Maysa
An Arabic feminine name meaning "born at night" or "walking with grace".
Name Census estimates that about 915 living Americans carry the first name Maysa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Maysa today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maysa births was 2011 (43 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maysa. 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
915
~ 1 in 374,595 Americans
Peak year
2011
43 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#4,248
Tracked since 1979
Popularity
Maysa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Maysa from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 357 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Maysa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maysa 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 Maysa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Maysas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 5 states and territories. Michigan, California, New York recorded the most babies named Maysa, while North Carolina, Illinois, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 18 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Maysa
The name Maysa has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "mays," which means "walking with pride" or "walking gracefully." It is believed to have originated in the Middle East, particularly in regions with a strong Arabic cultural influence.
The earliest recorded use of the name Maysa can be traced back to ancient Arabic texts and literature, where it was often used to describe women with a graceful and dignified demeanor. In some Islamic traditions, the name is associated with the concept of modesty and elegance.
One of the earliest notable bearers of the name Maysa was Maysa bint Shaddad, a 7th-century Arab poet and warrior from the Banu Shayban tribe. She was known for her bravery and skill in battle, as well as her poetic talents. Her poetry often celebrated the virtues of courage and loyalty.
In the 9th century, Maysa al-Qurashiyya was a renowned Abbasid-era singer and musician from Baghdad. She was celebrated for her exceptional vocal talents and was highly regarded in the court of the Abbasid caliphs.
During the 12th century, Maysa al-Kazdari was a prominent female scholar and jurist from Damascus. She was recognized for her expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and her contributions to the field of Islamic law.
In the 14th century, Maysa al-Andalusia was a notable Andalusian poet and calligrapher from Granada. Her poetry was celebrated for its beauty and elegance, and she was also renowned for her exceptional calligraphic skills.
Maysa Matareed (1904-1998) was a famous Lebanese singer and actress who rose to prominence in the mid-20th century. She was known for her powerful voice and her ability to convey deep emotions through her performances. She was also celebrated for her acting talents and appeared in several popular Arabic films.
Throughout its history, the name Maysa has been associated with grace, elegance, and cultural sophistication in the Arabic-speaking world. It has been bestowed upon many notable figures, including poets, scholars, artists, and performers, who have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of the region.
People
Maysa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maysa 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
Maysa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maysa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 915 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maysa 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 374,595 US residents.
Is Maysa a common name?
We classify Maysa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 928 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maysa most popular?
The single biggest year for Maysa was 2011, when 43 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maysa is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Maysa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maysa 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.