Total births
154
Boys' name · since 1915
Macdonald
Since 1915, U.S. Social Security records show 154 babies named Macdonald, peaking in 1961. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 154
- total births
- 1915–2002
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
154 boys have been named Macdonald since 1915, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Macdonald has 154 recorded births among boys since 1915, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used boys names, busiest in the 1950s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1915 to 2002.
- 154 total births
- 1915–2002 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 28% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
154 boys have been named Macdonald since 1915, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 2002.
- 154
- total births
- 1915–2002
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 28%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
28% of everyone ever named Macdonald was born in this single decade.
1961
Single peak year
9 babies were named Macdonald in 1961 - its busiest year on record.
Macdonald's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Macdonald's SSA record in two at 1952 and the more recent half accounts for 53% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 47%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1915, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1961 peak of 9, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Macdonald at a glance
Last recorded 2002Peak year
1961
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1915
Macdonald popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1915–2002
- Peak year (1961)
- 9
- Annual births at peak, across 88 years of records
Macdonald by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Macdonald's strongest decade.
43 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 28% of all-time use.
Macdonald births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1910s 10
1910s
10 births
- 1920s 13
1920s
13 births
- 1930s
1930s
18 births
- 1940s
1940s
18 births
- 1950s
1950s
43 births
- 1960s
1960s
37 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 1990s 5
1990s
5 births
- 2000s 5
2000s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 43 births (28% of all-time use).
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Macdonald? ▼
Since 1915, Social Security records show 154 babies named Macdonald. The most recent recorded year was 2002. Its busiest year on record was 1961, with 9 births.
When was Macdonald most popular? ▼
Macdonald was most popular in the 1950s decade with 43 total births. The single peak year was 1961.
How long has the name Macdonald been used? ▼
Records for Macdonald go back to 1915, giving 88 years of history through 2002.
What names are similar to Macdonald? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Mack, Mac, Mackenzie, Maceo, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Macdonald's data
- Macdonald's decade-level peak was the 1950s (43 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Macdonald
Nearby Names Like Macdonald
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Macdonald
Mack Boy
#498 42,720 births
Mac Boy
#695 11,397 births
Mackenzie Boy
#1870 7,861 births
Maceo Boy
#2137 3,195 births
Macario Boy
#3401 2,824 births
Compare Macdonald side by side: Macdonald vs Mack Macdonald vs Mac Macdonald vs Mackenzie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1915–2002 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Macdonald: Baby Name Since 1915 - 154 Births, Peak 1961." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/macdonald. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Macdonald draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.