Maciel

Q: What is the origin of Maciel?

Maciel is of Portuguese origin. The name carries significant cultural meaning and has been used across generations within its origin tradition.

Q: Is Maciel a boy name?

Maciel is traditionally a boy name. Modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal choice and cultural context.

male

Updated 6 months ago

Meaning

"Bitter/Sea; God"

Maciel is an Iberian surname also used as a given name, with debated origins in medieval patronymic lines.

Themes:iberiansurnamegivennamelineage

Biblical Nature Natural Unique Rare

Fact-checked by Sarah Mitchell

B.A. Journalism, Northwestern University10+ Years Parenting WritingMom of Three • Parenting Editor

This name has been verified against authoritative sources including SSA data, etymology databases, and cultural naming traditions.

Popularity History of Maciel

Full SSA rank history from 1880 to 2024

#10489Ranked nationally

SSA did not record this spelling in the national rankings for the available chart years. Names used fewer than 5 times in a year are omitted from the dataset.

Yearly Ranking Snapshot

Pick any SSA release year to inspect that year's national ranking and how it changed from the year before.

Year

Selected Year Rank

Unranked

Maciel did not appear in the national SSA rankings for 2024.

Change Vs Previous Year

no national rank in 2024

Data Source

Popularity rankings are based on official data from the Social Security Administration (SSA), which tracks baby name applications in the United States.

Last updated: 2024 • Data source updated annually

Maciel Nicknames

Familiar short forms, playful variations, and easy everyday options for Maciel.

8 ideas

macy

Nickname

maci

Nickname

ciel

Nickname

ciey

Nickname

iely

Nickname

mie

Nickname

Similar Names to Maciel

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Anthony

AN-thuh-nee

“Priceless; Invaluable”

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Andrew

AN-droo

“Manly; Strong”

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Aaron

AIR-un

“Exalted; Mountain of Strength”

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Adam

AD-um

“Human, Earth”

#100

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Adrian

AY-dree-un

“From Hadria”

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Alejandro

“Defender of Men”

#184

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Aidan

“Little Fiery One”

#312

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Arnold

“Eagle Power”

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Asher

“Happy, Blessed”

#20

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Abraham

“Father of Multitudes”

#204

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Baby Name Lists That Include Maciel

Browse every Namylab list page that currently includes Maciel, from meaning and origin collections to letter, syllable, and themed baby name lists.

22 linked lists

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Maciel mean?

Maciel means "Bitter/Sea; God". Maciel is an Iberian surname also used as a given name, with debated origins in medieval patronymic lines.

What is the origin of Maciel?

Maciel is of Portuguese origin. The name has been used historically across cultures and carries significant cultural meaning within its origin tradition.

How popular is the name Maciel?

According to the latest SSA data, Maciel is currently ranked #10489 in the United States. The name has shown interesting trends over the past century, with popularity varying based on cultural preferences and naming trends.

Is Maciel a boy name?

Maciel is traditionally a boy name. However, modern naming practices are increasingly flexible, and names can be used across genders based on personal preference.

What are good nicknames for Maciel?

Popular nicknames for Maciel include macy, maci, ciel, ma, and more. These offer shorter, more casual alternatives for everyday use.

What names are similar to Maciel?

There are many names similar to Maciel in meaning, origin, or sound. Explore the Similar Names section to discover alternatives that may resonate with you.

Quick Facts

OriginPortuguese, Spanish

Syllables3

Length6 letters

US Rank#10489

Trend→ Stable

Starts withM

Sibling Ideas

Brothers

Amaro Adilson Ailton Adelino Bento

Sisters

Anapaula Almedia Areia Andressa Belem

Explore More Boy Names Like Maciel

Maciel has Portuguese roots, making it a wonderful choice if you love names from this heritage. Discover more options in our Portuguese baby names collection, where you'll find hundreds of names with similar cultural depth.

Maciel appears in several of our curated collections. Check out Names That Mean Nature and Names That Mean Ocean for more names with a similar feel. You might also enjoy browsing Names That Mean Water for Boys and Girls and Earth-Inspired Nature Names.

Before you decide, try our Full Name Preview to see how Maciel pairs with your surname. The Sibling Name Matcher can help find names that complement Maciel beautifully, and the Nickname Predictor reveals the most common short forms.

Explore our full baby name lists for origin-based, meaning-based, and themed collections, or head back to the baby name generator to continue your search.