UK boy's name
Mael
A masculine name of Celtic origin typically meaning "chief" or "prince".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mael is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mael popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1517, with 17 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 19 births.
This profile covers 147 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 89% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 146 living people in the UK are called Mael. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mael ranked #1517 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 17 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 19 boys were registered as Mael.
- • About 146 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mael as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1517
2024
Births in 2024
17
Latest year
Peak year
2023
19 births
Estimated living
146
2026
Meaning
What does Mael mean?
The name Mael has its origins in the Brittonic Celtic languages, particularly the Breton language spoken in Brittany, France. It likely emerged sometime between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. The name is derived from the Breton word "mail," which means "prince" or "chieftain."
In medieval Breton literature, the name Mael appears as a character in several stories and legends. The most notable example is the tale of Mael Duin, a legendary voyager who embarked on an epic sea journey in the 7th century. This tale is part of the Immrama, a genre of medieval Irish literature that recounts the adventures of those who set sail from Ireland.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Mael can be found in Breton and Welsh genealogies from the 9th and 10th centuries. One of the earliest known individuals with this name was Mael Brigte, a Breton nobleman and warrior who lived in the early 9th century.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Mael. One of the most famous was Mael Muad mac Brain (died 983), an Irish king of theUI Neill dynasty who ruled as High King of Ireland in the late 10th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Mael Brigde mac Torcaill (died 975), an Irish cleric who served as the Archbishop of Armagh from 967 until his death.
In Scotland, the name Mael was sometimes rendered as "Maol" or "Mael." One of the most prominent individuals with this spelling was Maol Chalvim I (died 1134), a Scottish king who reigned from 1058 to 1093. He was a member of the Canmore dynasty and played a significant role in the Norman conquest of England.
In Wales, the name Mael was sometimes spelled as "Mael" or "Maelgwn." A notable figure with this spelling was Maelgwn Gwynedd (died c. 547), a king of the Britons who ruled the Kingdom of Gwynedd in the 6th century. He is mentioned in several medieval Welsh texts, including the Annales Cambriae and the Historia Brittonum.
Overall, the name Mael has a rich history and cultural significance, particularly in the Celtic regions of Britain and Ireland. Its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period, and it has been borne by numerous notable figures throughout history, including kings, warriors, and religious leaders.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mael over time
The chart below shows babies named Mael registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mael, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 17 births in 2024, compared with 19 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mael by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mael was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1832 | 67 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3086 | 61 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3138 | 19 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Mael
- Matthew 80,931
- Mohammed 74,321
- Muhammad 72,235
- Max 59,807
- Michael 47,075
- Mason 38,935
- Mohammad 25,910
- Morgan 15,994
- Muhammed 11,527
- Mark 11,336
- Marcus 11,257
- Maxwell 10,006
FAQ
Mael: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mael in the UK right now?
In 2024, Mael was ranked #1517 for boys in England and Wales, with 17 births registered.
When was Mael most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 19 babies registered as Mael in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mael?
A masculine name of Celtic origin typically meaning "chief" or "prince".
How many people are called Mael in the UK?
A total of 147 babies have been registered as Mael across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.