May

At a Glance

Meaning

Traditionally a pet form of Mary or Margaret, reinforced by the spring month (named for the Roman goddess Maia)

Origin

English (pet name, reinforced by the month name)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

MAYListen

May (pronounced MAY, /ˈmeɪ/) is an English pet name, traditionally a shortened form of Mary or Margaret. You'll often hear it linked to the spring month and the Roman goddess Maia, but that's not quite how it started — the month connection reinforces the name rather than being its source.

Meaning & Origin of May

Meaning: Traditionally a pet form of Mary or Margaret, reinforced by the spring month (named for the Roman goddess Maia).

Origin: English (pet name, reinforced by the month name).

A common claim: Said to mean 'the month of May' or to honor the goddess Maia Actually: May is usually a pet form of Mary or Margaret rather than a direct reference to the month or goddess — the month association reinforces rather than founds the name.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce May

Popularity of May

May peaked at #57 in 1880 with 462 babies given the name, and by 2024 it had fallen to #1357 with just 168, based on Social Security data spanning 1880 to 2024.

Names Like May

These names share May’s style, era or origin.

• Bay
• Beck
• Briar
• Bunny
• Cady
• Coast

FAQ

What does the name May mean?

Traditionally a pet form of Mary or Margaret, reinforced by the spring month (named for the Roman goddess Maia). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce May?

May is pronounced MAY (IPA: /ˈmeɪ/).

Is May a popular name right now?

May peaked at #57 in 1880 and is ranked #1357 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make May Name Art

Free printable nursery art for May, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.