UK boy's name
Mekhai
Of Celtic origin, meaning "the greatest ruler".
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.
Mekhai is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Mekhai popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 3 births.
This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2005 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.
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 12 living people in the UK are called Mekhai. 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
- • Mekhai ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 3 boys were registered as Mekhai.
- • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mekhai as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
3 births
Estimated living
12
2026
Meaning
What does Mekhai mean?
The name Mekhai is derived from the Hebrew language and culture. It is a variant spelling of the name Michael, which has its roots in the Hebrew phrase "mi ka'el," meaning "who is like God." This name gained prominence during the biblical era and is found in various religious texts and scriptures.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Mekhai can be traced back to the 5th century BCE, when it appeared in ancient Hebrew texts and inscriptions. During this period, it was primarily used within the Jewish community and held significant religious and cultural significance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mekhai. One of the earliest recorded figures was Mekhai ben Yirmeyahu, a Jewish scholar and philosopher who lived in the 3rd century CE. His contributions to the study of the Talmud and Jewish law were highly influential during that time.
In the 9th century CE, Mekhai al-Dimashqi was a prominent Arab mathematician and astronomer from Damascus. He made significant contributions to the fields of algebra and trigonometry, and his works were widely studied across the Islamic world.
Another prominent figure was Mekhai of Ephesus, a Byzantine historian and writer who lived in the 12th century CE. He is best known for his detailed accounts of the Crusades and the fall of the Byzantine Empire.
During the Renaissance period, Mekhai Buonarroti, an Italian sculptor and architect, was born in 1475. He was a distant relative of the renowned artist Michelangelo and gained recognition for his work on several churches and monuments in Rome.
In the 19th century, Mekhai Glinka was a Russian composer and is regarded as the founder of the Russian nationalist school of music. He is celebrated for his operas and orchestral works, which drew inspiration from Russian folk traditions.
While the name Mekhai has its roots in Hebrew and biblical origins, it has transcended cultural and linguistic boundaries, appearing in various forms across different regions and time periods. The individuals mentioned here represent a small sample of the diverse and rich history associated with this name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mekhai over time
The chart below shows babies named Mekhai registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2005 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 Mekhai, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mekhai by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mekhai 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 | #4699 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4749 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3849 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Mekhai
- 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
Mekhai: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mekhai in the UK right now?
In 2022, Mekhai was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mekhai most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 3 babies registered as Mekhai in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mekhai?
Of Celtic origin, meaning "the greatest ruler".
How many people are called Mekhai in the UK?
A total of 12 babies have been registered as Mekhai across the 4 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.