Mayer is a surname turned given name with two sources: among Jewish families it is a form of the Hebrew Meir, "one who gives light", while the German Meier or Mayer was an occupational name for a "steward" or estate manager. In the United States it is used chiefly in Orthodox Jewish communities. Mayer peaked at number 1757 in 2021 and ranks number 1898 among boys' names in 2025.