Total births
285
Girls' name · since 1980
Mao
285 babies named Mao in U.S. Social Security records since 1980, with the highest year being 1983. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 285
- total births
- 1980–2016
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
Mao sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 285 recorded since 1980.
Social Security Administration records show Mao recorded 285 times among girls since 1980, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1980s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1980 to 2016.
- 285 total births
- 1980–2016 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 42% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
285 girls have been named Mao since 1980, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2016.
- 285
- total births
- 1980–2016
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 42%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
42% of everyone ever named Mao was born in this single decade.
1983
Single peak year
17 babies were named Mao in 1983 - its busiest year on record.
Mao's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Mao's SSA record in two at 1994 and the more recent half accounts for 38% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 62%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1994, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1983 peak of 17, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Mao at a glance
Last recorded 2016Peak year
1983
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1980
Mao popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1980–2016
- Peak year (1983)
- 17
- Annual births at peak, across 37 years of records
Mao popularity over time - boys
10 total births recorded since 1991 (Mao as boys' name)
Mao by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Mao's strongest decade.
121 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 42% of all-time use.
Mao births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s
1980s
121 births
- 1990s
1990s
105 births
- 2000s 39
2000s
39 births
- 2010s 20
2010s
20 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 121 births (42% of all-time use).
Mao by state
Where Mao concentrates geographically, total births since 1980
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 78 | 27.4% |
| #2 | Minnesota | | 5 | 1.8% |
California share of Mao's total US births 27.4%
Even split
78 of 285 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Mao? ▼
Since 1980, Social Security records show 285 babies named Mao. The most recent recorded year was 2016. Its busiest year on record was 1983, with 17 births.
When was Mao most popular? ▼
Mao was most popular in the 1980s decade with 121 total births. The single peak year was 1983.
Where is Mao most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Mao are California (78 births), Minnesota (5 births).
How long has the name Mao been used? ▼
Records for Mao go back to 1980, giving 37 years of history through 2016.
What names are similar to Mao? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Maomi, Maori. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Mao's data
- Mao's decade-level peak was the 1980s (121 total births); usage has since declined to 20 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Maos (78 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Mao
Nearby Names Like Mao
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Mao
Compare Mao side by side: Mao vs Maomi Mao vs Maori
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1980–2016 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Mao: Baby Name Since 1980 - 285 Births, Peak 1983." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/mao. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Mao draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.