UK boy's name
Mayer
Of German origin, referring to a mayor or chief officer.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mayer is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mayer popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3048, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 6 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1999 to 2022. 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.
Mayer is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 26 living people in the UK are called Mayer. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mayer ranked #3048 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 6 boys were registered as Mayer.
- • About 26 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mayer as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3048
2022
Births in 2022
6
Latest year
Peak year
2022
6 births
Estimated living
26
2026
Meaning
What does Mayer mean?
The name Mayer originated from the German language, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "meier," which means "steward" or "bailiff." In medieval times, a Meier was a person who oversaw the management and administration of a manor or estate.
The name Mayer gained prominence during the Holy Roman Empire, where it was commonly used among the Germanic population. It was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or were responsible for managing land and resources.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mayer can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the 9th century. This document mentions a person named "Mayer" who was a landholder and administrator in the region of present-day Germany.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mayer. One of the most famous was Johann Mayer (1486-1552), a German astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the motion of planets.
Another prominent figure was Tobias Mayer (1723-1762), a German astronomer and mathematician known for his work on lunar theory and the development of accurate lunar tables. His contributions were instrumental in solving the longitude problem, which had long plagued maritime navigation.
In the realm of philosophy, Robert Mayer (1814-1878) was a German physician and physicist who formulated one of the earliest statements of the law of conservation of energy, a fundamental principle in physics.
The name Mayer also found its way into the arts. Meyer Levin (1905-1981) was an American novelist and playwright known for his works exploring Jewish identity and the Holocaust, such as "The Obsession" and "The Settlers."
In the field of music, John Mayer (born 1977) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has gained international recognition for his blend of pop, rock, and blues genres, with hit songs like "Your Body Is a Wonderland" and "Gravity."
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Mayer, highlighting its enduring presence across various fields and cultures.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mayer over time
The chart below shows babies named Mayer registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mayer, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2022, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mayer by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mayer 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 | #3048 | 6 | 1 |
| 2010s | #3868 | 17 | 4 |
| 1990s | #2943 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mayer
- 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
Mayer: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mayer in the UK right now?
In 2022, Mayer was ranked #3048 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Mayer most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 6 babies registered as Mayer in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mayer?
Of German origin, referring to a mayor or chief officer.
How many people are called Mayer in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Mayer across the 6 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.