mai

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Origin, Meaning, And History of Mai

The name Mai has varying meanings and origins based on language and culture. It means ‘water’ in Arabic, which is a variant of ‘ma.’ In Estonian, Norwegian, Danish, and Breton, Mai is a shortened form of the Latin name Maria, derived from the Greek name Mary, which is itself derived from the Hebrew name Miriam that refers to the sister of Moses in the Old Testament. Therefore, the name Mai can also mean ‘beloved’ or ‘love.’ In Japanese, it is associated with the meanings ‘dance’ or ‘linen robe’ and can combine ma meaning ‘real’ or ‘genuine’ and ai meaning ‘love’ or ‘affection.’ In Vietnamese, the name comes from the Sino-Vietnamese word that refers to the species Prunus mume, thereby giving Mai the meanings ‘plum’ or ‘apricot’.

The name Mai has additional meanings, such as ‘brightness’ in Japanese, ‘coyote’ in Native American, ‘flower’ in Vietnamese, ‘the month of May’ in English, ‘bitter’ in Hebrew, and ‘great’ in Latin. Its Chinese origin traces back to the Guangdong and Henan provinces, thus also deriving the meaning ‘wheat’. Mai is also a topographic name that refers to the largest city in northern Thailand called Chiang Mai.

The name Mai has different forms and variations in different languages. In Breton, it is the full form of Mari while in Danish, it includes variants such as Mari, Maria, Marie, and Miriam. The Estonian forms of this name include Maarika, Maarja, Maia, Maie, Malle, Mare, Mari, Maria, Marika, Maris, Marje, Marju, and Mirjam. In Norwegian and Swedish, Mai has similar forms including Mari, Maria, Marie, Miriam, and Maj, but in Catalan, it is known as Ona, and in Dutch, it is Jet. The English language has several diminutives and short forms such as Maie, Maia, Mayes, May, Maya, Mae, Mays, Maye, Maize, Maurie, Mo, Mollie, Molly, Pollie, Polly, and Reenie. The Irish form of Mai is Mallaidh, while in Chinese, it is equated with Mei, and with Ume in Japanese.

The name Mai is associated with fictional characters such as the student activist and performance artistMai Hemfrom the 1994 Australian television program Heartbreak High, the quiet and deadpanMai Minakamifrom the Japanese manga series Nichijou, and the impassive, bored, stoic noblewoman Mai from the Nickelodeon animated television programsAvatar: The Last Airbenderand its sequels.

Mai

heart image
A person who dances with great grace
Girl
Judaism
Japanese
m..ma..ma..Ma..Maa..

How To Pronounce Mai?

Pronounced asmey
English

Famous People With The Name Mai

  • Nakamura MaiJapanese synchronized swimmer, part of the 2016 Olympic bronze medallist swim team.
  • Mai YamaguchiJapanese volleyball player, part of the 2012 Olympic bronze medal-winning team, the 2010 World Championship bronze medallist team, and the 2011 Asian Championship silver medallist team.
  • Mai NakamuraJapanese backstroke swimmer, won a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke and a bronze medal as part of the 4×100-meter medley relay team at the 2000 Olympics.

Mai On The Popularity Chart

According to the US Social Security Administration, the name Mai has risen and dropped in popularity and ranking over the years. Take a look at the following graphs to understand how this name has fared over time.

Popularity Over Time

The name Mai was shared among 71 babies per million in 1980, followed by a rise in popularity to 254 babies per million in 1990. The name was least popular in 2017 when it was shared among 34 babies per million. However, in 2021, the name was shared among 58 babies per million.

Source:Social Security Administration

Rank Over Time

In 1980 the name was ranked at 1631 followed by a rise in ranking to 794 in 1990. This was followed by a fall in the names ranking to 4270 in 2017. However, in 2021, the name was ranked at 2893.

Source:Social Security Administration

Names With Similar Sound As Mai

The name Mai is pronounced as ma-ee or mie. If you like the phonetic sound of this name, you may consider the following names with similar sounds.

Popular Sibling Names For Mai

Other Popular Names Beginning With M

Names With Similar Meaning As Mai

The name Mai is a versatile name with multiple meanings. If you like the name’s symbolic associations, here are some more names to consider.

信息图:根据ν知道名字的个性merology

name-numerology-for-mai-girl

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages

In Nautical Flags

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In Sign Language

mai

In Braille Alphabet

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In Morse Code

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Name Numerology For Mai

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the meaning of the name Mai?

The name Mai means a person who dances with great grace.

2. What is the origin of the name Mai?

Mai has a Japanese origin.

3. How to pronounce the name Mai?

Mai is pronounced as mey.

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