May
A girls’ name of Latin origin, meaning the month; associated with the goddess Maia.
May by the numbers
In 2025, 64 babies in England and Wales were named May. In the US, 127 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given several times more often in England and Wales than in the US.
Its American peak was 981 babies in 1919, so it is a 1910s name that has since fallen a long way.
Names that come from May
Forms of May in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean 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 May. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Mayaillusion; mother; water1,259 in England and Wales (2025)
- Marystar of the sea; beloved2,381 in the US (2017)
- Macyweapon; from the surname Macy563 in the US (2017)
- Maeof the sea; a form of May or Mary108 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)
Sounds like May
Names that are said the same way as May, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
Other names that mean God
Like May, each of these has God in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Isabellapledged to God15,112 in the US (2017)
- Elizabethmy God is an oath8,924 in the US (2017)
- Angelmessenger of God6,157 in the US (2017)
- Auroradawn; Roman goddess of sunrise1,030 in England and Wales (2025)
- SamanthaGod has heard; feminine form of Samuel4,308 in the US (2017)
- Micahwho is like God3,924 in the US (2017)