Maz
A Persian name for boys meaning "brave" or "victor".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Maz. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Maz today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maz births was 2013 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maz. 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
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Maz. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2013
5 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#13,389
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Maz: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Maz 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 Maz during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Maz
The name Maz is believed to have originated from the Persian language, with its roots dating back to ancient Persia, around the 6th century BCE. It is derived from the Persian word "Maz," which translates to "great" or "mighty." The name was initially associated with strength, power, and nobility within the Persian culture.
In ancient Persian literature, the name Maz is mentioned in various epic poems and historical texts. One notable reference is found in the "Shahnameh," the national epic of Greater Iran, composed by the celebrated poet Ferdowsi in the late 10th century CE. The name appears as a character in this literary masterpiece, representing a valiant warrior or noble figure.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Maz can be traced back to the Achaemenid Empire, which ruled over vast territories in ancient Persia from 550 BCE to 330 BCE. During this period, the name was borne by several influential figures, including Maz the Brave, a renowned military commander who fought alongside King Darius III against Alexander the Great.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Maz. One of the most prominent was Maz al-Din, a revered Persian philosopher and scholar who lived in the 12th century CE. He made significant contributions to the fields of theology, metaphysics, and ethics, and his writings influenced generations of scholars in the Islamic world.
Another famous bearer of the name was Maz al-Mulk, a powerful Persian vizier (prime minister) who served under the Seljuk Empire in the 11th century CE. He was known for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in the expansion and administration of the Seljuk territories.
In more recent times, Maz Jobrani, an Iranian-American actor and comedian born in 1972, has gained recognition for his stand-up comedy and appearances in various television shows and films. He is known for his comedic take on cultural stereotypes and the experiences of Iranian immigrants in the United States.
Maz Kanata, a fictional character from the Star Wars universe, was also introduced in the film "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015. This enigmatic character, portrayed as a wise and ancient being, has become a beloved figure among Star Wars fans.
While the name Maz has its roots in ancient Persia, it has transcended cultural boundaries and continues to be used in various parts of the world, carrying with it a sense of strength, power, and nobility that has been passed down through the ages.
People
Maz + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maz 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
Maz: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maz?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maz 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Maz a common name?
We classify Maz as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maz most popular?
The single biggest year for Maz was 2013, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maz is about 13 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 Maz in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Maz a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maz 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.
Is Maz still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Maz 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 Maz 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 share the name Maz?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.