Mayer
Mayer is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Giver of light; overseer or bailiff.
Origin and history
Mayer is a male given name with rich Germanic, Yiddish, and Hebrew roots. In German, it derives from an occupational title for an overseer or bailiff, while in Jewish tradition it is often a variant of Meir, meaning 'giver of light'. In the United States, it remains a distinctive and steady choice.
Popularity in the United States
2,545 babies in the United States have been named Mayer since 1880. It ranks #2568 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1424.
States where it is most popular
- NY (90.6 %)
- NJ (7.1 %)
- TX (1.2 %)
- CA (0.58 %)
- AZ (0.29 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 54 |
| 1920-1930 | 57 |
| 1930-1940 | 65 |
| 1940-1950 | 44 |
| 1950-1960 | 120 |
| 1960-1970 | 106 |
| 1970-1980 | 133 |
| 1980-1990 | 198 |
| 1990-2000 | 276 |
| 2000-2010 | 383 |
| 2010-2019 | 596 |
| 2020-2029 | 513 |
Famous people named Mayer
- Mayer Rothschild: Banker, Financier
- Mayer Hawthorne: Musician, Singer
Fun facts
- The name functions both as a traditional Hebrew-derived given name and a German surname-turned-first-name.
- It shares roots and usage with variant spellings such as Meyer, Major, and Meir.