Macon

At a Glance

Meaning

A place name traced to a Gaulish word possibly meaning "bear"

Origin

Gaulish/French (place name)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

MAY-kuhnListen

Macon is a place name that comes from the French city of Mâcon, traced to a Gaulish word possibly meaning "bear." You may have seen it said to mean "place by a river," but that gloss isn't supported by the name's etymology. It's pronounced MAY-kuhn.

Meaning & Origin of Macon

Meaning: A place name traced to a Gaulish word possibly meaning "bear".

Origin: Gaulish/French (place name).

A common claim: Macon is said to mean "place by a river" Actually: The 'river' gloss isn't supported by Wiktionary's etymology, which instead traces the name (uncertainly) to a Gaulish word for 'bear' plus a suffix, via the city name Mâcon.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Macon

Popularity of Macon

Macon has never been common in the U.S. It peaked at #1029 in 1904 (7 babies), and by 2024 it sat at #4635 with 22 babies given the name that year.

Names Like Macon

These names have followed a similar path to Macon in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Odell
• Olan
• Coralee
• Filomena
• Gertrude
• Elma

FAQ

What does the name Macon mean?

A place name traced to a Gaulish word possibly meaning “bear”. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Macon?

Macon is pronounced MAY-kuhn (IPA: /ˈmeɪkən/).

Is Macon a popular name right now?

Macon peaked at #1029 in 1904 and is ranked #4635 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1898–2024.)

Make Macon Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Macon, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.