Mai

Mai is a feminine name used across several distinct linguistic traditions with differing roots. In Vietnamese, it derives from the word for the apricot blossom, a flower associated with the Lunar New Year and good fortune. In Japanese, it is written with various kanji characters and commonly means dance or舞, giving it an artistic and graceful connotation. In Scandinavian and Estonian use, Mai is a short form of Maria or its cognates, ultimately tracing back to the Hebrew Miriam, while in Arabic contexts it carries the meaning of water or a type of fragrant plant. Related forms include Mae, May, Maja, and Maie.