McKenzie is a unisex given name of Scottish origin. The name derives from the Scottish surname MacKenzie, which means "son of Kenneth" in Gaelic. Kenneth is an ancient Scottish name that has been used for centuries and is believed to mean "handsome" or "born of fire".
The MacKenzie clan is one of the most prominent Highland clans in Scotland, with a rich history dating back to the 13th century. The clan's chiefs were known as the "Sea Kings of the Northwest" due to their control over the coastline and islands around Loch Maree in the Scottish Highlands.
The name McKenzie began to be used as a given name in the United States during the 20th century, particularly after World War II. It gained popularity among both boys and girls, although it is now more commonly used for females.
In pop culture, notable people named McKenzie include American actress McKenzie Westmore, known for her role on the TV show "Passions," and Canadian singer-songwriter McKenzie Porter, who won the 2015 Canadian Country Music Association award for Female Artist of the Year.
The name Mckenzie has seen a significant rise in popularity over the past four decades in the United States. Starting with only six births in 1975, the number of babies named Mckenzie increased steadily throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
By 1992, the name Mckenzie had become quite popular, with 949 newborns being given this name that year. This trend continued into the 1990s, reaching an all-time high of 2526 births in the year 2000.
However, after 2000, the popularity of the name Mckenzie began to decline. In 2017, there were only 1658 newborns named Mckenzie, and this number continued to decrease each subsequent year, reaching a low of 707 births in 2023.
In total, over the past four decades, there have been 63615 babies named Mckenzie born in the United States. While the name was once highly popular, it has since seen a decline in usage. Despite this decrease in popularity, the name Mckenzie remains a unique and distinctive choice for parents looking to give their child a memorable name.