Rising since 1987, #1,733 for girls today.
Popularity of Mei since 1947
Babies named Mei per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 18 |
| 1950s | 16 |
| 1960s | 37 |
| 1970s | 110 |
| 1980s | 136 |
| 1990s | 191 |
| 2000s | 385 |
| 2010s | 483 |
| 2020s | 483 |
Meaning & origin
A delicate and cross-cultural name, Mei has been used in the United States since at least 1947. In 2025 it ranked 1733rd with a 1-in-13,737 frequency, showing a steady rise in popularity since 1987. Its peak year was 2025, which suggests its appeal is growing, especially in states like Utah, Arizona, and Washington. The name carries elegance through its multiple meanings across Chinese and Japanese, making it a subtle yet evocative choice.
Mei has multiple origins. In Chinese, it is commonly derived from 美 (měi) meaning 'beautiful' or from 梅 (méi) meaning 'plum'. In Japanese, Mei (芽生) can mean 'bud' or 'sprout', or be from 明 (mei) meaning 'bright'. It is also used as a short form of names like Melinda. The name gained wider recognition in the West through media and cultural exchange.
Where Mei is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mei” around the world
Where Mei lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
75
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Mei
Names that share Mei's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Lily, Yuki, Sakura, Aiko, Ming, Ai, Daiya, Gao, Jia, Jiayi, Jing, Lei, Ling, Mayling, Mulan, Niang, Pang, Sheng, Temari, Ying, Yue
Brothers: Kai, Taro, Hiro, Li, Ren, Bao, Chang, Cheng, Ching, Chun, Deng, Dong, Fong, Hao, Hong, Jian, Jie, Jin, Keng, Kongmeng, Meng, Peng, Shiquan, Teng, Tian, Tong, Wai, Wei, Wong, Xiong, Xue, Yamato, Yan, Yang, Yee, Yi, Yifan, Yong, Yuan, Yuchen, Zhen, Zhi
