The lead character of the popular TV series MacGyver (1985-1992) was a remarkably resourceful secret agent named Angus MacGyver (played by actor Richard Dean Anderson).
Ever wonder if any babies were named MacGyver while the show was on the air?
The answer is yes!
The name MacGyver made its first appearance in the U.S. baby name data a bit belatedly, in 1989:
- 1991: 7 baby boys named MacGyver
- 1990: 6 baby boys named MacGyver
- 1989: 6 baby boys named MacGyver [debut]
- 1988: unlisted
- 1987: unlisted
In my opinion, MacGyver might be the best ’80s-inspired baby name of all time. Seriously. How could anyone with even a passing interest in pop culture not appreciate this name? The main associations are inventiveness/ingenuity, cheesy ’80s TV, Scotland, mullets, and possibly duct tape.
The surname is a variant spelling of MacIver/McIver, which is based on a Gaelic phrase meaning “son of Íomhar.” The name Íomhar is based on the Old Norse name Ívarr, made up of the elements ýr, meaning “yew” or “bow” (bows were made yew wood) and herr, meaning “warrior.”
In mid-2015, MacGyver — long used informally as a verb — was added to the Oxford Dictionary. To “MacGyver” is to “make or repair (an object) in an improvised or inventive way, making use of whatever items are at hand.”
What are your thoughts on MacGyver as a baby name?
Sources: How ‘MacGyver’ became a verb – BBC, MacGyver – Oxford Dictionaries, SSA
Image: Screenshot of MacGyver