Maki
Meaningoften true hope · Japanese
Maki is a Japanese girl name often meaning “true hope”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- AnagramShuffle the letters of Maki and you get Mika. Same letters, different name.
- GenerationMaki peaked in 1973, which makes it a Gen X name. The typical Maki you'd meet today is about 52 years old.
- HistoryMaki first shows up in US birth records in 1970, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 55 years since.
US births per million girls, 1970–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Maki
Maki is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often true hope”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 1970s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
Other spellings of Maki
More Japanese girl names
- Girl name: Naomi · pleasantness
- Girl name: Noa · movement
- Girl name: Reina · queen
- Girl name: Aya · sign, verse
- Girl name: Hana · one; flower in Japanese
- Girl name: Kiyomi · often pure beauty
- Girl name: Yuna · often gentle
- Unisex name: Akira · bright, clear
Questions about the name Maki
What does the name Maki mean?
Maki means “often true hope” and comes from Japanese. Names built around “hope” have been loved for generations, and give a child a meaning worth sharing when someone asks about their name. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Hope (“hope”), Nadia (“hope”), Esperanza (“hope”) and Amal (“hope”).
What is the origin of the name Maki?
Maki is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Maki a boy or girl name?
Maki is a girl name, though a few boys are given it too each year.
How popular is the name Maki?
Maki is rare: fewer than 5 US girls got it in 2025, and it was last given to 5 or more in 2024. It peaked at #6,666 in 1973, so it's a name with history that few kids share today.
What names are similar to Maki?
If you like Maki, you might also like Macky, Hope, Nadia, Esperanza and Amal. Macky is another spelling of the same name.
What should I know before naming my baby Maki?
Maki is a Japanese girl name often meaning “true hope”. In Japan, parents often choose a name as much for the kanji characters behind it as for its sound, so the same name can carry several shades of meaning. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.