Mael

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAL /mæl/High

Meaning: Prince; chief; leader; from Breton/Welsh mael (prince, chief, leader)High

In 30 seconds: A Breton/Welsh Celtic name meaning 'prince' or 'chief,' borne by Saint Mael (or Maël) — a 5th-century Breton saint associated with the island of Bardsey in Wales. A rare, ancient name with powerful one-syllable presence.

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Origin HighBreton, Welsh

MeaningPrince; chief; leader; from Breton/Welsh mael (prince, chief, leader)

U.S. rank (2024)#1057 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births206 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,155

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Mael/Maël is a Breton and Welsh name from Celtic mael (prince, chief). Saint Maël (also Mael) was a 5th-century Celtic saint venerated in Brittany and Wales. The same root appears in compound names like Maelgwn and Maeldaf.

Mael appeared in U.S. boys' birth data and ranked #1057 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) off the Welsh coast is known as the 'Island of 20,000 Saints' — an ancient pilgrimage site where Saint Maël and thousands of other early Christian saints were said to have been buried.

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name — Mael — Breton/Welsh Celtic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MaëlMael

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Saint Maël (fictional)
5th-century Breton Celtic saint venerated in Wales, associated with the island of Bardsey (Ynys Enlli). One of the early Christian saints of the Celtic church.

If you like Mael…

Cael— one-syllable Celtic -ael ending name with the same ancient feel

Bael— one-syllable -ael ending name in the same minimalist register

Rael— one-syllable -ael ending name in the same short, Celtic-adjacent category

Lael— Hebrew one-syllable -ael ending name with the same ancient quality

Gael— Breton/Celtic one-syllable name from the same naming tradition

Frequently Asked

What does the name Mael mean?

Mael means 'prince' or 'chief,' from Breton and Welsh Celtic mael (leader, prince).

How do you pronounce Mael?

It's said MAL — one syllable, rhyming with 'pal.'

Is Mael a boy or girl name?

Mael is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Mael?

Mael ranked #1057 for U.S. boys in 2024.