Meaning:
Its source is a Gaelic expression meaning "Son."
Alternative Spellings: Mack
Popularity:
The name Mac ranked 979th in popularity for males of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.
Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.
Narrative:
This name element appears in Gaelic-derived patronymics (names based on a father's name), such as MacDonald (son of Donald) and MacKay (son of Aodh.) It is a common nickname for people with surnames such as these.
Not only has it evolved into a personal name, it is used as a generic term of address for males, akin to ''buddy'' or ''pal.''
Teasing Nicknames:
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Mac Nut
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Mackerel
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Macadamian
Associations:
In African-American slang, to ''mack on'' someone is to aggressively and brazenly attempt to seduce them.
''Uncle Mac'' is a British slang term for heroin.
''Macking'' is an African-American slang term for pimping, or living off of the money earned by prostitutes.
