GirlPopular now
Mei
Mei (めい) is a Japanese name for girls. Its best-known spelling is 芽依, 芽 bud + 依 to rely on. It is popular today and has reached No. 1 in 4 different years between 2010 and 2021.
め · い · めい · メイ
Ways to write Mei
The same sound can be written with different kanji, and each choice changes the meaning. These are the spellings that have appeared in Japan's yearly baby name rankings, most popular first.
芽依
芽bud, sprout依to rely on
Girl, best No. 5 (2004–2025)芽生
芽bud, sprout生life, to live
Girl, best No. 11 (2005–2025)芽衣
芽bud, sprout衣garment
Girl, best No. 27 (2008–2023)愛唯
愛love唯only, sole
Girl, best No. 29 (2014)めいGirl, best No. 35 (2010–2021)
萌愛
萌sprout, bud愛love
Girl, best No. 55 (2011)芽郁
芽bud, sprout郁fragrant, cultured
Girl, best No. 56 (2021–2025)愛依
愛love依to rely on
Girl, best No. 88 (2007)萌生
萌sprout, bud生life, to live
Girl, best No. 88 (2007)萌衣
萌sprout, bud衣garment
Girl, best No. 91 (2008–2010)海妃
海sea妃princess, queen
Girl, 1 notable person on WikidataRarer spellings
These spellings of Mei appear in Japanese name records but are uncommon. Each uses a standard reading of its kanji.
愛衣love + garmentGirl
愛生love + lifeGirl
愛李love + plumGirl
芽伊bud + (used for its soundGirl
芽惟bud + to thinkGirl
芽維bud + fibreGirl
芽唯bud + onlyGirl
海衣sea + garmentGirl
Popularity in Japan
Where Mei has ranked among the most popular name readings each year. It reached No. 1 in 4 different years, most recently 2021.
Show the numbers
| Year | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2025 | No. 7 |
| 2024 | No. 5 |
| 2023 | No. 5 |
| 2022 | No. 2 |
| 2021 | No. 1 |
| 2020 | No. 2 |
| 2019 | No. 1 |
| 2018 | No. 4 |
| 2017 | No. 4 |
| 2016 | No. 12 |
| 2015 | No. 3 |
| 2014 | No. 1 |
| 2013 | No. 2 |
| 2012 | No. 7 |
| 2011 | No. 8 |
| 2010 | No. 1 |
| 2009 | No. 2 |
| 2008 | No. 3 |
| 2007 | No. 4 |
| 2006 | No. 16 |
| 2005 | No. 42 |
| 2004 | No. 26 |
Source: Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance yearly baby name survey. It covers the top 10 names each year from 1912 to 2003, and the top 100 names and top 50 readings from 2004.