Mai

Mai has more than one independent naming tradition. In Vietnamese it is associated with the plum or apricot blossom, through a word of Chinese origin used for the flowering tree Prunus mume. This gives Mai a specific floral meaning in that setting, rather than a single meaning shared by every person with the name.

In Japanese, Mai may be written with the character for dance or with combinations of characters carrying other meanings, including elements for truth, love, linen, or clothing. The chosen characters determine the interpretation. Mai also occurs as a short form of Maria in some European languages. A family choosing this very brief spelling can therefore identify the language tradition they intend and, for Japanese use, decide on the written characters as well as the sound.