Given name & surname
Makai
“who is like God?”
Makai is a variant of Michael. One Hebrew interpretation is “who is like God?.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Makai is a variant of Michael. One Hebrew interpretation is “who is like God?.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Makai is a variant of Michael. An origin associated with Michael is Hebrew.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1989. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Makai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 9,609
- 9,298 boys · 311 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 626 babies
- 2025
- 626
- #481 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +22%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 626 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 481 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 24.3% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (51). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,117 as a first name in 2020; 111 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.
Makai’s family of names
Makai has a related form in Michael. In Greek usage, Makai as a surname is a transliteration of Μακάη. In Greek usage, Makai as a surname is a transliteration of Μακάι.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Makai
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Makai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Malakai
“a messenger of God”
>99% boys
Jasai
99% boys · 1% girls
Ayaan
Ayaan is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls
Ozzy
“having great strength” · “a spear of the gods”
89% boys · 11% girls
Maddox
“born into wealth and prosperity” · “the son of the benefactor”
96% boys · 4% girls
Bodhi
Bodhi is a masculine given name from Sanskrit.
96% boys · 4% girls
Sylas
“a woodland dweller”
99% boys · 1% girls
Lucca
“surrounded by light”
93% boys · 7% girls