May Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name May has its roots in Latin, specifically from 'Maius', named after the goddess Maia. It symbolizes the month of May and is often linked to spring and growth. The name evolved through historical forms such as Maius and Mai, eventually becoming May in Middle English. It gained popularity in the 19th century and is viewed positively in modern times. Variants include Mae and Maya, and notable figures bear the name.
The name May is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, May has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'May' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1885th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2458th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4360th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8770th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 6776th out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 191st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 351st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 762nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1198th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1417th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2106th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1619th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'May' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "May"
Pronunciation
/meɪ/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name May is derived from the Latin 'Maius', which is named after the Roman goddess Maia, who was associated with spring and growth.
Meaning
the fifth month of the year; spring
Language Evolution
Maius (Latin), Mai (Old French), May (Middle English)
Historical Usage
May gained popularity as a given name in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, often associated with the month of May, which symbolizes spring and renewal.
Variants & Derivatives
Mae, Maya, Maia
Modern Popularity & Image
The name May is perceived as a charming, feminine name often associated with blooming flowers and the beauty of springtime.
Famous People
May Wright Sewall, an American educator and suffragist, Maynard James Keenan, an American musician, Mayim Bialik, an American actress and neuroscientist
Explore More May Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "May"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "May"
"May" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1885th of 7545 | 276 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2458th of 6773 | 175 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 4360th of 7552 | 54 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8770th of 10718 | 12 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 6776th of 16616 | 83 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 191st of 9107 | 19,778 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 351st of 9204 | 6,492 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 762nd of 12526 | 3,185 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1198th of 19264 | 1,544 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1417th of 27321 | 1,682 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2106th of 35406 | 1,412 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1619th of 30306 | 1,618 |
Regional Popularity of "May" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "May" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
15.68% 222nd/1416 |
12.76% 176th/1379 |
8.20% 194th/2366 |
13.05% 149th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
28.53% 441st/1546 |
20.37% 317th/1556 |
14.07% 331st/2353 |
18.88% 292nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
47.78% 1064th/2227 |
29.18% 709th/2430 |
22.40% 639th/2853 |
24.50% 680th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
46.82% 1375th/2937 |
30.61% 1066th/3483 |
46.70% 1643rd/3518 |
25.49% 1031st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
41.25% 1520th/3685 |
28.42% 1272nd/4475 |
52.83% 2744th/5194 |
16.13% 1019th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
51.24% 2348th/4582 |
30.31% 1565th/5164 |
41.16% 3010th/7313 |
24.44% 1824th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
44.70% 1781st/3984 |
34.21% 1535th/4487 |
29.80% 2033rd/6822 |
21.24% 1333rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "May"
This map shows the relative popularity of "May" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.