Is Mekhi a boy's or girl's name?

Mekhi is primarily a boy's name. It is also used as a girl's name, with 113 recorded births.

When was Mekhi most popular?

Mekhi reached its peak popularity in 2005 with 861 births that year. It is currently ranked #1024 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Mekhi?

Mekhi is currently ranked #1024 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 12,174 babies since 1995.

Mekhi

A African name gently fading from the charts.

Boy's name| Also girlsAfricanDeclining

#1024▼ 36in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A male given name originating as a coinage, of African-American usage.

Mekhi is a boy's and girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a phonetic variant of Micah, from the Hebrew Mikhah meaning "who is like God?" — the same rhetorical question as Michael, asserting divine incomparability.

Actor Mekhi Phifer — known for his roles in 8 Mile and ER — brought this creative spelling of the biblical name into African-American popular culture in the 1990s and 2000s. The distinctive spelling gives the ancient Hebrew name a fresh, contemporary identity that has resonated with American families.

Compare Mekhi with another name

Popularity Over Time

Mekhi was #344 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1024, but its charm endures.

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Mekhi
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	1,250	#921	▼
2010s	4,704	#575	▼
2000s	5,779	#494	▲
1990s	441	#2288	—

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(30 years, 1995–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Mekhi
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	217	#1024	-6 (-2.7%)
2023	223	#988	-16 (-6.7%)
2022	239	#950	-32 (-11.8%)
2021	271	#863	-29 (-9.7%)
2020	300	#782	-28 (-8.5%)
2019	328	#735	-131 (-28.5%)
2018	459	#598	-15 (-3.2%)
2017	474	#575	+46 (10.7%)
2016	428	#627	+5 (1.2%)
2015	423	#632	-31 (-6.8%)
2014	454	#599	-67 (-12.9%)
2013	521	#513	-8 (-1.5%)
2012	529	#503	-15 (-2.8%)
2011	544	#484	0
2010	544	#479	-78 (-12.5%)
2009	622	#446	-51 (-7.6%)
2008	673	#431	+52 (8.4%)
2007	621	#449	+5 (0.8%)
2006	616	#443	-245 (-28.5%)
2005	861	#344	+35 (4.2%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Mekhi as a Girl's Name

While overwhelmingly a boy's name, Mekhi has also been given to 113 girls in the U.S. since 1999.

Unranked

Current rank

113

Total births

1999

Peak year

Compare Mekhi as boy vs girl

Frequently Asked

Can Mekhi be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Mekhi is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name, it currently ranks #1024. As a girl's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (1995–2024) · Methodology