NameCensus.
Very Rare

Mackson

A masculine name likely of Scottish origin meaning "son of Matthew".

Name Census estimates that about 276 living Americans carry the first name Mackson. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Mackson today is around 9 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mackson births was 2016 (45 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Mackson. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.

People living today

276

~ 1 in 1,241,864 Americans

Peak year

2016

45 babies that year

Average age

9

years old

2024 SSA rank

#8,689

Tracked since 2011

Popularity

Mackson: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Mackson from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 207 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Mackson remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.

Babies born per year

01123344520152020

Decades

Mackson by decade

The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Mackson during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
2010s2070207
2020s71071

Geography

Where Macksons live

Origin

Meaning and history of Mackson

The name Mackson is a relatively modern variation of the more traditional Scottish surname Mackenzie. Its origins can be traced back to the 12th century and the Scottish Highlands, where the Clan Mackenzie established itself as a powerful force. The name is derived from the Gaelic "mac coinnich," which translates to "son of the fair bright one."

While records of the specific name Mackson are sparse before the 19th century, the Mackenzie surname has a rich history intertwined with Scottish clan politics and warfare. The Clan Mackenzie played a pivotal role in the Wars of Scottish Independence, supporting Robert the Bruce in his struggle against the English.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mackson can be found in the writings of Sir Walter Scott, the renowned Scottish novelist and poet. In his novel "The Fair Maid of Perth," published in 1828, Scott introduces a minor character named Mackson, though little is known about the inspiration behind this particular name choice.

The first notable person to bear the name Mackson was John Mackson (1820-1892), a Scottish engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early steam engines and locomotives. His innovative designs and patents helped pave the way for more efficient and powerful steam technology.

Another historical figure of note was Mackson Etheridge (1846-1919), an American politician and lawyer who served as the 16th Governor of North Carolina from 1889 to 1893. Etheridge played a pivotal role in promoting educational reform and infrastructure development in the state during his term.

In the realm of literature, Mackson Bently (1878-1952) was a British novelist and playwright whose works often explored themes of class and social inequality in early 20th century England. His most famous novel, "The Inheritors," published in 1910, was widely praised for its insightful commentary on the changing social landscape of the time.

Moving into the 20th century, Mackson Frazier (1908-1989) was an African American educator and civil rights activist who dedicated his life to promoting equal educational opportunities for marginalized communities. His work in establishing several historically black colleges and universities earned him numerous accolades and honors.

Finally, in the world of sports, Mackson Walters (1922-2005) was a renowned Australian cricketer who played for the national team during the 1940s and 1950s. He was widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile all-rounders of his era, excelling both as a batsman and a fast bowler.

People

Mackson + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Mackson as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with M

Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Mackson: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Mackson?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 276 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mackson going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,241,864 US residents.

Is Mackson a common name?

We classify Mackson as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 278 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Mackson most popular?

The single biggest year for Mackson was 2016, when 45 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mackson is about 9 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

What does the SSA popularity chart show?

The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Mackson in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.

Is Mackson a male name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mackson in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.

Is Mackson still being used today?

Yes. The SSA still recorded Mackson in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.

Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?

Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Mackson can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.

Where does this data come from?

First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.

Does every first name have Census demographic data?

No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.

How many Americans are named Mackson?

HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.

N
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There are 276 people

with the first name

Mackson

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