The nameMaël
Maël is a Breton name that became a hit in France and is now appearing in the United States and Britain.
- Boy's name
- Breton
Meaning
Maël comes from the Breton mael, "prince, chief".
Origin
Breton.
History
Maël was the name of an early Breton saint. In the United States it reached its best rank, 976th, in 2023. In England and Wales it reached 1359th in 2025.
Maël in other languages
A Breton name, Maël has few equivalents outside France. It gave the feminine forms Maëlle and Maëlys, and the masculine Maëlan, which have followed its success.
Popularity of the name Maël
Maël in the United States
Maël was most popular in the United States in the 2020s, with 783 births over the decade, 68% of all recorded babies named Maël. Its rise began around 2012, and it peaked in 2023. Half of all babies named Maël in the United States were born before 2022, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 157 births a year on average, against 43 in the five years before.
Maël in France
Maël was most popular in France in the 2010s, with 34,815 births over the decade, 43% of all recorded babies named Maël. Its rise began around 1995, and it peaked in 2022. Half of all babies named Maël in France were born before 2014, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 3,330 births a year.
Maël in Belgium
Maël in Switzerland
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Maël
Names from the same generation as Maël, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Maël? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Maël with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Maël side by side with the name of your choice.
Maël in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maël mean?
Maël comes from the Breton mael, "prince, chief".
What is the origin of the name Maël?
Breton.
Is Maël a girl's or a boy's name?
Maël is a boy's name.
How popular is the name Maël?
In 2024, Maël was the 1058th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 206 births.
What are the variants of the name Maël?
Variants and related names of Maël include Maëla, Maëlie and Maëlys.
What are good sibling names for Maël?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Winona, Lottie, Eliette and Marceline for a sister, Lowen, Naël, Eyden and Elio for a brother.