Maeley
A feminine name of unknown origin, potentially a variant of Mailey.
Name Census estimates that about 241 living Americans carry the first name Maeley. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Maeley today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maeley births was 2015 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maeley. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
241
~ 1 in 1,422,217 Americans
Peak year
2015
23 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,902
Tracked since 2003
Popularity
Maeley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Maeley from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 143 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Maeley remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maeley by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Maeley during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Maeley
The given name Maeley has its origins in the ancient Celtic language of Gaelic, which was spoken in parts of Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic word "maolaidh," which means "servant" or "follower." This name was particularly popular among the Scottish Highlanders during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maeley can be found in the annals of the Clan MacDonald, a prominent Scottish clan. In the 13th century, a woman named Maeley MacDonald was mentioned as the wife of a chieftain, which suggests that the name held some significance within the clan's hierarchy.
The name Maeley also appears in several Scottish folktales and legends, often associated with female characters known for their bravery, loyalty, and wisdom. One such legend tells the story of Maeley MacLeod, a young woman who saved her village from invading Vikings by leading them into a trap, showcasing her intelligence and courage.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Maeley. In the 16th century, Maeley Campbell (1520-1589) was a renowned healer and herbalist from the Isle of Skye, famous for her knowledge of traditional Scottish medicine and her skill in treating various ailments.
Another notable Maeley was Maeley MacKenzie (1675-1741), a Scottish poet and songwriter whose works celebrated the beauty of the Highlands and the valor of its people. Her poems and songs were widely popular among the Gaelic-speaking communities of the time.
In the 19th century, Maeley MacDonald (1825-1893) was a prominent figure in the Scottish suffrage movement, advocating for women's rights and equality. She played a crucial role in organizing rallies and petitions, and her efforts contributed to the eventual granting of voting rights to women in Scotland.
Maeley Macleod (1880-1962) was a Scottish artist renowned for her landscapes and portraits, capturing the rugged beauty of the Highlands and the resilience of its people. Her works are displayed in several prestigious galleries across Scotland.
While the name Maeley may not be as common today as it once was, it remains an important part of Scottish cultural heritage, reflecting the rich history and traditions of the Gaelic-speaking communities that have called the Highlands their home for centuries.
People
Maeley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maeley as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Maeley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maeley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 241 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maeley going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,422,217 US residents.
Is Maeley a common name?
We classify Maeley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 243 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maeley most popular?
The single biggest year for Maeley was 2015, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maeley is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Maeley in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Maeley a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maeley in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Maeley still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Maeley in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Maeley can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Maeley as a first name?
If you just want to know how many people share the name Maeley, HowManyOfMe.org gives you the headline number in one glance.