Mcneill

Mcneill Origin and Meaning

The name Mcneill is a boy's name.

Mcneill is primarily a masculine surname of Scottish and Irish Gaelic origin that has occasionally transitioned to first-name usage. Derived from "Mac Néill," meaning "son of Niall," it connects to ancient Celtic heritage where Niall referred to a champion or passionate person. As a given name, Mcneill is extremely rare, appealing to families with Scottish heritage or those seeking unusual surname-as-first-name options. The distinctive prefix "Mc" immediately identifies its Celtic roots. While uncommon as a first name in official statistics, it follows the modern trend of using traditional surnames as given names. Mcneill offers a strong, distinctive sound with built-in cultural history, appealing to parents seeking a name with clear heritage connections.

Famous People Named Mcneill

• (John) McNeill (Mac) Smith Jr., American politician and activist

The name Mcneill in Pop Culture

• Bess McNeill from the movie "Breaking the Waves"