What does Mei mean?
Mei is written with kanji meaning “bright” or “sprout,” among others.
What does Sakura mean?
Sakura means “cherry blossom,” Japan’s emblematic spring flower; other kanji give other senses.
Mei vs Sakura
Which is more popular?
Mei is more popular than Sakura today: about 117 US babies were given the name Mei in 2025, compared with 58 named Sakura.
| Mei | Sakura | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bright; sprout | Cherry blossom |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MAY | sah-KOO-rah |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1947 | 1970 |
| Peak year | 2025 (117) | 2012 (87) |
| In 2025 | 117 | 58 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Mei
Sakura
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Mei | Sakura |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 483 | 322 |
| 2010s | 483 | 702 |
| 2000s | 385 | 595 |
| 1990s | 191 | 113 |
| 1980s | 136 | 41 |
| 1970s | 110 | 10 |
| 1960s | 37 | 0 |
| 1950s | 16 | 0 |
| 1940s | 18 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Mei or Sakura more popular?
Mei is more popular than Sakura today: about 117 US babies were given the name Mei in 2025, compared with 58 named Sakura.
What is the difference between Mei and Sakura?
Mei means Bright; sprout (Japanese origin), while Sakura means Cherry blossom (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Mei or Sakura?
In US records, Mei first appears in 1947 and Sakura in 1970, so Mei has the longer recorded history.