Fun Facts About the Name Machias
- 10 babies named Machias: U.S. records list 10 babies given the name Machias from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Machias Mean?
Machias is a place name from the coast of Maine, borrowed from an Eastern Algonquian language of that region, usually identified as Passamaquoddy or the closely related Maliseet (Wolastoqey). It is most often translated as "bad little falls," referring to the rocky falls on the Machias River that made canoe travel difficult. The exact source word and its individual parts are not firmly documented, and some accounts give the sense more simply as "bad falls." As a personal name, Machias is a transferred use of the place name, so it carries the place name's meaning rather than an independent etymology of its own.
Machias Name History & Origins
The name belongs first to the Machias River and Machias Bay on the eastern coast of Maine, in the traditional territory of the Passamaquoddy and Maliseet peoples. European records of the region rendered the Algonquian name in more than one spelling before the form "Machias" became standard. English settlers established a permanent settlement there in 1763, and the town of Machias was incorporated in 1784.
During the American Revolution, the Battle of Machias in 1775, in which local settlers seized the British schooner Margaretta, is often described as one of the earliest naval engagements of the war. The name has remained chiefly a place name, attached to the river, bay, and town rather than to people. It appears occasionally in modern fiction, including as a character name in the Trails of Cold Steel role-playing games, but that is a recent literary use and is not the source of the name.
How Popular is the Name Machias?
Machias has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2006. Its best rank was #13,181 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,181 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #13,252 | 5 | 0.0002% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Machias
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with M
How the Name Machias Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Machias's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Machias's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.