Mae
A girls’ name of Latin origin, meaning of the sea; a form of May or Mary.
How Mae has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #588 |
| 2016 | #580 |
| 2017 | #640 |
| 2018 | #554 |
| 2019 | #549 |
| 2020 | #576 |
| 2021 | #504 |
| 2022 | #510 |
| 2023 | #506 |
| 2024 | #530 |
| 2025 | #501 |
Mae by the numbers
In 2025, 108 babies in England and Wales were named Mae. In the US, 452 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 2,756 babies in 1918, so it is a 1910s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1895, about 1 in 210 American girls born that year was called Mae.
Names that come from Mae
Forms of Mae in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Ava-Maelike a bird; bird-like with May flower; compound of Ava and Mae74 in England and Wales (2025)
- Lottie-Maefree woman with Mary; combination of Lottie and Mae47 in England and Wales (2025)
- Annamaecombination of Anna and Mae, grace and beloved32 in the US (2017)
- Dolly-Maegift plus may; a compound of Dolly and Mae23 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mabel-Maelovable; a compound of Mabel and Mae22 in England and Wales (2025)
- Harper-Maeharp player and greater; compound of Harper and Mae19 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maggie-Maepearl; an invented combination of Margaret and Mae19 in England and Wales (2025)
- Aria-Maeair, melody; compound of Aria and Mae17 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that come from Mary
Like Mae, each of these traces back to Mary: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Mollybeloved; a diminutive of Mary405 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maliacalm, peaceful; hawaiian form of Mary1,416 in the US (2017)
- Marilynbeloved by god; a form of Mary580 in the US (2017)
- Mariamof the sea; beloved; form of Mary179 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marieof the sea; beloved; form of Mary453 in the US (2017)
- Pollystar; a diminutive of Polly from Mary242 in England and Wales (2025)
- Molliestar; diminutive of Mary or Molly192 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marionof the sea; a form of Mary216 in the US (2017)
Other names that come from May
Like Mae, each of these traces back to May: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Ellie-Maeforeign; more; a form of Eleanor and May40 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ava-Maybird, desired; hyphenated form of Ava and May26 in England and Wales (2025)
- Evie-Maylife and bitter; combination of Evie and May10 in England and Wales (2025)
- Annamaygrace and beloved; compound of Anna and May7 in the US (2017)
- Bonnie-Maybeautiful; a combination of Bonnie and May7 in England and Wales (2025)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Mae. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Maythe month; associated with the goddess Maia64 in England and Wales (2025)
- Maicherry blossom; or month of may19 in England and Wales (2025)
- Manspring or morning; poetic simplicity18 in the US (2017)
- Mardrop of water; sea8 in the US (2017)
- Mavethe intoxicating one; a form of Medb3 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mayebeloved; a variant of Mae or May6 in the US (2017)
Sounds like Mae
Names that are said the same way as Mae, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean the sea
Like Mae, each of these has the sea in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Dylanson of the sea10,158 in the US (2017)
- Kaisea672 in England and Wales (2025)
- Mariaof the sea; a form of Mary522 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marystar of the sea; beloved2,381 in the US (2017)
- Morgansea-born; great and bright2,273 in the US (2017)
- Mariahof the sea; a form of Maria1,604 in the US (2017)