Maize
Maize, also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. The leafy stalk of the plant gives rise to male inflorescences or tassels which produce pollen, and female inflorescences called ears. The ears yield grain, known as kernels or seeds. In modern commercial varieties, these are usually yellow or white; other varieties can be of many colors.
Meaning & Origin of Maize
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Maize, also known as corn in North American English, is a tall stout grass that produces cereal grain. The leafy stalk of the plant gives rise to male inflorescences or tassels which produce pollen, and female inflorescences called ears. The ears yield grain, known as kernels or seeds. In modern commercial varieties, these are usually yellow or white; other varieties can be of many colors.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Maize
As a girl name
American parents first put Maize on the record books as a girl name in 2002, with 7 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 26 Maizes were born — ranking #5,025 that year. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 61% of all recorded Maizes. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #6,913 among girl names with 16 births, holding steady (+0%). In total, more than 211 Maizes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Maize as a boy name dates back to 2012, when 5 babies received it. 2024 was its biggest year on record, with 18 newborns named Maize — #5,222 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 70% of all recorded Maizes. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #5,522 among boy names with 17 births, rising sharply (+57% over the past five years). In total, more than 123 Maizes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Maize
Phonetically similar names — useful when Maize is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Maize
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About the name Maize
Maize is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2002 and has accumulated 211 births in the dataset. Maize's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #5,025. Use the chart and map above to compare Maize's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.