Fun Facts About the Name Mael
- More than 1 thousand babies named Mael: U.S. records list 1,350 babies given the name Mael from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Mael Mean?
Mael is a masculine name from the Celtic-speaking world, used in Wales and Brittany. It comes from the Celtic element *maglo-, "noble, prince," which appears in Welsh as mael, glossed as "prince" or "chief." The same word was used in Breton, where Mael is a traditional given name, and it forms the first part of older compound names such as Maelgwn, Maelon, and Maeldaf.
The Irish element Máel is a different word that happens to look the same. It means "tonsured" or "bald" and appears in early Irish names such as Máel Coluim and Máel Sechnaill in the sense "devotee" or "servant" of a saint. That religious sense belongs to Irish tradition and does not explain the Welsh and Breton name, so the two elements should not be merged.
The modern French Maël is a use of the Breton name, usually written with a diaeresis over the e.
Mael Name History & Origins
In the early Middle Ages the element mael appears inside longer personal names rather than on its own. The best-known example is Maelgwn, the sixth-century king of Gwynedd whom the writer Gildas knew in Latin as Maglocunus; the second part of that name, cwn, means "hounds." The element also appears in Breton personal names, and it stayed in use in Brittany after the medieval period.
From Brittany the name passed into French as Maël, with the diaeresis marking that the e is pronounced as a separate syllable. In France it is an established boys' name, and the feminine forms Maëlle and Maëlys are also used. English speakers who drop the diaeresis are left with the plain spelling Mael, which makes the name look identical to the unrelated Irish element.
Mael is also used as a given name in modern Wales. A recent fictional use is the character Mael in the manga and anime The Seven Deadly Sins; this is a modern literary association and has no bearing on the name's origin.
How Popular is the Name Mael?
Mael recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2023. Its best rank was #976 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,104 | 195 | 0.0114% |
| 2024 | #1,057 | 206 | 0.0120% |
| 2023 | #976 | 225 | 0.0132% |
| 2022 | #1,211 | 164 | 0.0094% |
| 2021 | #1,520 | 117 | 0.0067% |
| 2020 | #2,010 | 71 | 0.0041% |
| 2019 | #2,451 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 2018 | #2,731 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 2017 | #2,585 | 49 | 0.0026% |
| 2016 | #3,269 | 35 | 0.0018% |
| 2015 | #3,408 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2014 | #4,801 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #4,022 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2012 | #4,087 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #10,339 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #6,252 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2009 | #8,744 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2008 | #6,283 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #8,651 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #10,235 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #12,614 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #7,943 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #10,382 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #11,795 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Mael Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Mael's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Mael's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.