Holding steady.
Popularity of Mayling since 1975
Babies named Mayling per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 19 |
| 1980s | 26 |
| 1990s | 31 |
| 2000s | 28 |
| 2010s | 13 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Mayling first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1975, coinciding with a period of increased cultural interest in Chinese names. It reached its peak popularity in 1979, ranking approximately 1,291 out of all girl names that year. Since then, its usage has been stable but extremely rare, with fewer than five births per year on average. The name's trajectory shows no recent revival, remaining a niche choice. Its most famous association is with Soong Mei-ling (Madame Chiang Kai-shek), which likely influenced its early adoption outside Chinese communities. The name's components, 'mei' and 'ling', carry positive meanings of beauty and cleverness, contributing to its appeal.
Mayling is a Chinese name composed of 'mei' (美, meaning 'beautiful') and 'ling' (灵 or 玲, meaning 'clever' or 'delicate'). It was popularized in the West through Madame Chiang Kai-shek, whose original name was Soong Mei-ling. The name has been used in Chinese-speaking communities and occasionally adopted by English speakers as a given name or a variant of May/Mei combined with -ling.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: May, Ling
Variants: Meiling, Mei-ling, May Ling
Sibling names for Mayling
Names that share Mayling's style, for a brother or sister.
