Mckayla
Meaning of Mckayla
Mckayla, pronounced muh-KAY-luh (/məˈkeɪlə/), is a modern Anglo-American reinterpretation of Michaela—the feminine form of the Hebrew Michael, meaning “Who is like God?”—whose signature “Mc” prefix borrows the visual shorthand of Gaelic patronymics to provide a surname-style flourish without altering the underlying theophoric sense. First appearing only sporadically on U.S. birth records in the late 1970s, the spelling rose swiftly through the charts, entering the national Top 500 in 1995 and reaching its zenith at rank 351 in 1998, a peak year that saw 769 newborn bearers. Subsequent decades have witnessed a measured decline that mirrors the waning vogue for inventive respellings of biblical staples: by 2024, usage had tapered to 75 registrations, corresponding to rank 875. Cultural visibility has been bolstered by figures such as Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, reinforcing an image of focused athleticism, while the name’s hybrid construction—biblical in meaning, Celtic in styling—continues to appeal to parents who seek a balance of traditional resonance and contemporary American flair.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as muh-KAY-luh (/məˈkeɪlə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
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