Rising since 1992, #8,860 for girls today.
Popularity of Maylen since 1989
Babies named Maylen per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 24 |
| 2000s | 152 |
| 2010s | 443 |
| 2020s | 215 |
Meaning & origin
Maylen is a rare modern name that entered U.S. records in 1989 and climbed gradually for decades. By 2025 it stood at rank 8,860, with a 1-in-146,115 frequency, and it remains more distinctive than common. Its peak year of usage was 2012, and it has been on a rising trajectory since 1992, suggesting consistent but niche appeal. The name's construction likely draws from the fashionable -len suffix, placing it alongside other modern invented names rather than deep historical roots. Parents drawn to Maylen value its melodic sound and fresh feel without centuries of tradition.
Maylen appears to be a modern coinage, likely a blend of the name May (itself derived from the month or from Mary) and the popular suffix -len, seen in names like Kaylen and Braylen. It may also be a respelling of Maylin, which has roots in Chinese (meaning 'beautiful jade') or Germanic origins. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1989 and has been rising in use since 1992, particularly in the 2010s. Its recent emergence and lack of a single clear etymology place it among modern invented names.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: May, Lennie
Sibling names for Maylen
Names that share Maylen's style, for a brother or sister.
