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Home › Baby Names Directory › Maki

Maki

♂ Boy

Pronounced MAH-kee /ˈmɑː.ki/Medium

Meaning: A Japanese name whose meaning shifts with the kanji — often built on ma ('true; genuine') plus ki ('hope; tree; life'), so senses like 'true hope' or 'sincere tree.' Used for both sexes.Low

In 30 seconds: A gentle Japanese name: Maki can mean 'true hope' by its characters (said 'MAH-kee'). Used for both sexes.
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Origin MediumJapanese
MeaningA Japanese name whose meaning shifts with the kanji — often built on ma ('true; genuine') plus ki ('hope; tree; life'), so senses like 'true hope' or 'sincere tree.' Used for both sexes.
U.S. rank (2025)#8664 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 519

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200619952025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Maki is a Japanese name built on characters like ma ('true') and ki ('hope; tree'), so meanings vary. It reads gentle and used for both sexes — rare in the U.S. (said 'MAH-kee').

It appears only rarely for boys in the U.S. Rare, Japanese, and soft.

Did you know? Maki is a Japanese name whose meaning depends on the kanji — often 'true' plus 'hope' or 'tree,' giving senses like 'true hope' — a soft, versatile name used for both sexes (said 'MAH-kee').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Maki — Japanese; meaning by kanji; cross-sex

Variations

MakieMakkiMaky

Nicknames

MakKi

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Maki…

Kaito— a like Japanese boy's name
Haru— a like soft Japanese pick
Riku— a like short Japanese name
Ren— a like crisp Japanese name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Maki mean?

Maki is a Japanese name whose meaning varies by kanji, often 'true hope' or 'sincere.' The exact sense depends on the characters, which we note.

How do you pronounce Maki?

It's said MAH-kee /ˈmɑː.ki/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Maki a boy or girl name?

Maki is used here as a boy's name; note it is used for both sexes in Japan.

How popular is Maki?

Maki is a rare name for boys in the U.S.

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