Mael
Mael is a boys' name of Celtic origin meaning “chief, prince.” It ranked #972 in the United States in 2025. A Breton and Welsh name derived from the Celtic root 'maglos' meaning prince or chief.
how do you pronounce Mael?
MAY-el
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Mael mean?
The name Mael means “chief, prince.” It comes from the Celtic language tradition.
A Breton and Welsh name derived from the Celtic root 'maglos' meaning prince or chief. Saint Mael was a 5th-century Welsh saint who became patron of Bardsey Island. The name is popular in Brittany, France.
where does the name Mael come from?
The only source retrieved for Mael is a brief Wikipedia note stating that the name resembles a number of old Celtic names from Brittany, Wales and Ireland; it gives no derivation from a root such as maglos and no meaning, so the 'chief, prince' gloss given elsewhere is not confirmed by anything found here.
the history of Mael
Nothing here confirms the account of a 5th-century Saint Mael of Bardsey Island or particular popularity in Brittany; the source only notes a general resemblance to other old Celtic names.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2023 | #972 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Mael?
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Mael?
- Saint Mael (5th-century Welsh saint)
- Maël (Breton given name)
what names are similar to Mael?
what names go well with Mael?
Sibling names that share Mael's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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