Given name & surname
Makenna
“daughter of the handsome man”·“the son of Kenna; to ascend”
Makenna is a variant of Mackenna. One interpretation is “daughter of the handsome man.” In English use, Makenna has a related form in McKenna. One interpretation is “the son of Kenna; to ascend.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Makenna is a variant of Mackenna. One interpretation is “daughter of the handsome man.” In English use, Makenna has a related form in McKenna. One interpretation is “the son of Kenna; to ascend.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1982. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Makenna through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 33,749
- 8 boys · 33,741 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 1,619 babies
- 2025
- 495
- #593 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −27%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 495 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 593 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 26.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,619 in 2005. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (39). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 27,550 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Makenna’s family of names
In English usage, Makenna has a related form in McKenna. Makenna has a related form in Mackenna. In Greek usage, Makenna as a surname is a transliteration of Μακέννα.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Makenna
- Makenna JonesAmerican tennis playerborn 1998
- Makenna CowgillAmerican actressborn 1998
- Makenna MorrisAmerican soccer playerborn 2002
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Makenna, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Makayla
“who is like God?”
>99% girls
Maliyah
Maliyah is a feminine given name, probably from Hawaiian.
>99% girls
Makenzie
Makenzie is a variant of Mackenzie. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
>99% girls
Mikayla
“who is like God?”
>99% girls
Malaya
“an independent woman; one who is free”
>99% girls
Makeyla
>99% girls
Maci
“one who wields the medieval weapon” · “one who wields a weapon”
>99% girls
Amani
“one who is peaceful” · “one with wishes and dreams”
18% boys · 82% girls