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May Name Meaning, Origins & History

May

Pronunciation: MAY

Meaning Great one Origin Latin Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#1,233
TREND
124
Peak Years
1919, 1921, 1915
Lowest Years
1998, 1999, 1992
Energy Archetype
Hardworking & Dutiful

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named May in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name May

  • More than 50 thousand babies named May: U.S. records list 50,098 babies given the name May from 1880 through 2025. Even 699 boys received the name May - about 1 boy for every 71 girls.

What Does the Name May Mean?

May is an English given name taken from the name of the fifth month of the year. The month name comes from Latin Maius (mensis), which was named for the Roman goddess Maia. Maia's own name is of uncertain origin; it is often linked to Latin maior 'greater' or to Greek μαῖα (maia) 'mother' or 'nurse,' but no single derivation is established.

In English, May has also served as a pet form of Mary and Margaret. Mary derives from Hebrew Miriam, a name of uncertain meaning, while Margaret comes from Greek margaritēs 'pearl.' Used this way, May is a shortened form rather than a translation of either name. Later associations with spring, youth, and flowers come from the month's place in the calendar, not from the name's etymology.

May Name History & Origins

The English month name May developed from Old French mai, from Latin Maius. Old English had its own name for the month, Þrimilcemonð ('three-milk month'), which fell out of use after the Norman Conquest as the Latin-derived form spread. The Roman month was dedicated to Maia, and her spring festival was part of Roman religious life.

In medieval and early modern England, May was used as a short form of Mary or Margaret. It also appears as an English surname. As an independent given name, May is found in the 19th century; Louisa May Alcott (1832 - 1888) carried it as a middle name, and her sister, the artist May Alcott (1840 - 1879), used it as a first name. May Day, the first of May, has been celebrated in Europe since medieval times with maypole dancing and flower gathering, and the given name is sometimes linked to that spring festival.

How Popular is the Name May?

May recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1919. The name enjoyed early prominence in the late 19th century before its sustained modern rise.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name May Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.

✦ May's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover May's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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