Makai
Meaningtoward the sea · Hawaiian
- US rank
- #481
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #481 in 2025
626 babies were named Makai in the US in 2025. It has climbed 68 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million girls, 1997–2025
US births per million boys, 1989–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Makai you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 2,729 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Makai, 626 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Makai would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMakai first shows up in US birth records in 1989, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 36 years since.
- Best yearMakai is at its all-time high right now: #481 in 2025.
- Then vs nowMakai is 14× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 37,736 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 2,729.
- TrendMakai has climbed 68 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #481. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedMakai is most popular in Hawaii, where it ranks #180, followed by Alabama (#250) and Mississippi (#259). It's in the top 1,000 in 34 states.
- MeaningIn Hawaiian, Makai means “toward the sea”.
- OriginMakai is the most popular Indian boy name in the US. That's out of 160 Indian boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Makai
Makai is a boy name of Indian origin meaning “toward the sea”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-kai”. US birth records list Makai for boys from 1989 to 2025, in 33 of those 37 years. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #481 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #481, with 626 babies.
Origin:Indian names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.6 | 379,747 girls |
| 2000s | 6.2 | 160,514 girls |
| 2010s | 7.5 | 134,048 girls |
| 2020s | 7.9 | 126,984 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.5 | 400,000 boys |
| 1990s | 7.6 | 131,579 boys |
| 2000s | 90 | 11,107 boys |
| 2010s | 209 | 4,779 boys |
| 2020s | 330 | 3,029 boys |
Other spellings of Makai
More Indian boy names
- Unisex name: Rohan · ascending
- Boy name: Gian · God is gracious
- Boy name: Rishi · sage, seer
- Boy name: Krish · dark, black
- Unisex name: Neel · blue
- Unisex name: Mahdi · rightly guided
- Boy name: Hiram · exalted brother
- Unisex name: Taj · crown
Questions about the name Makai
What does the name Makai mean?
Makai means “toward the sea” in Hawaiian.
What is the origin of the name Makai?
Makai has Indian roots in our records. Other Indian names include Rohan, Gian, Rishi.
Is Makai a boy or girl name?
Makai is a boy name.
How popular is the name Makai?
Makai ranked #481 for US boys in 2025, given to 626 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#481).