Meili
A feminine Chinese name meaning "beautiful and beautiful" or "pretty".
Name Census estimates that about 390 living Americans carry the first name Meili. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Meili today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Meili births was 2009 (23 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Meili. 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
390
~ 1 in 878,857 Americans
Peak year
2009
23 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,810
Tracked since 1982
Popularity
Meili: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Meili from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 177 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Meili remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meili 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 Meili during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Meilis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Texas, Florida recorded the most babies named Meili, while Florida, Texas, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 11 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Meili
The name Meili is of Chinese origin and is believed to have its roots in ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese characters 美丽, which translate to "beautiful" and "lovely". The name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone with exceptional beauty or charm.
In traditional Chinese culture, names often carried symbolic meanings and were chosen with great care. The name Meili would have been bestowed upon a child with the hope that they would grow to embody the qualities of beauty and grace represented by the characters.
While there are no definitive records of the name's earliest usage, it is likely that Meili has been in use for centuries, particularly among the Han Chinese population. The earliest recorded instances of the name may be found in ancient family records or local historical documents.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Meili was a courtesan from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). She was renowned for her beauty and skills in the arts, and her name became synonymous with elegance and refinement during that era.
Another notable individual named Meili was a renowned calligrapher and poet who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Her works were widely celebrated for their intricate brushwork and profound insights into the human condition.
In the 17th century, a Meili was recorded as a prominent scholar and philosopher in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Her writings on Confucian principles and the nature of morality were highly influential in her time.
During the late 19th century, a Meili gained fame as a skilled martial artist and instructor. She is credited with preserving and passing down the teachings of her family's ancient fighting style, ensuring its survival into modern times.
In the early 20th century, a woman named Meili made a name for herself as a pioneering activist and advocate for women's rights in China. She fought tirelessly for gender equality and played a crucial role in shaping the feminist movement of her era.
While the name Meili has its roots in ancient Chinese culture, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by immigrants and adopted by individuals from diverse backgrounds who appreciate its beauty and symbolic meaning.
People
Meili + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Meili 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
Meili: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Meili?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 390 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Meili 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 878,857 US residents.
Is Meili a common name?
We classify Meili as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 394 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Meili most popular?
The single biggest year for Meili was 2009, when 23 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Meili is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Meili a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Meili 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.