may: Name Meaning, Origin, History, And Popularity
A name that captures the youthful spirit of spring.
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In This Article
- ❯Origin, Meaning, And History Of May
- ❯How To Pronounce May?
- ❯‘May’ In QR Code
- ❯Notable People Named May
- ❯May On The Popularity Chart
- ❯Popularity Over Time
- ❯Rank Over Time
- ❯Popularity Within US States
- ❯May Name's Presence On Social Media
- ❯May’s Mention In Fictional Works
- ❯Names With Similar Sound As May
- ❯Popular Sibling Names For May
- ❯Other Popular Names Beginning With M
- ❯Names With Same Meaning As May
- ❯Anagram Names Of May
- ❯Popular Songs On The Name May
- ❯Acrostic Poem On May
- ❯Adorable Nicknames For May
- ❯May’s Zodiac Sign As Per Western Astrology
- ❯May’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
- ❯May Personality Traits As Per Numerology
- ❯Infographic: Know The Name May's Personality As Per Numerology
- ❯May In Different Languages
- ❯May In Fancy Fonts
- ❯Adorable ‘May’ Wallpapers To Share
- ❯How To Communicate The Name May In Sign Languages
- ❯Name Numerology For May
- ❯Baby Name Lists Containing May
- ❯Movie Titles Inspired By The Name May
- ❯Frequently Asked Questions
- ❯Look Up For Many More Names
- ❯Phonemic Representation Of May
- Community Experiences
Origin, Meaning, And History Of May
May is a beautiful feminine given name with multiple origins and meanings. One possible origin suggests that May comes from the name of the month May, which originates from Maia, the name of a Roman goddess of spring and growth. Hence, May is associated with the spring season, and its literal meaning is ‘the fifth month’ in English.
Maia, the Roman goddess, was believed to be Atlas’s daughter and Hermes’s mother. In addition to her association with spring and growth, she was also linked to the art of weaving, which was an essential skill for women in ancient Rome. Today, she continues to be celebrated in various forms of modern paganism and is sometimes invoked in fertility, creativity, and abundance rituals.
Another possible origin suggests May could be a diminutive of Margaret, Mary, or Mabel, popular names in Medieval England. It is also an English patronymic surname derived from the given name Matt and Matthew, which means ‘gift of god’ in Hebrew.
May is a Middle English nickname meaning ‘young man’ or ‘woman.’ According to its Irish roots, May is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic term Ó Miadhaigh, meaning ‘descendant of Miadhach,’ a name associated with ‘honor’ and ‘pride.’
May is pronounced ‘MAY’ in English and has several alternate spellings such as Mae, Mai, Maeigh, Maie, and Maee. Although May is a concise name, it can have a few cute nicknames, such as Mo, Ma, Meg, Macie, and Macy.
In popular culture, this monosyllabic name has made several notable appearances. May Bartram is the name of the female protagonist in Henry James’s novella The Beast in the Jungle. She is depicted as a beautiful and charming young woman who captures John’s (male protagonist) attention from the moment they meet.
May Welland in Edith Wharton’s novel The Age of Innocence and May from Geoffrey Chaucer’s book The Merchant’s Tale are a few more literary representations of May.
Aunt May from the Spiderman comic book and movie series and May Kanker in the animated series Ed, Edd n Eddy are a few more fictional characters named May.
May
How To Pronounce May?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name May in English.
‘May’ In QR Code
Here's a unique feature for the modern, tech-savvy, and curious parents – have your baby's name in a QR code. If you want your close circle to know your newborn's name, all you need to do is simply scan and share it. The code not only shows the name but its meaning as well; this means you don't have to painfully explain the meaning of your baby's name anymore! So, go ahead. Download, save, and share it with your family and friends, or use it to create personalized keepsakes for your little one.
Notable People Named May
This section covers people who have made the name May famous with their contributions in various fields. It indeed is a little more inspiration for you to choose the name for your baby, don’t you think?
- May BrittActress
- May RobsonActress and playwright
- May AllisonAmerican stage and film actress
- May McAvoyAmerican silent film actress
- May SartonAmerican poet, novelist, and memoirist
- May AridaLebanese socialite, received several honors, including the Gold Medal of Lebanese Merit in 1976
- May HollinworthAustralian theater producer and director, won the 1956 Journalists' Award in Australia
- May SayeghPalestinian poet, feminist, political activist, and writer, received the Ana Betancourt award in the 1980s
May On The Popularity Chart
Look at the following graphs to analyze May’s popularity and ranking fluctuations over the years.
Popularity Over Time
According to the US Social Security Administration data, May’s popularity has experienced several fluctuations. Refer to the graph below to better understand the name’s popularity trend.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The following graph depicts the changes in May’s ranking over the years.
Source: Social Security AdministrationPopularity Within US States
If you're living in the US, you might be curious about the popularity of May in your own state, a state you're considering moving to, or one with which you have a connection. Use the drop-down menu below to select any US state and discover the name's popularity within that region.
