Chief, prince, or a combination of Mae and Lee.
Maely is often considered a modern diminutive of the Breton name Maëlle, meaning 'chief' or 'prince'. In English-speaking contexts, it is frequently used as a compound name blending the vintage Mae with the suffix -ly, or as a variant of the French Maëlys.
Less common today
Maely isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #4,636 in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Subject of a high-profile French legal case
