UK girl's name
Mayu
A feminine Japanese name translated as "true grape" or "cocoon".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1999. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mayu is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mayu popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1999 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2770, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 5 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 1999. 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.
Mayu is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Mayu. 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 2000 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mayu ranked #2770 for girls in England and Wales in 1999, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 5 girls were registered as Mayu.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mayu as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2770
1999
Births in 1999
5
Latest year
Peak year
1999
5 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Mayu mean?
The given name Mayu has its origins rooted in Japanese culture and language. It is believed to have emerged sometime around the 7th century CE during the Asuka period of ancient Japan.
The name Mayu is derived from the Japanese word "mayu" which translates to "eyebrow" or "eyelash." This connection to physical features suggests that the name may have initially been used to describe someone with particularly striking or beautiful eyes or eyelashes.
Mayu can also be traced back to the Japanese word "mayuru," which refers to a type of peacock. In this context, the name may have been associated with grace, beauty, and the vibrant colors of the peacock's feathers.
While there are no direct references to the name Mayu in ancient Japanese texts or religious scriptures, it is believed to have been in use among the nobility and upper classes during the Heian period (794-1185 CE).
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mayu can be found in the historical records of the Kamakura Shogunate (1185-1333 CE), where a noblewoman named Mayu no Tsubone was mentioned as a lady-in-waiting to the shogun's wife.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mayu, including:
1. Mayu Watanabe (1891-1975), a Japanese author and poet known for her works exploring themes of love, nature, and femininity. 2. Mayu Takeuchi (born 1982), a Japanese voice actress known for her roles in popular anime series such as "Ouran High School Host Club" and "Fairy Tail." 3. Mayu Iizuka (born 1991), a Japanese professional tennis player who has won several singles and doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. 4. Mayu Watanabe (born 1994), a Japanese singer and member of the popular J-pop girl group AKB48. 5. Mayu Tsuruta (born 1998), a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed with the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion.
The name Mayu has maintained its popularity in Japan over the centuries, with its meaning and associations evolving to reflect contemporary cultural values and ideals.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mayu over time
The chart below shows babies named Mayu registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 1999. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mayu, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 1999, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mayu by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mayu 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3248 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Mayu
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Mayu: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mayu in the UK right now?
In 1999, Mayu was ranked #2770 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Mayu most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 5 babies registered as Mayu in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mayu?
A feminine Japanese name translated as "true grape" or "cocoon".
How many people are called Mayu in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Mayu across the 3 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.