Mai

The first name Mai is a Germanized form of May or Maj, which has a connection to the spring month of May and traces back to the Roman goddess Maia.

What does the name Mai mean?

The name Mai is a German variant of May or Maj, referring to the month of May and associated with the Roman goddess Maia. Translated, the name means 'the one born in May' or 'the greater.' Additionally, Mai is considered a Frisian and Swedish short form of Maria, which traces back to Mirjam. The name has several meanings, including 'the beloved of God,' 'the bitter one,' 'the beloved,' 'the rebellious one,' 'the drop of the sea,' or 'the star of the sea.' The exact origins are not clearly defined, but an ancient Egyptian origin of the name is suspected, derived from mry, meaning 'beloved.' In Japanese, the name stands for 'dance' and is derived from mai (舞). In Arabic, it means 'raindrop,' derived from the term māʾ (ماء) for 'water' and 'rain.' In Vietnamese, Mai is associated with 'plum blossom,' 'apricot blossom,' or 'flower,' which blooms briefly for the New Year.

Where does the name Mai come from?

The name Mai has a feminine origin from ancient Hebrew and Latin and means 'the one born in May.'

How do you pronounce Mai?

The pronunciation of Mai: The name is monosyllabic and strongly vowel-stressed. In German, it is usually pronounced as 'Mai' [maɪ̯]. The diphthong gives the name a lively and vibrant note. The open sound provides a fresh and light aura. Due to its reduction, the name appears modern and particularly – feminine, clear, and present.

When is the name day of Mai?

The name day for Mai is June 20 and September 12.

Popularity

In Germany, Mai is among the popular girl names. The name currently ranks 801st on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2015 at 396th place. Over the last ten years, Mai has been given as a first name about 570 times, placing it 776th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 768th.

Nicknames & pet names

Maiblümchen / Maikäfer / Maionese / Maiuy / Mayo

Similar first names

Famous people

• Jenny-Mai Nguyen (German writer)
• Kim Mai Guest (American actress)
• Louise Mai Jansen (Danish swimmer)
• Mai (calendar) (5th month)
• Mai Al Balushi (Kuwaiti actress)
• Mai Britt Normann (singer)
• Mai Fuchigami (Japanese voice actress)
• Mai Fujii (Japanese volleyball player)
• Mai Fukui (Japanese singer)
• Mai Ghoussoub (Lebanese writer)
• Mai Hagiwara (°C-ute singer)
• Mai Hirano (voice actress from Japan)
• Mai Iwamura (actress from Japan)
• Mai Kawasumi (character from the anime Kanon)
• Mai Kuraki (Japanese singer)
• Mai Minakami (character from Nichijou)
• Mai Misho (anime character from Pretty Cure Splash Star)
• Mai Nakamura (Japanese swimmer)
• Mai Oshima (member of the band 'AKB48')
• Mai Satoda (Japanese singer)