Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Mckinley
GirlScottish, Irish· “son of Finlay, 'fair warrior'”
- Meaning
- son of Finlay, 'fair warrior'
- Origin
- Scottish, Irish
- Pronunciation
- muh-KIHN-lee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #714
- US babies 2025
- 393
- Best rank
- #379 (2014)
- Peak year
- 2014
Meaning and origin of Mckinley
Mckinley is a Scottish and Irish name that means “son of Finlay, 'fair warrior'”.
McKinley is a Scottish and Irish surname from Mac Fhionnlaigh, son of Fionnlagh, a Gaelic name made from fionn, fair, and laoch, warrior. The surname became famous in the United States through President William McKinley, and his name was given to Alaska's highest peak, also known as Denali. As a first name it was once used for boys but is now more common for girls. It sounds cheerful and spirited, with a bouncy three-syllable rhythm. Kinley and Kinnie are easy nicknames, and it pairs well with short middle names like Rose or Jane.
Other spellings with the same sound: Mackinley.
Popularity over time
Mckinley first appears in US Social Security records in 1978. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 19 different years, starting in 2006. Its best national rank was #379 in 2014, the same year it reached its highest count of 862 babies. In 2025, 393 babies were named Mckinley, and it ranked #714 nationally. That is 54% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #9,863 in 1980, #1,153 in 2000, #556 in 2010, and #714 in 2025. Of the 13,098 US girls named Mckinley since records began, 55% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 2,787 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Averie, Scarlet, Kennedi, Skye, and Aylin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Mckinley ranked highest in Idaho, Oregon, and Iowa.
Gender, sound and spelling
About 90% of US babies named Mckinley over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
Mckinley is usually pronounced muh-KIHN-lee, with three syllables. It has eight letters, starts with M and ends in “-ey”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Mackinley.
Middle names for Mckinley
A few middle names that flow with Mckinley: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mckinley
Similar names
Finley Unisex
FIHN-lee
“fair warrior” · Scottish
#415
Delaney Girl
duh-LAY-nee
“from an Irish surname” · Irish
#242
Fiona Girl
fee-OH-nuh
“fair, white” · Scottish
#470
Casey Unisex
KAY-see
“vigilant, watchful” · Irish
#320
Kinley Girl
KIHN-lee
“son of the fair warrior” · Scottish
#692
Ainsley Girl
AYNZ-lee
“from an English place name” · English
#483
Finnley Unisex
FIN-lee
“fair warrior (variant of Finley)” · Scottish
#757
Brianna Girl
bree-AN-uh
“feminine of Brian” · Irish
#222
Mackenzie Girl
muh-KEN-zee
“son of Coinneach” · Scottish
#228
Paisley Girl
PAYZ-lee
“from a Scottish town; also a pattern” · Scottish
#67
Mckenzie Girl
muh-KEHN-zee
“son of Coinneach (Kenneth)” · Scottish
#576
Makenzie Girl
muh-KEN-zee
“son of Coinneach (Kenneth)” · Scottish
#700
Lists that include Mckinley
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mckinley mean?
Mckinley is a Scottish and Irish name that means “son of Finlay, 'fair warrior'”.
What is the origin of the name Mckinley?
Mckinley has Scottish and Irish roots. McKinley is a Scottish and Irish surname from Mac Fhionnlaigh, son of Fionnlagh, a Gaelic name made from fionn, fair, and laoch, warrior.
Is Mckinley a popular name?
Yes. Mckinley ranked #714 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Mckinley a boy or girl name?
Mckinley is mainly a girl's name. About 90% of US babies named Mckinley over the last 20 years were girls, with a small share of boys.
How do you pronounce Mckinley?
Mckinley is usually pronounced muh-KIHN-lee. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings