Fun Facts About the Name Maithili
- 36 babies named Maithili: U.S. records list 36 babies given the name Maithili from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Maithili Mean?
Maithili is a feminine given name of Indo-Aryan origin meaning "of Mithila" or "from Mithila." It comes from Mithila, the name of an ancient region in South Asia that now falls in the Indian state of Bihar and in the Terai region of Nepal. The name is the feminine form of the Sanskrit adjective Maithila (मैथिल), "relating to Mithila"; the feminine Maithilī (मैथिली) literally describes a woman connected with that place.
The place name Mithila is explained in traditional accounts by the legendary king Mithi, who is said to have given the region its name. This is a legendary etymology rather than a documented one, and in early texts the same kingdom is also called Videha. So the personal name's meaning is clear and place-based, while the deeper origin of the place name itself is uncertain.
Maithili Name History & Origins
Maithili belongs to the same word family as the region of Mithila and the Maithili language. Mithila was an ancient kingdom of the Indian subcontinent, remembered in the Ramayana as the homeland of Sita and the realm of her father, King Janaka. The kingdom appears in Buddhist and Jain texts as well, and it was a noted center of Sanskrit learning. From this region came the Indo-Aryan language called Maithili, which has a long literary tradition; the poet Vidyapati, who lived in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, is its best-known early writer. The language was historically written in the Tirhuta (Mithilakshar) script and is now usually written in Devanagari.
The given name Maithili follows the widespread South Asian practice of naming a person after a place or region. It is used mainly in India, especially in Bihar and the Mithila area, and in Nepal, where Maithili speakers also live. The same word serves as the name of the language, so the personal name and the language share a single geographic root rather than having separate origins.
How Popular is the Name Maithili?
Maithili has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #11,539 in 2025.
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 | #11,539 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #13,802 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #18,503 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #18,145 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #15,330 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #17,355 | 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 Maithili 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.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Maithili's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Maithili's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.