Majel
A feminine name of unknown origin and meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 45 living Americans carry the first name Majel. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Majel today is around 81 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Majel births was 1920 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Majel. 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.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Majel is about 81 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Majels were born before 1955.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Majel. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
45
~ 1 in 7,616,763 Americans
Peak year
1920
21 babies that year
Average age
81
years old
1960 SSA rank
#6,937
Tracked since 1901
Popularity
Majel: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Majel from the 1900s through to the 1960s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 137 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Majel 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 Majel during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Majels live
Origin
Meaning and history of Majel
The name Majel is a unique and relatively rare given name with a fascinating history. It is believed to have originated in the United States, possibly as a variation or derivative of the French name Maelle or the English name Mabel. The name itself does not appear to have any direct roots in ancient languages or cultures, but its origins can be traced back to the early 20th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Majel can be found in reference to Majel Barrett, an American actress and producer who was born in 1932. She is perhaps most notable for her role as Nurse Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek television series, as well as for her marriage to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Majel Barrett Roddenberry was also a driving force behind the creation of the Roddenberry Foundation, which aims to promote science education and exploration.
Another notable figure with the name Majel is Majel Connery, an American opera singer and voice teacher who was born in 1936. She had a successful career as a mezzo-soprano, performing with various opera companies and teaching at renowned institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music.
In the realm of literature, Majel Feldman was an American novelist and short story writer who lived from 1923 to 2014. She was known for her works that explored themes of family, relationships, and the complexities of human experience.
Majel Schmitt, born in 1920, was an American artist and sculptor who gained recognition for her abstract metal sculptures and public art installations. Her works can be found in various museums and public spaces across the United States.
Majel Griffith, born in 1945, was an American educator and civil rights activist. She dedicated her life to promoting educational opportunities and advocating for the rights of underrepresented communities, particularly in the field of education.
While the name Majel may not have a long and storied history dating back to ancient times, it has been carried by remarkable individuals who have left their mark in various fields, including entertainment, arts, literature, and civil rights. The name's uniqueness and rarity have contributed to its intrigue and the enduring legacy of those who have borne it.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Majel
People
Majel + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Majel 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
Majel: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Majel?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 45 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Majel 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 7,616,763 US residents.
Is Majel a common name?
We classify Majel as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 349 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Majel most popular?
The single biggest year for Majel was 1920, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Majel is about 81 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Majel a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Majel 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.