Fun Facts About the Name Macrae
- 172 babies named Macrae: U.S. records list 172 babies given the name Macrae from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Macrae Mean?
Macrae is an anglicized Scottish Gaelic surname that means "son of Rath." It comes from MacRaith, built from the Gaelic mac, "son," plus the Old Irish personal name Rath. Rath is generally understood to mean "grace" or "prosperity, good fortune," so the name is literally "son of Rath" and, by custom, "son of the prosperous one." The same root produced the spelling variants McCrae, MacRae, and McRae.
Macrae Name History & Origins
The surname arose in the Gaelic-speaking west Highlands of Scotland. Tradition traces the family to an ancestor named MacRaith, and by the 14th century the Macraes were settled in Kintail as followers of the Mackenzies. They served the Mackenzie chiefs as constables of Eilean Donan Castle and as a body of fighting men, and were nicknamed "the Mackenzies' shirt of mail" for that role.
Because the name was written down by clerks in different places and periods, records show a range of forms, including MacRaith, Makrath, and later MacRae, McCrae, and MacCraw. In Ireland, the closely related Gaelic name Mac Raith was anglicized as MacGrath, McGrath, and Magrath; these Irish forms have their own documented history and should not be treated as identical to the Scottish clan name.
As an inherited surname, Macrae became established in Scotland and later spread to England, Ireland, and overseas English-speaking countries. Its use as a given name is a more recent development, drawn from the surname rather than from any separate older personal-name tradition.
Traditional clan accounts record heavy losses among the Macraes at the Battle of Auldearn in 1645, where they fought with the royalist forces; this is a clan tradition rather than a fully documented record of individual casualties.
How Popular is the Name Macrae?
Macrae 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 2021. Its best rank was #6,327 in 1999.
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 | #10,297 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2022 | #10,448 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #6,545 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #11,454 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #8,622 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2017 | #10,370 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #13,288 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #6,903 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #9,343 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #9,387 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #8,516 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2010 | #11,655 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #10,578 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #10,605 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #9,424 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #8,481 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #10,964 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #7,048 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2002 | #8,154 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #11,495 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1999 | #6,327 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #10,202 | 5 | 0.0003% |
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 Macrae 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 are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Macrae's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Macrae's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.