Meaning and background
The story behind Mcgraw
McGraw is a northern Irish spelling linked to the better-known surname McGrath. Behind that is a Gaelic patronymic, Mac Raith, whose recorded sense refers to prosperity, grace or good fortune. The familiar modern spelling masks this historical background. McGraw has just two syllables, with a strong final sound, but the reference to fortune belongs to the ancestral name rather than being a promise about the dog.
- Origin
- Northern Irish variant of McGrath; that surname reflects Gaelic Mac Raith, associated with “grace” or “good fortune”. Source
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About Mcgraw
Recorded as a dog’s name
Mcgraw appears in 2 dog licence records in the 2022 New York City dataset.
How to read this count
These records cover New York City and may count the same dog in more than one licence period. They are not a national popularity ranking.
Pronunciation and rhythm
/məɡɹɔ/
US English sound sequence, converted from the CMU dictionary. Stress marks are shown separately.
Stress on the second syllable in the recorded US readings.
View dictionary notation
/məɡɹɔ/ · primary stress on syllable 2M AH0 G R AO1
These are US dictionary readings. Personal, regional and other language pronunciations may differ.
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Sources and research notes (2)
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene NYC Dog Licensing Dataset — all seven available extract years, retrieved 24 October 2026 — Recorded name spellings in NYC licence-period rows, extract years 2016–2018, 2022–2024 and 2026. Evidence selects one stated year per name. Annual snapshots overlap; never sum them as unique dogs. No national popularity, etymology or owner naming-intent claim.
- Carnegie Mellon University / CMU Sphinx maintainers CMU US English Pronouncing Dictionary — US English dictionary readings; not owner-specific or exhaustive multilingual pronunciation
References support the individual facts shown. A source link does not mean the entire profile has been verified.