Mael

Mael, also written Maël, is a masculine given name with origins in Brittany. In contemporary usage it is most commonly associated with Breton culture, and is used by people in Brittany and by those of Breton descent. The name is traditionally linked to the meaning "prince" or "chieftain" in the Breton language, reflecting historical naming patterns in the region. The diacritic form Maël is common in Breton orthography, while the form without the diaeresis, Mael, appears in French and English texts.

In Irish and Scottish Gaelic contexts, the element maol- (often Anglicized as Mael) appears in historical personal names, where it denotes "devotee" or "follower" of a saint. In these contexts Mael is not typically used as an independent given name today, but as part of compound names. Because of this linguistic overlap, the name Mael can be encountered in various Celtic-influenced regions.

Usage: Today Mael is primarily found as a Breton given name, sometimes used in France beyond Brittany due to cultural exchange and media. It may appear in diaspora communities and in modern spellings influenced by French or English. Maël is the standard Breton spelling, with Mael used in non-Breton contexts.

See also: Maël (given name); Maol (Gaelic element).