Mclean
MacLean, also spelt McLean, is a Scottish Gaelic surname, Eóin being a Gaelic form of Johannes (John). The clan surname is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Gille Eathain", a patronymic meaning "son of Gillean". Gillean means "the Servant of [Saint] John [the Baptist]"), named for Gilleathain na Tuaidh, known as "Gillian of the Battleaxe", a famous 5th century warrior.
Meaning & Origin of Mclean
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
MacLean, also spelt McLean, is a Scottish Gaelic surname, Eóin being a Gaelic form of Johannes (John). The clan surname is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic "Mac Gille Eathain", a patronymic meaning "son of Gillean". Gillean means "the Servant of [Saint] John [the Baptist]"), named for Gilleathain na Tuaidh, known as "Gillian of the Battleaxe", a famous 5th century warrior.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Mclean
As a girl name
Mclean first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1998, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1998, when 6 Mcleans were born — ranking #12,425 that year. As of 2026, Mclean ranks #15,243 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 21 Mcleans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Mclean first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1923, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1996, when 16 Mcleans were born — ranking #4,022 that year. As of 2026, Mclean ranks #8,947 for boys with 8 births, with steady use. In total, more than 348 Mcleans have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Mclean
Phonetically similar names — useful when Mclean is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mclean
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About the name Mclean
Mclean is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1923 and has accumulated 348 births in the dataset. Mclean's peak popularity came in 1996 when it ranked #4,022. Use the chart and map above to compare Mclean's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
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Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.