A Japanese name has been chosen for you
芽依
めい
Mei
MAY · a female name
“Sprout + trust”
Fresh · Sweet · Growing
The story of Mei
The most popular Mei — a spring sprout you want to protect.
Mei sounds like the English 'May' and feels just as springlike. Compact, cute and modern, it has climbed steadily up the charts since the 2010s.
Kanji by kanji
sprout, bud
The kanji for new buds pushing up in spring — pure potential and growth.
to rely on
A soft kanji meaning to lean on and trust, adding warmth and closeness.
How it feels
The full story
About 芽依
芽依 pairs new growth with gentle trust: a child who grows steadily, surrounded by love. It has defined the name's image since the 2010s.
Popularity in Japan
Mei has been a fixture of the girls' top 20 since the mid-2010s, helped by its international ease.
Through the decades
A thoroughly contemporary name, part of the recent trend toward short, globally friendly girls' names.
Deep dive
Fans worldwide know the name from the little sister in 'My Neighbor Totoro'. In Japan its appeal is the combination of a warm, rounded sound with kanji choices full of sprouting, budding imagery — a name that feels like early spring.
Names like Mei
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