The surname Maclean is of Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic 'Mac Leathain', meaning 'son of the bald one'. It was brought to Scotland by Norsemen during the Viking invasions and settlements in the 9th century. The clan Maclean is one of the oldest Highland clans, with their traditional lands being on the Isle of Mull and at Lochbuie in Argyllshire. The name has also been Anglicized as McLean or McClen, among other variants.
The name Maclean experienced a peak in popularity between 1994 and 1998, with the highest number of births recorded in 1997 (19 births) and 1998 (23 births). However, the frequency of this name has since declined, with an average of about 6 births per year from 2016 onwards.