Wanda Mai

Name meaning, origin and global statistics

Wanda Mai — English
350K People worldwide
United States Most common in
1970s Peak popularity
Gender
Advertisement

Wanda Mai is a name that combines English origins. The first name Wanda is a feminine given name of English origin. Wanda is a female given name of Polish origin. It probably derives from the tribal name of the Wends. The name has long been popular in Poland where the legend of Princess Wanda has been circulating since at least the 12th century. In 1947, Wanda was cited as the second most popular name, after Mary, for Polish girls, and the most popular from Polish secular history. The name was made familiar in the English-speaking world by the 1883 novel Wanda, written by Ouida, the story line of which is based on the last years of the Hechingen branch of the Swabian House of Hohenzollern. The surname Mai: Mài is a Chinese surname. It is commonly transliterated as Mak in Hong Kong, based on the Cantonese pronunciation, though other transliterations exist. "麥" is the standard character in both Traditional and Simplified scripts but 麦 is also a variant seen in both. The meaning of the Chinese character is either wheat or barley. According to a 2013 study, 麥 was the 200th most common surname, shared by 550,000 people or 0.041% of China's population, with Guangdong being the province with the most. Wanda is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 350K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Wanda reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Wanda

English

Wanda is a female given name of Polish origin. It probably derives from the tribal name of the Wends. The name has long been popular in Poland where the legend of Princess Wanda has been circulating since at least the 12th century. In 1947, Wanda was cited as the second most popular name, after Mary, for Polish girls, and the most popular from Polish secular history. The name was made familiar in the English-speaking world by the 1883 novel Wanda, written by Ouida, the story line of which is based on the last years of the Hechingen branch of the Swabian House of Hohenzollern.

Surname: Mai

Vietnamese

Mài is a Chinese surname. It is commonly transliterated as Mak in Hong Kong, based on the Cantonese pronunciation, though other transliterations exist. "麥" is the standard character in both Traditional and Simplified scripts but 麦 is also a variant seen in both. The meaning of the Chinese character is either wheat or barley. According to a 2013 study, 麥 was the 200th most common surname, shared by 550,000 people or 0.041% of China's population, with Guangdong being the province with the most.

Advertisement

Geographic Distribution

The first name Wanda is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%
United Kingdom 27%
Australia 12%
Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Wanda by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Advertisement

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Wanda Mai:

3
Expression Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

3
Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

9
Personality Number

Compassion and humanitarianism. A generous, idealistic nature with a sincere desire to improve the world.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Wanda?
The first name Wanda originates from English. Wanda is a female given name of Polish origin. It probably derives from the tribal name of the Wends. The name has long been popular in Poland where the legend of Princess Wanda has been circulating since at least the 12th century. In 1947, Wanda was cited as the second most popular name, after Mary, for Polish girls, and the most popular from Polish secular history. The name was made familiar in the English-speaking world by the 1883 novel Wanda, written by Ouida, the story line of which is based on the last years of the Hechingen branch of the Swabian House of Hohenzollern.
When was Wanda most popular?
The name Wanda reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Mai?
The surname Mai originates from Vietnamese. Mài is a Chinese surname. It is commonly transliterated as Mak in Hong Kong, based on the Cantonese pronunciation, though other transliterations exist. "麥" is the standard character in both Traditional and Simplified scripts but 麦 is also a variant seen in both. The meaning of the Chinese character is either wheat or barley. According to a 2013 study, 麥 was the 200th most common surname, shared by 550,000 people or 0.041% of China's population, with Guangdong being the province with the most.
What are the origins of the name Wanda Mai?
The name Wanda Mai combines two different traditions: the first name Wanda has English roots, while the surname Mai originates from Vietnamese.
Advertisement