Makaio
A Hawaiian masculine name meaning "gift from the gods."
Name Census estimates that about 1,259 living Americans carry the first name Makaio. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Makaio today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Makaio births was 2024 (123 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Makaio. 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
- • Makaio is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 11 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.3K
~ 1 in 272,243 Americans
Peak year
2024
123 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#1,473
Tracked since 1998
Popularity
Makaio: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Makaio from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 547 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Makaio 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 Makaio during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Makaios live
The SSA's state-level files cover 16 states and territories. California, Hawaii, Texas recorded the most babies named Makaio, while Wisconsin, Virginia, Oregon recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 35 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Makaio
The name Makaio has its origins in the Hawaiian language and culture. It is a relatively modern name, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 19th century.
Makaio is believed to be derived from the Hawaiian word "maka'io," which means "watchful" or "vigilant." This name likely originated as a way to express the hope that a child would grow up to be observant and attentive.
While the name Makaio does not appear to have any direct historical references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, its Hawaiian roots tie it to the rich cultural traditions and mythology of the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Makaio was Makaio Kekumano, a Hawaiian farmer and landowner who lived in the late 19th century on the island of Molokai. Kekumano played a significant role in the preservation of traditional Hawaiian land use practices.
Another notable figure was Makaio Kauka, a Hawaiian musician and composer who lived from 1892 to 1971. Kauka was known for his contributions to the development of Hawaiian slack key guitar music, a traditional style that continues to be celebrated today.
In the world of sports, Makaio Kaauamo was a Hawaiian-born professional wrestler who competed in the early 20th century under the ring name "Kaili the Hawaiian." He was active in the wrestling circuits of the western United States from the 1910s to the 1930s.
Makaio Akau was a Hawaiian community leader and activist who was instrumental in the establishment of the Hawaiian Homelands program in the 1920s. This program aimed to provide land and resources to Native Hawaiians, helping to preserve their cultural heritage and way of life.
Lastly, Makaio Kalani was a Hawaiian artist and woodcarver who lived from 1905 to 1983. Kalani's intricate wood carvings, which depicted traditional Hawaiian motifs and scenes, are highly regarded and can be found in museums and private collections around the world.
While the name Makaio may be relatively modern, its Hawaiian roots and the accomplishments of those who have borne this name throughout history reflect the rich cultural heritage and resilience of the Hawaiian people.
People
Makaio + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Makaio 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
Makaio: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Makaio?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,259 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Makaio 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 272,243 US residents.
Is Makaio a common name?
We classify Makaio as "Rare". It ranks above 91.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,269 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Makaio most popular?
The single biggest year for Makaio was 2024, when 123 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Makaio is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Makaio a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Makaio in the SSA data are male. 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.