Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Mael
BoyBreton, Welsh· “prince, chief”
- Meaning
- prince, chief
- Origin
- Breton, Welsh
- Pronunciation
- mah-EL
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,104
- US babies 2025
- 195
- Best rank
- #972 (2023)
- Peak year
- 2023
Meaning and origin of Mael
Mael is a Breton and Welsh name that is usually said to mean “prince, chief”.
Mael is a Breton name, usually written Maël in France, where it has become a fashionable choice for boys. It comes from the Celtic element mael, meaning "prince" or "chief," which appears across the Brythonic languages, as in the Welsh royal name Maelgwn. In Irish the similar element máel took on a different sense, "devotee" or "tonsured one," as in Malcolm. In French the name has two syllables, mah-EL, and the diaeresis over the e signals that split. English speakers sometimes flatten it to one syllable, MAYL. Its short, clean sound fits alongside Noah, Nael and Leo, and the feminine form Maëlle is equally popular in France.
Popularity over time
Mael first appears in US Social Security records in 2002. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 1 different years, starting in 2023. Its best national rank was #972 in 2023, the same year it reached its highest count of 226 babies. In 2025, 195 babies were named Mael, and it ranked #1,104 nationally. That is 491% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #6,252 in 2010 and #1,104 in 2025. Of the 1,353 US boys named Mael since records began, 73% were born in the 2020s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 308 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Kanan, Bastian, Atharv, Cartier, and Ivaan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Mael ranked highest in Massachusetts, Arizona, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #494 | 10 |
| Arizona | #660 | 10 |
| New York | #705 | 21 |
| Pennsylvania | #732 | 12 |
| Florida | #769 | 20 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Mael is usually pronounced mah-EL, with one syllable. It has four letters, starts with M and ends in “-el”.
Middle names for Mael
A few middle names that flow with Mael: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mael
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Lists that include Mael
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mael mean?
Mael is a Breton and Welsh name that is usually said to mean “prince, chief”.
What is the origin of the name Mael?
Mael has Breton and Welsh roots. Mael is a Breton name, usually written Maël in France, where it has become a fashionable choice for boys.
Is Mael a popular name?
Not especially. Mael ranked #1,104 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Mael a boy or girl name?
Mael is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Mael?
Mael is usually pronounced mah-EL. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings