Mccoy Unisex

Popularity: #670 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: muh-KOY /məˈkɔɪ/

Origin: Irish; Scottish

Meaning: Irish: son of; Scottish: son of the warrior

Historical & Cultural Background

The name McCoy is of Gaelic origin, derived from the Irish surname Mac Aoidh, which translates to "son of Aodh." The name Aodh itself means "fire" in Old Irish, reflecting a common practice in Gaelic culture of naming children after elements or attributes associated with strength and vitality. The surname McCoy entered the English language through the anglicization of Gaelic names, particularly during the periods of English colonization and the subsequent migration of Irish families to English-speaking countries, notably in the 19th century.

Historically, the McCoy family name is associated with various notable figures in Irish history, including those who were part of the Gaelic nobility. The name gained further recognition in the 19th century with the famous phrase "the real McCoy," which is believed to have originated in the United States and is often attributed to the quality of goods produced by a man named Elijah McCoy, an inventor of African descent.

This phrase has since entered popular culture as a way to denote authenticity and quality. Culturally, the name McCoy carries connotations of heritage and lineage, often linked to the rich traditions of Irish storytelling and folklore.

The name has been embraced in various forms of literature and media, reinforcing its significance within the context of Irish identity. Additionally, diminutive forms such as Coy have emerged, reflecting a more informal or affectionate use of the name.

Overall, McCoy encapsulates a blend of historical depth and cultural resonance, rooted in the Gaelic language and the narrative of Irish ancestry.

Famous people named Mccoy

In this section, you will find notable people named Mccoy. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Mccoy who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Mccoy who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Mccoy Tyner is a jazz pianist best known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet, as well as his solo albums such as The Real McCoy and Sahara.

Mccoy Blaisdell is a notable American artist recognized for his contributions to the field of painting and sculpture.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Mccoy, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Mccoy. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Mccoy was first seen in the United States in 1905.

Mccoy has ranked as high as #1072 nationally, which occurred in 2021, and has been most popular in Utah, Texas, North Carolina, California, and Minnesota.

In the past 5 years the name Mccoy has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Mccoy is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Mccoy was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Mccoy (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 23
12%
UT 19
10%
GA 15
8%
CA 15
8%
TN 14
7%
KS 12
6%
WA 9
5%
NC 8
4%
WI 8
4%
FL 8
4%
NE 7
4%
MN 7
4%
IA 6
3%
SD 6
3%
KY 6
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Mccoy.

YearBirths
2024256
2023226
2022281
2021292
2020240
2019204
2018197
2017171
2016172
2015191
2014154
2013170
2012127
201194
201088
200966
200855
200748
200637
200542
200439
200335
200229
200133
200026
199939
199833
199721
199621
199525
199415
199314
199217
19915
19909
19897
19887
19875
19869
19857
19835
19826
19817
19787
19775
19765
19716
19696
19687
19646
19636
19626
19618
19605
195914
19589
19578
195618
19559
195410
195312
195210
19517
195014
194916
194815
194711
194613
194519
19449
194313
194214
194116
194019
19399
193811
19378
193615
193516
193417
193328
193212
193117
193015
19299
192810
192715
19268
192511
192413
192311
192217
192119
192023
191910
191818
191719
191625
191512
191414
19138
19127
19107
19055