Mayumi
Meaningoften true bow · Japanese
Mayumi is a Japanese girl name often meaning “true bow”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name.
Did you know?
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Mayumi would score 13 points, thanks largely to the Y (worth 4).
- GenerationMayumi is having its moment right now. Most Mayumis are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Mayumi would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 38,314 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryMayumi first shows up in US birth records in 1963, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 62 years since.
US births per million girls, 1963–2025
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Mayumi
Mayumi is a girl name of Japanese origin meaning “often true bow”. With 3 syllables it has a flowing, lyrical sound, so a short middle name balances it nicely. It has been around for generations, yet it's never been more loved than it is today. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Japanese names
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 Mayumi
What does the name Mayumi mean?
Mayumi means “often true bow” and comes from Japanese. Other girl names with a similar meaning include True (“true”), Mari (“often true village”), Elvira (“possibly all-true”) and Mariko (“often true village child”).
What is the origin of the name Mayumi?
Mayumi is Japanese in origin. Other Japanese names to consider are Naomi (“pleasantness”), Noa (“movement”), Reina (“queen”) and Aya (“sign, verse”).
Is Mayumi a boy or girl name?
Mayumi is a girl name. In 2025, 42 US girls were named Mayumi.
How popular is the name Mayumi?
Mayumi ranked #3,577 for US girls in 2025, given to 42 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 3,346 places.
What names are similar to Mayumi?
If you like Mayumi, you might also like True, Mari, Elvira and Mariko.
What should I know before naming my baby Mayumi?
Mayumi is a Japanese girl name often meaning “true bow”. 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 flowing and melodic, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with a short middle name. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.