May Baby Name: Meaning, Origin, Middle Name Pairings & More

May is a popular baby name. It originated from the ancient Roman goddess Maia or as a diminutive for Mary or Margaret. As of 2021, May is at number 3,103 for girls.

Meaning of the name May:

Latin: goddess of the springtime, greater, sea of bitterness

Origin of the name May:

The baby name May comes from the ancient Roman name Maia. Maia was a Roman goddess who watched over the spring. Other individuals believe that May began as a diminutive of options like Mary or Margaret.

Symbolism of the name May:

The baby name May means “goddess of the springtime” when considering that it comes from Maia, the title for a Roman goddess. Others say that May interprets to “greater” because Maia comes from the Latin word “maior.” Finally, May could mean “sea of bitterness” if considering that it is a nickname for Mary or Margaret.

Style of the name May:

Classical

Gender of the name May:

May is a simple name for girls.

Pronunciation of the name May:

MAY

Number of syllables in the name May:

One

Emotion evoked from the name May:

May is a common and youthful name for girls. It is a natural and delicate option.

Alternative spellings for the name May:

• Mae 
• Mai 
• Maeigh
• Maie
• Maee
• Maiigh

Nicknames for the name May:

• Ma
• Mama
• Macie
• Macy 
• Mame
• Mamie
• Maysie

Popularity of the name May:

May was a top 1,000 name in America until 1982 when it was number 964. The name did best in 1900 when it was at rank 91. As of 2021, May is a top 3,200 option at number 3,103.

Related names for the name May:

• Marge
• Madge 
• Mary 
• Maia 
• June 
• Summer 
• Flora 
• Autumn 

Great middle names for May and their meanings:

• Ivy (vine)
• Coralie (coral reef)
• Eleanor (light-hearted, shining light)
• Rose (rose, a flower)
• Arabella (yielding to prayer)
• Liliana (lily, pure, innocent)
• Alice (noble, light)
• Wren (small bird)

Famous people with the name May:

• May Smith (great granddaughter of Queen Victoria)
• May Whitty (actress)
• May O”Donnell (dancer, choreographer)
• May Pang (former girlfriend of John Lennon)
• May Allison (actress)
• May Britt (actress)
• May McAvoy (silent film actress)

Mays in popular culture:

• May Parker (character from Spiderman comics)
• May Welland (character from “The Age of Innocence”)
• May (character from “Pokemon” series)
• May Clutterbucket (character from “Girl Meets World”)
• May Kanker (character from “Ed, Edd, n Eddy”)