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Mei

Girl name · 4 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Mei: 4 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 1977.

Mei has two distinct paths into Scottish nurseries. As a Western name, it works as a short form of Mary or a variant of May, both drawn from the Latin *Marius* or the month of growth. More prominently, Mei is a beloved Chinese and Japanese name, written with characters meaning “beautiful” or “plum blossom.” The renowned Peking opera master Mei Lanfang brought the name international fame, while the giant panda Mei Xiang charmed zookeepers in Washington, D.C. Though no major place bears the name directly, it shares its root with the Japanese era name Meiwa. Whether chosen for its cross-cultural elegance or its floral associations, Mei offers a simple yet graceful choice.