Fun Facts About the Name Macintyre
- 82 babies named Macintyre: U.S. records list 82 babies given the name Macintyre from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Macintyre Mean?
Macintyre is an anglicized form of the Scottish Gaelic name Mac an t-Saoir, meaning 'son of the carpenter' or 'son of the wright.' The element mac means 'son'; an is the definite article; and saoir is the genitive of saor, 'carpenter' or 'wright.' The spelling Macintyre and the variant McIntyre both render the same Gaelic name. The final element is not related to the English word tyre or tire; it comes from the Gaelic word for a craftsman. The same Gaelic phrase also occurs in Ireland, where it has often been anglicized as McAteer.
Macintyre Name History & Origins
The name belongs to the Scottish Highlands and is closely associated with Argyll. In Gaelic it was Mac an t-Saoir, a patronymic meaning 'son of the carpenter.' When the name was written in English, the Gaelic article and genitive ending were dropped or reshaped, producing forms such as MacIntyre, McIntyre, Macintyre, and the abbreviated M'Intyre. The clan that bears the name, Clan MacIntyre, was known in Gaelic as Clann an t-Saoir, 'children of the carpenter.' Its traditional heartland was in Lorn, Argyll, and its chiefs were associated with Glenoe. Clan tradition holds that the MacIntyres served as hereditary foresters to the MacDougall lords of Lorn and later to the Stewarts, but the earliest clan history is mixed with legend and is not fully documented. The surname later spread to Ireland and to English-speaking countries through migration. As a first name, Macintyre is a transferred use of the surname and remains uncommon.
How Popular is the Name Macintyre?
Macintyre 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 2012. Its best rank was #7,799 in 1997.
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 | #10,294 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2019 | #13,365 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #13,446 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #9,248 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2014 | #11,605 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #8,599 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2009 | #13,723 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #11,810 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #13,254 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2000 | #7,911 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #9,449 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #10,651 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #7,799 | 7 | 0.0004% |
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.
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How the Name Macintyre 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.
✦ Macintyre's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Macintyre's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.