Mai

Meaning of Mai

Mai, pronounced like the word “my,” is a pocket-sized name whose roots travel from the lantern-lit lanes of Hanoi to the cherry-scented shrines of Kyoto. In Vietnamese, it evokes the golden apricot blossom that bursts open for Tết, a living promise of renewal and prosperity; in Japanese, its many kanji spellings can whisper “dance,” “true love,” or even the soft rustle of a “flax robe,” offering parents a bouquet of meanings to choose from. Though only one crisp syllable long, Mai has been tiptoeing through American baby charts for over a century—hovering around the 800–900 mark in recent years—making her familiar yet delightfully uncommon. Indian hearts, meanwhile, may hear a sweet echo of the endearing “mai” for mother in certain dialects, or sense kinship with the word “mahi,” meaning beloved, lending the name an extra measure of warmth. All told, Mai is that rare blossom of a name—graceful, globe-trotting, and ever ready to tuck a little sunshine behind the ear of its bearer.

Pronunciation

Vietnamese,Japanese

• Pronunced as my (/miː/)

• Mila
• Mira
• Mia
• Maya
• Mae
• Mei
• Marai