I should have featured the name Macushla a few days ago, on St. Patrick’s Day, but oh well.
The earliest Macushlas I’ve found so far were born in the 1930s, and most were born in the U.S. (Here’s a Macushla from Washington state, b. 1942.) Only last year did I spot my first Irish Macushla, born in 2013.
This is notable because, like Mavourneen, Macushla is a non-traditional Irish name that can be traced back to an Irish term of endearment.
In Macushla’s case, the term is mo chuisle, meaning “my pulse.” The anglicized version macushla was popularized by the song “Macushla” (1910) and later by a play of the same name. From there it morphed into a given name — outside of Ireland first, then eventually back in Ireland itself.
What do you think of the name Macushla?