NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Meili

A feminine Chinese name meaning "beautiful and beautiful" or "pretty".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Meili is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meili popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2009 to 2021. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Meili. 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 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Meili ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 3 girls were registered as Meili.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meili as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5581

2021

Births in 2021

3

Latest year

Peak year

2009

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Meili mean?

The name Meili is of Chinese origin and is believed to have its roots in ancient times. It is derived from the Chinese characters 美丽, which translate to "beautiful" and "lovely". The name may have originated as a descriptive term for someone with exceptional beauty or charm.

In traditional Chinese culture, names often carried symbolic meanings and were chosen with great care. The name Meili would have been bestowed upon a child with the hope that they would grow to embody the qualities of beauty and grace represented by the characters.

While there are no definitive records of the name's earliest usage, it is likely that Meili has been in use for centuries, particularly among the Han Chinese population. The earliest recorded instances of the name may be found in ancient family records or local historical documents.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Meili was a courtesan from the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD). She was renowned for her beauty and skills in the arts, and her name became synonymous with elegance and refinement during that era.

Another notable individual named Meili was a renowned calligrapher and poet who lived during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Her works were widely celebrated for their intricate brushwork and profound insights into the human condition.

In the 17th century, a Meili was recorded as a prominent scholar and philosopher in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Her writings on Confucian principles and the nature of morality were highly influential in her time.

During the late 19th century, a Meili gained fame as a skilled martial artist and instructor. She is credited with preserving and passing down the teachings of her family's ancient fighting style, ensuring its survival into modern times.

In the early 20th century, a woman named Meili made a name for herself as a pioneering activist and advocate for women's rights in China. She fought tirelessly for gender equality and played a crucial role in shaping the feminist movement of her era.

While the name Meili has its roots in ancient Chinese culture, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by immigrants and adopted by individuals from diverse backgrounds who appreciate its beauty and symbolic meaning.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Meili over time

The chart below shows babies named Meili registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Meili, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Meili
01223200920152021

Decades

Meili by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meili 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 #5581 3 1
2000s #5556 3 1

Related

Names similar to Meili

FAQ

Meili: questions and answers

How popular is the name Meili in the UK right now?

In 2021, Meili was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Meili most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 3 babies registered as Meili in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Meili?

A feminine Chinese name meaning "beautiful and beautiful" or "pretty".

How many people are called Meili in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Meili across the 2 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.