Maeli
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "trail blazer" or "work of love".
Name Census estimates that about 443 living Americans carry the first name Maeli. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Maeli today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maeli births was 2008 (35 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maeli. 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
443
~ 1 in 773,712 Americans
Peak year
2008
35 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,057
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Maeli: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Maeli 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 214 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Maeli remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maeli 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 Maeli during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Maelis live
Origin
Meaning and history of Maeli
The name Maeli is believed to have its origins in ancient Greece and is derived from the Greek word "meli," which means "honey." This suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals with a sweet or gentle nature.
During the Hellenistic period, which spanned from the 4th to the 1st century BC, the name Maeli was relatively common in various regions of the Greek world. It was particularly popular among the upper classes and aristocratic families, who often chose names with poetic or natural connotations.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maeli can be found in the works of the famous Greek playwright Euripides, who lived from around 480 BC to 406 BC. In his tragedy "The Bacchae," a character named Maeli is mentioned, although little is known about her significance or role in the play.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Maeli. In the 2nd century AD, there was a renowned Greek philosopher named Maeli of Tyre, who was known for her contributions to the field of ethics and moral philosophy. Unfortunately, not much is known about her life or specific works, as many ancient texts have been lost over time.
During the Byzantine era, which lasted from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Maeli gained popularity among the nobility and ruling classes. One prominent figure from this period was Maeli Doukas, a noblewoman who lived in the 11th century and was a member of the influential Doukas family, which played a significant role in Byzantine politics and governance.
In the realm of literature, a notable figure with the name Maeli was Maeli Xanthou, a Greek poet and writer who lived in the 16th century. She is best known for her poetic works, which often explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
Another historical figure worth mentioning is Maeli Venizelos, a Greek politician and statesman who lived from 1864 to 1936. He served as the Prime Minister of Greece on several occasions and played a crucial role in the country's modern history, particularly during the early 20th century.
While the name Maeli has its roots in ancient Greece, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with different cultural interpretations and adaptations. However, its connection to the concept of sweetness and gentleness has remained a common thread throughout its history.
People
Maeli + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maeli 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
Maeli: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maeli?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 443 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maeli 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 773,712 US residents.
Is Maeli a common name?
We classify Maeli as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 447 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maeli most popular?
The single biggest year for Maeli was 2008, when 35 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maeli is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Maeli a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maeli 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.
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.