The baby name MaClay is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced MACK-lay (IPA: /mækˈleɪ/).
The baby name MaClay is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced MACK-lay (IPA: /mækˈleɪ/).
MaClay is Irish, Scottish in Origin.
MaClay traces to Scottish and Irish surnames such as Maclay, MacLeay, and MacLea, all rooted in Scottish Gaelic Mac an Léigh, “son of the physician.” The form arose in the Highlands and later in Ulster through Scots migration, with spellings streamlined in English records. The capital C reflects the “Mac +” structure while keeping the surname’s single word form. Pronounced muh-CLAY, it carries a learned, professional association through its original meaning.
As a given name, MaClay is a modern, rare, mostly Anglophone adoption of a heritage surname, seen in the United States and other English-speaking countries from the late 20th century. It is sometimes used unisex and fits the broader trend of Mac/Mc surnames as first names. Close variants and related spellings include Maclay, McClay, MacLeay, McLeay, MacLea, and McLea; short forms Mac and Clay occur in informal use.
MaClay is extremely rare. There are only 3 recorded uses on record, spread over 3 countries.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QA | Girls | 0 | #343 | 1 | 15,378 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,272 | 1 | 25,619 |
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