BabyGen🇯🇵 Japanese · Girl
Mei
Meaning: Sprout, bud (芽)
- Syllables
- 1
- Length
- 3 letters
- Starts with
- M
- Ends with
- i
Is Mei a popular baby name?
Popularity trend for Mei
BabyGen interest indexThe chart shows BabyGen’s relative interest index for Mei across the past four decades. It blends search trends, naming-pattern signals, and our internal dataset — useful as a relative gauge, not an official census rank.
About the name Mei
- Origin
- Japanese
- Gender
- Girl
- Meaning
- Sprout, bud (芽)
- Syllables
- 1
- Length
- 3 letters
Origin & history of Mei
Mei comes from a japanese naming tradition. Japanese names are layered — sound, kanji, and meaning all matter. Below are picks that travel well outside Japan and are easy for non-Japanese speakers to pronounce.
Within that tradition, Mei stands out for its meaning — Sprout, bud (芽) — and for being recognizable across borders. Parents outside the original culture often pick Mei because it carries genuine history while still being easy to spell and say in everyday English.
Middle name ideas for Mei
Middles that balance Mei’s rhythm — shorter if Mei is long, longer if Mei is short — and read well together when spoken.
Names like Mei
Frequently asked questions about Mei
What does the name Mei mean?+
Mei means "Sprout, bud (芽)". It's a japanese girl's name with a clear, well-documented meaning that has carried through generations.
Where does the name Mei come from?+
Mei has Japanese origins. Japanese names are layered — sound, kanji, and meaning all matter. Below are picks that travel well outside Japan and are easy for non-Japanese speakers to pronounce.
Is Mei a boy's or girl's name?+
Mei is most commonly used as a girl's name. Girls' usage is the dominant convention in the regions where the name is popular.
How do you pronounce Mei?+
Mei has 1 syllable. A common pronunciation guide is included in the meaning above.
Is Mei a popular baby name?+
Mei sits in a comfortable spot — recognizable without being overused. Parents looking for a name with meaning, easy pronunciation, and cultural depth often shortlist it. See the popularity trend chart above for how interest has shifted across recent decades.
What are good middle names for Mei?+
Middle names that pair well with Mei tend to balance its rhythm — if Mei is short, a longer middle reads well; if it's long, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name crisp. See the suggested middle names below.
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