Given name & surname
McKinley
“the son of the white warrior”·“from the royal meadow”·“from the king's meadow”
McKinley is a variant of Mackinley. One interpretation is “the son of the white warrior.” In English use, McKinley has a related form in Kenley. Interpretations include “from the royal meadow” (English) and “from the king's meadow” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
McKinley is a variant of Mackinley. One interpretation is “the son of the white warrior.” In English use, McKinley has a related form in Kenley. Interpretations include “from the royal meadow” (English) and “from the king's meadow” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, McKinley has a related form in Kenley. An origin associated with Kenley is English.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1890. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
McKinley through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 22,884
- 9,786 boys · 13,098 girls
- Most popular year
- 2014
- 934 babies
- 2025
- 423
- #714 for girls · #3,721 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −33%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 9% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 393 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 714 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 33.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 862 in 2014. It also appeared in 30 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (39). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 13,648 as a first name in 2020; 23,014 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
McKinley’s family of names
McKinley has a related form in Mackinley. In English usage, McKinley has a related form in MAKYNLEE. In English usage, McKinley has a related form in Kenley.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named McKinley
- Muddy WatersAmerican blues musician (1913–1983)
- McKinley Belcher IIIAmerican actorborn 1984
- McKinley Wright IVAmerican basketball player (born 1998)
- McKinley DixonAmerican musicianborn 1995
- McKinley SingletonAmerican basketball playerborn 1961
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love McKinley, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ainsley
“one's own meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Kinsley
“from the king 's meadow”
>99% girls
Hadley
“from the field of heather” · “from the heather meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Kenlee
“from the royal meadow” · “from the king's meadow”
3% boys · 97% girls
Leana
“of the palm tree” · “the shining light”
>99% girls
Lilly
“God is my oath” · “My God is bountiful”
>99% girls
Presley
“of the priest's town” · “from the priest's meadow”
7% boys · 93% girls
Kinsli
“from the king 's meadow” · “from the king's meadow”
>99% girls