Mai
Girl name · #3000 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Mai? In official American birth records, Mai has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 55 baby girls were named Mai, placing it at #3000 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #3429, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 32,727 girls born in 2025 was named Mai.
Babies named Mai per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Mai first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 254 girls were named Mai — good for #793 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Mai against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Mai in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Mai is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Mai will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Mai is most common
State-level data for Mai is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Mai
Statistically, parents drawn to Mai tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Codi, Maira, Kaci, Rikki, and Mayra.
CodiMairaKaciRikkiMayraJessiLorenLyndi
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Mai | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 55 | #2998 |
| 2024 | 49 | #3225 |
| 2023 | 51 | #3181 |
| 2022 | 55 | #2995 |
| 2021 | 58 | #2892 |
| 2020 | 48 | #3221 |
| 2019 | 50 | #3172 |
| 2018 | 53 | #3050 |
| 2017 | 34 | #4220 |
| 2016 | 49 | #3280 |
| 2015 | 46 | #3429 |
| 2014 | 55 | #3041 |
| 2013 | 55 | #3005 |
| 2012 | 55 | #3040 |
| 2011 | 61 | #2838 |
| 2010 | 58 | #2938 |
| 2009 | 76 | #2485 |
| 2008 | 79 | #2419 |
| 2007 | 69 | #2647 |
| 2006 | 75 | #2459 |
| 2005 | 84 | #2180 |
| 2004 | 74 | #2326 |
| 2003 | 81 | #2144 |
| 2002 | 63 | #2497 |
| 2001 | 74 | #2193 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Mai?
In official American birth records, the name Mai first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Mai a popular girl name?
Mai ranked #3000 among girls in 2025 with 55 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3429.
When was the name Mai most popular?
Mai peaked in 1990, when 254 American girls received the name (ranked #793 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Mai?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 32,727 newborn American girls was named Mai. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.