Given name & surname
Mai
“wheat”
Mai is connected with Maria and Margit in Swedish naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
In French use, Mai has a related form in May. An origin associated with May is Latin. In Norwegian use, Mai is a short form of Maja. A possible origin is Latin, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Swedish use, Mai is used as an affectionate form of Maria. In Swedish use, Mai is used as an affectionate form of Margit.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Mai is a short form of Maia. The history of Maia gives this family its wider story. In mythological stories, Maia is associated with the goddess of spring.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Mai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,697
- 20 boys · 5,677 girls
- Most popular year
- 1990
- 254 babies
- 2025
- 55
- #3,016 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +15%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 55 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,016 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 254 in 1990. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 20,650 as a first name in 2020; 21,383 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Mai’s family of names
Mai is an affectionate form of Maria. In English usage, Mai has a related form in Mae. In Norwegian usage, Mai is a short form of Maria.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Mai has relatives in 8 languages.
15 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 10
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
- 妹original script · Japanese
- 舞衣original script · Japanese
- 舞以original script · Japanese
- 真以original script · Japanese
- 真生original script · Japanese
- 麻衣original script · Japanese
- Μάϊin another script · Greek
- 舞original script · Japanese
Show 2 moreShow fewer
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Mai
- Mai AizawaJapanese association football playerborn 1980
- Mai ZetterlingSwedish actress and film director (1925–1994)
- Mai KurakiJapanese J-pop singerborn 1982
- Mai CharoenpuraThai singer and actressborn 1969
- Mai Thi Nguyen-KimGerman chemist, science journalist and television presenterborn 1987
- Mai MurakamiJapanese artistic gymnastborn 1996
- Mai NakaharaJapanese voice actress and singer (born 1981)
- Mai MasriPalestinian filmmakerborn 1959
- Mai HagiwaraJapanese singer and actressborn 1996
Characters named Mai: Mai Shiranui (Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
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