WeeNames Scotland’s favourite name finder

← All names

Mackenna

Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Mackenna: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2020.

Mackenna, an Anglicised feminine form of the Scottish Gaelic surname Mac Cionaodha, meaning “son of Cionaodh,” itself derived from a personal name thought to mean “born of fire.” The name gained modern prominence through American actress MacKenna Grace, known for her roles in “Captain Marvel” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.” While no major settlements directly bear Mackenna, the related surname MacKenna is historically tied to County Monaghan, Ireland. A further note: in Scotland, the double-‘n’ spelling “MacKenna” is common, while the single ‘n’ form “Makenna” has become more popular in the United States, reflecting a broader trend of adapting Gaelic surnames as first names.

Girl 2 of 52 years

Peak year
20203 babies
Latest (2022)
#7603 babies
Total births
6since 2020
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2020 · 3
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).