Mai Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Mai has its origins in Japanese, where it signifies concepts like 'dance' and 'beauty'. Over time, it has evolved through various cultural lenses, including Vietnamese and Chinese, where it can also reference the plum blossom. The name is characterized by its elegance and gracefulness, with no direct biblical connections. Its popularity has risen particularly in recent decades as cultural awareness has expanded. Variants like Maya and May are also common, contributing to its modern appeal.
The name Mai is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Mai has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Mai' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11776th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2609th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 3187th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4506th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2953rd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 969th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2369th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3209th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Mai' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Mai"
Pronunciation
/maɪ/
Origin
Japanese
Etymology
Mai is derived from the Japanese word '舞' which means 'dance'. In some contexts, it is also associated with the word '美', meaning 'beauty'.
Meaning
dance, beauty, plum blossom
Language Evolution
Mai (Japanese: 舞), Mai (Vietnamese: Mai), Mai (Chinese: 梅)
Historical Usage
Mai has been used in Japan for centuries, but gained more international recognition in the late 20th century as cultural exchange increased.
Variants & Derivatives
Maya, May, Maiya
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Mai is perceived as a modern, elegant name with Asian cultural connotations. It is often associated with grace and beauty.
Famous People
Mai Shiranui - a character from the video game series The King of Fighters, Mai Yamane - a Japanese singer known for her work in anime soundtracks
Explore More Mai Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Mai"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Mai"
"Mai" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 11776th of 16616 | 20 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2609th of 9107 | 209 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 3187th of 9204 | 147 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4506th of 12526 | 145 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2953rd of 19264 | 385 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 969th of 27321 | 2,903 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2369th of 35406 | 1,188 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 3209th of 30306 | 603 |
Regional Popularity of "Mai" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
63.94% 4039th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Mai" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
43.07% 1019th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
51.30% 1207th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
100.00% 2853rd/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
100.00% 2937th/2937 |
87.88% 3061st/3483 |
93.83% 3301st/3518 |
59.25% 2396th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
19.35% 713th/3685 |
37.52% 1679th/4475 |
42.57% 2211th/5194 |
9.51% 601st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
40.20% 1842nd/4582 |
46.48% 2400th/5164 |
47.57% 3479th/7313 |
25.07% 1871st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
67.24% 3017th/4487 |
50.51% 3446th/6822 |
33.91% 2128th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Mai"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Mai" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.