
1991 908 167 0.0102%
1992 600 340 0.0213%
1993 629 314 0.0201%
1994 386 619 0.0403%
1995 258 1,044 0.0693%
1996 227 1,218 0.0813%
1997 227 1,296 0.0876%
1998 212 1,418 0.0947%
1999 197 1,553 0.1037%
2000 188 1,689 0.1106%
2001 193 1,674 0.1111%
2002 178 1,783 0.119%
2003 191 1,682 0.1106%
2004 201 1,639 0.1075%
2005 210 1,641 0.1073%
2006 218 1,551 0.0991%
2007 224 1,540 0.0976%
2008 220 1,507 0.0975%
2009 213 1,498 0.1002%
2010 226 1,352 0.0938%
2011 231 1,328 0.0932%
2012 220 1,388 0.0974%
2013 210 1,465 0.1029%
2014 227 1,384 0.095%
2015 240 1,285 0.0883%
2016 244 1,241 0.0861%
2017 246 1,236 0.0886%
2018 249 1,244 0.0905%
2019 284 1,112 0.0821%
2020 272 1,090 0.0856%
2021 318 921 0.0753%
2022 288 1,070 0.0811%

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Maine (ME)

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Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

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Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like McKenna

If you like McKenna, you’ll love these other names like McKenna.


What names are variants of McKenna?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name McKenna.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Mackendra

Ascend

Scottish

MacKenna

Irish


What names sound like McKenna?

If you like how McKenna sounds, you might also like these names that sound like McKenna.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Makenna

Son of Cionaodh

Gaelic

Megen

Welsh


What names are similar to McKenna?

Find a name that’s like McKenna, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Makena

Gaelic


Lists With McKenna

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name McKenna.


Siblings of McKenna

Mamas with kids named McKenna also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Barrett

Quarrelsome

English

Cadence

With rhythm

Latin

Brynn

Hilled area

Welsh

Griffin

Strong in faith

Welsh

Teagan

Little Poet

Irish

8 Comments

  1. We liked the movie “Somewhere in Time.” The female lead was named “Elise McKenna.” We loved the prospect of “McKenna ” as a girls name. I think the name “McKenna Mulvey” sings fairly well and certainly sounds Irish, which she is.

    When she was little, McKenna said she wanted to change her name to “Hazel” cuz no on else was named “McKenna.” When use of the name increased, it was then okay.

  2. We chose McKenna because we thought it was a beautiful name that we hadn’t heard a lot. It suits her perfectly and we couldn’t imagine her name being anything else!

    • I love the name McKenna it’s beautiful and even though I was named McKenna I wanted to change name to rose because I thought it was a beautiful name. And I am happy now that my name is McKenna. And I am convenient.

  3. Our baby’s name was chosen by her father, he had her name long before she was conceived. He always wanted a girl, so we’re blessed to have God answer our prayers and giving us a healthy baby girl. Our first born. Blessed be God.

  4. We liked that the name McKenna was unique and not a lot of people have it.

  5. We chose Mckenna (no uppercase K) as a compromise when hubby did not like Mackenzie after seeing it on a street sign of all things. We liked that it was less common and did not come with the possible nickname “Mack”. We hate how people always capitalize the K, because it is not a surname!

    • When it comes to the K in McKenna, it doesn’t matter if it’s capitalizedfor a surname or first name, it just depends on how the choose to spell the childs name

    • In Ireland it actually is a very common surname so that’s why some people (like myself) have it spelled with two capital letters 🙂


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