Makai
In Hawaiian, makai means toward the sea, the direction word islanders use in place of compass points. It has been taken up as a given name in the United States.
Makai in 2025
Makai was given to 626 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 976th most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 5,296 babies born.
The history of Makai
Makai reached its highest point in 2025, when 626 babies were given the name, ranking 976th that year.
Across the 37 years of records since 1989, 9,609 babies have been named Makai. Half of them were born before 2017, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
Makai by decade
| Decade | Babies named Makai | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 20,376 |
| 1990s | 159 | 4,213 |
| 2000s | 1,922 | 1,441 |
| 2010s | 4,052 | 1,158 |
| 2020s | 3,471 | 976 |
Where Makai is heading
Makai has risen 63% over the past decade, from 383 babies in 2015 to 626 in 2025.
Names like Makai
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Makai.