Given name & surname
Mayes
“from the meadow”·“from the field”
Mayes is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “from the meadow” (English) and “from the field” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “from the meadow” (English) and “from the field” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Mayes through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 185
- 180 boys · 5 girls
- Most popular year
- 2020
- 16 babies
- 2025
- 16
- #5,757 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +38%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 16 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,757 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 37.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 175 as a first name in 2020; 23,637 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.
Mayes’s family of names
Mayes has a related form in Mays. In English usage, Mayes as a surname has a related form in May. In English usage, Mayes as a surname has a related form in Mays.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Mayes, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Locke
“man of the forest” · “from the fortress”
>99% boys
Woods
“a woman of the forest” · “a man of the forest”
98% boys · 2% girls
Jett
“resembling the jet-black lustrous gemstone”
98% boys · 2% girls
Bentley
“from the meadow of bent grass”
95% boys · 5% girls
Hudson
“one who is adventurous; an explorer” · “the son of Hugh; from the river”
99% boys · 1% girls
Mannley
“from the hero's meadow; from the man's meadow”
>99% boys
Meaburn
“meadow” · “stream”
—
Ashford
“from the ash-tree ford”
>99% boys