Makai Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Makai is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Makai?
Makai is spelled M-A-K-A-I. The name has 5 letters.
Makai at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Makai may derive from the Hawaiian language meaning “toward the sea” or “by the sea.”
- Origin
- Makai is commonly associated with Hawaiian origin, reflecting geographic or natural elements related to the sea.
- Pronunciation
- mah-KIE · 2 syllables
Makai Popularity in 2025
Rank#481
Recorded Births626
- Boys usage rose 51 places to #481 and recorded 67 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Makai Mean?
Makai may derive from the Hawaiian language meaning “toward the sea” or “by the sea.”
Origin: Makai is commonly associated with Hawaiian origin, reflecting geographic or natural elements related to the sea.
How Do You Pronounce Makai?
Pronunciationmah-KIE
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Makai?
- History
- The use of Makai as a given name appears in modern naming trends, particularly in areas influenced by Hawaiian culture.
Makai Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2013 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 626 | #481 |
| 2024 | Boys | 559 | #532 |
| 2023 | Girls | 11 | #8,989 |
| 2023 | Boys | 611 | #491 |
| 2022 | Girls | 10 | #9,680 |
| 2022 | Boys | 572 | #518 |
| 2021 | Girls | 10 | #9,562 |
| 2021 | Boys | 534 | #547 |
| 2020 | Girls | 20 | #5,850 |
| 2020 | Boys | 518 | #549 |
| 2019 | Girls | 7 | #12,448 |
| 2019 | Boys | 499 | #559 |
| 2018 | Girls | 15 | #7,409 |
| 2018 | Boys | 484 | #570 |
| 2017 | Girls | 10 | #9,943 |
| 2017 | Boys | 411 | #631 |
| 2016 | Girls | 14 | #7,988 |
| 2016 | Boys | 422 | #634 |
| 2015 | Girls | 12 | #8,931 |
| 2015 | Boys | 371 | #681 |
| 2014 | Girls | 14 | #8,053 |
| 2014 | Boys | 341 | #708 |
| 2013 | Girls | 10 | #10,235 |
| 2013 | Boys | 348 | #688 |
When Was Makai Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
626 recorded births
National rank #481
2023 · Boys
611 recorded births
National rank #491
2022 · Boys
572 recorded births
National rank #518
2024 · Boys
559 recorded births
National rank #532
Where Makai Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| HI | #180 | 6 |
| AL | #250 | 22 |
| MS | #259 | 12 |
| GA | #272 | 45 |
| SC | #287 | 19 |
| NV | #323 | 9 |
| VA | #351 | 23 |
| FL | #394 | 49 |