Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Mei
GirlChinese, Japanese· “beautiful; plum blossom”
- Meaning
- beautiful; plum blossom
- Origin
- Chinese, Japanese
- Pronunciation
- MAY
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,744
- US babies 2025
- 117
- Best rank
- #1,744 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Mei
Mei is a Chinese and Japanese name that is usually said to mean “beautiful; plum blossom”.
Mei is a short name with meanings in several East Asian languages. In Chinese, 美 means "beautiful" and 梅 means "plum blossom," among other characters with the same sound. In Japanese, Mei can be written with characters meaning "bright," "sprout" or "life," among others. It is said MAY. Mei is often used as part of a longer name in Chinese, and in Japanese it is a common name on its own. Totoro fans know Mei as the younger sister in My Neighbor Totoro. Its single syllable makes it easy to use in many languages.
Popularity over time
Mei first appears in US Social Security records in 1947. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #1,744, and its highest count, 117 babies. Use has grown 166% in ten years.
Its national rank moved from #4,245 in 1980, #3,320 in 2000, #4,465 in 2010, and #1,744 in 2025. Of the 1,859 US girls named Mei since records began, 26% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 483 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Huda, Mayla, Yasmina, Rayah, and Zyra.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Mei ranked highest in Utah, Arizona, and Washington.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Utah | #791 | 5 |
| Arizona | #881 | 7 |
| Washington | #1007 | 6 |
| New York | #1131 | 13 |
| California | #1395 | 17 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Mei is usually pronounced MAY, with one syllable. It has three letters, starts with M and ends in “-ei”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Mae, May, and Maye.
Middle names for Mei
A few middle names that flow with Mei: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Mei
Similar names
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Lists that include Mei
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mei mean?
Mei is a Chinese and Japanese name that is usually said to mean “beautiful; plum blossom”.
What is the origin of the name Mei?
Mei has Chinese and Japanese roots. Mei is a short name with meanings in several East Asian languages.
Is Mei a popular name?
Not especially. Mei ranked #1,744 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Mei a boy or girl name?
Mei is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Mei?
Mei is usually pronounced MAY. 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