Makai
Boy name · #481 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Makai? In official American birth records, Makai has been tracked continuously since 1989, giving it 36 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 626 baby boys were named Makai, placing it at #481 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #681, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,875 boys born in 2025 was named Makai.
The 36-year story
Makai first appears in the Social Security records in 1989, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 626 babies and a rank of #481. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Babies named Makai per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Makai against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Makai in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Makai is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Makai is most common
Geography matters for names, and Makai is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Makai is most common in MS (1.1 per 1,000), AL (1 per 1,000), SC (0.9 per 1,000), GA (0.9 per 1,000), OK (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Makai is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Makai
Statistically, parents drawn to Makai tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Jakai, Zakai, Malakai, Malikai, and Akai.
JakaiZakaiMalakaiMalikaiAkaiMusaKenaiMaximo
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Makai | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 626 | #481 |
| 2024 | 559 | #532 |
| 2023 | 611 | #491 |
| 2022 | 572 | #518 |
| 2021 | 534 | #547 |
| 2020 | 518 | #549 |
| 2019 | 499 | #559 |
| 2018 | 484 | #570 |
| 2017 | 411 | #631 |
| 2016 | 422 | #634 |
| 2015 | 371 | #681 |
| 2014 | 341 | #708 |
| 2013 | 348 | #688 |
| 2012 | 348 | #680 |
| 2011 | 356 | #665 |
| 2010 | 341 | #689 |
| 2009 | 361 | #674 |
| 2008 | 234 | #893 |
| 2007 | 233 | #878 |
| 2006 | 232 | #862 |
| 2005 | 230 | #820 |
| 2004 | 143 | #1101 |
| 2003 | 128 | #1167 |
| 2002 | 122 | #1160 |
| 2001 | 72 | #1629 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Makai?
In official American birth records, the name Makai first appeared in 1989 (over 36 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 36 years.
Is Makai a popular boy name?
Makai ranked #481 among boys in 2025 with 626 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #681.
When was the name Makai most popular?
Makai peaked in 2025, when 626 American boys received the name (ranked #481 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Makai?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,875 newborn American boys was named Makai. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.