Rising since 2002, #1,097 for boys today.
Popularity of Mael since 2002
Babies named Mael per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 64 |
| 2010s | 308 |
| 2020s | 981 |
Meaning & origin
Mael is a short, distinctive name of Breton origin meaning 'prince' or 'chief.' It first appeared in U.S. records in 2002, a late arrival compared to many traditional names, and has been steadily climbing. In 2025 it reached rank 1097, with about 1 in 8759 newborns named Mael. Its peak year was 2023, suggesting growing interest. The name is most popular in Massachusetts, Arizona, and New York, indicating a coastal and Sun Belt appeal. Despite its ancient roots in the British Isles via Breton saints, Mael feels modern and fresh, fitting a current trend toward concise, vowel-rich names.
Mael is a Breton name first recorded in Brittany, France, from Old Breton 'mail' meaning 'prince' or 'chief'. It was borne by several early Breton saints, including Saint Mael, a 5th-century Welsh missionary to Brittany. The name has seen a resurgence in France and lately in the United States, where it entered the top 1000 in 2002.
Where Mael is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mael” around the world
Where Mael lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#9
in 2024
Quebec
#42
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Maël, Mael
Sibling names for Mael
Names that share Mael's style, for a brother or sister.
