# Macaulay

> English word · Proper noun · IPA /məˈkɔːli/ · frequency rank #31,642

## Definitions
1. A surname from Scottish Gaelic of Gaelic origin.
2. A male given name transferred from the surname

## Etymology
From Scotland, an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic Gaelic Mac Amhalghaidh ("son of Amhalghaidh"). From Ireland, an anglicisation of the Gaelic Mac Amhlaoibh ("son of Amhlaoibh") or Mac Amhlaidh ("son of Amhlaidh"). These Gaelic names are derived from the Old Norse personal name Áleifr and Óláfr.

## Easily confused with
- **macular** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/macaulay-vs-macular)
- **McCauley** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/macaulay-vs-mccauley)

## Common misspellings (11)
`amcaulay`, `maaculay`, `macaluay`, `macaualy`, `macaulayy`, `macaullay`, `macaulya`, `maccaulay`, `macualay`, `mcaaulay`, `mmacaulay`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/macaulay