Variant of McCartney, from Irish Gaelic Mac Artaine meaning 'son of Art (the bear)', used as a given name with artistic associations.
Macartney is a variant of McCartney, from Irish Gaelic Mac Artaine, meaning son of Art, with Art here linked to the bear. As a surname turned given name, it carries both genealogical weight and the long Gaelic habit of preserving family identity in names. The artistic associations of the better-known McCartney spelling may make Macartney feel even more usable as a first name, since it sits comfortably between heritage and style.
As a given name, Macartney feels uncommon, cultured, and slightly literary. It has the heft of a family name, which gives it formality, but its rhythm also makes it appealing in modern naming. Names like this often suggest refinement and individuality because they are not standard first-name material.
Macartney has a dignified, heritage-rich sound, with enough softness in its cadence to keep it graceful rather than stiff. It feels like a name that carries both ancestry and artistic sensibility.