California
Texas
Florida
Source: Social Security AdministrationMay Name’s Presence On Social Media
Before you finalize your baby’s name, you would want to assess if the name is rare or popular. Digital footprint of the name - it’s presence on the internet and social media platforms - can provide you with valuable insights on it’s popularity. A name’s online presence is an important metric for new parents to evaluate their options and make an informed choice. How many people are searching the name on Google, how many profiles are there on Facebook, does the name have a Wikipedia page? Such information surely tells you if the name is ubiquitous or unique. Here is how May fares on that count.
May’s Mention In Fictional Works
In this section, know how the creative minds have treated the name May in their fictional works. How often has the name been woven into the storylines, and how popular was the character – these details may not directly influence your naming decision, but you would like to know about May’s performance in the world of entertainment, won’t you? Moreover, it could be the name of the character from a movie or series you loved or binge-watched recently! So, check out May’s performance in the fictional cosmos.
Title | Character name | Role played by |
---|---|---|
Wings | Andrea May | Spike Leffke |
First Date | Zoe May | Caroline Sheridan |
Mothboy | Auntie May | Annie Byron |
Bottom Gear | James May | Jixaw |
Le massacre des innocents | May Foley | Maryse Paillet |
Uncomfortable | May | Mary Fox |
Herbert Engelmann | Eveline May | Ingeborg Wellmann |
Casting | Michael May | Rick Vorell |
Serendipity... | May | Trang Vo |
Varshita | May (2018-) | Shirleen Kuria |
Names With Similar Sound As May
Here are a few names that have a similar sound to May:
Popular Sibling Names For May
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with May, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For May
Find matching brother names for May and create a wonderful team of siblings.
MaaglantGirl Sibling Names For May
Looking for some suitable sister names for May? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
MabileOther Popular Names Beginning With M
Looking for more baby names starting with the letter M to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Same Meaning As May
Do you want to explore more names with a similar meaning to May? Here are some alternatives you can consider.
Anagram Names Of May
William Shakespeare is known for his ‘onomastic wit,’ with anagrams being one of them (remember the play Twelfth Night?). Anagram is the rearrangement of the same letters to form different words. Anagramming names has been in vogue for centuries now, and why not when it can create some cute names? Anagram baby names stand out with their unique sound and spellings. You may try an anagram of your name or your partner’s; even better if you combine both names and then try an anagram for the baby. It all stays in the family this way. You may also try anagram names for siblings, especially twins. Here are some anagrams of May.
AmyPopular Songs On The Name May
Acrostic Poem On May
Dive into the lyrical charm of the name May with this acrostic poem. Witness how each letter paints together a story, capturing the name’s individuality, strength, vitality, and sophistication. Inspiring, is it? Why not try a similar poem that describes what you think of your baby’s personality?
Modest and matured, you make people allured.
Angelic and divine, a little beacon of light.
Yearning for life, a youthful essence that stays forever vibrant.
Adorable Nicknames For May
Nicknames are an integral part of your communication with your baby. You tend to use several variations of your child’s name; some are meaningful, while others are simply adorable sounds. Here are a few nicknames you can begin with for the name May.
- May-May
- Maybelle
- Mayflower
- Mayster
- Mayzie
May’s Zodiac Sign As Per Western Astrology
Western astrology includes the construction of a horoscope based on the person’s exact time of birth and location to understand the positions of the planet, stars, and zodiac signs at that time. However, in popular culture, it is often narrowed down to the sun sign, which depends on the person’s birth date.There are 12 zodiac signs, each having dominant traits, planetary rulers, elemental connection, and more.
Zodiac sign or Sun sign
The Earth’s orbit around the sun is divided into 12 zodiac signs covering 30-degree sectors. According to Western astrology, the zodiac or sun sign depends on the sun’s position in one of these sectors at the time of your birth. Starting from the sun’s position at the March equinox, the chart goes anti-clockwise from Aries, followed by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. These signs are ruled by planetary bodies - Mars, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Furthermore, they are categorized into triplicities or elemental signs - fire, water, air, and earth - that govern their characteristics. Each of these zodiac signs features certain personality traits that may determine how a person presents themselves.
Why the date of birth matters
Each zodiac sign in Western astrology is linked to a specific range of dates in the year. Unlike Vedic astrology, where names can sometimes be used to infer astrological details, Western astrology relies entirely on the birth date.
To know more about your baby’s zodiac sign, choose the period in which your baby’s date of birth falls, from the options given below. This will give you a glimpse into the world of astrology tailored for your baby.
Select your baby’s birthdate range
Mar 21 – Apr 19
Apr 20 – May 20
May 21 – Jun 20
Jun 21 – Jul 22
Jul 23 – Aug 22
Aug 23 – Sep 22
Sep 23 – Oct 22
Oct 23 – Nov 21
Nov 22 – Dec 21
Dec 22 – Jan 19
Jan 20 – Feb 18
Feb 19 – Mar 20
May’s Zodiac Sign And Birth Star As Per Vedic Astrology
Vedic astrology, also called Jyotisha, provides deep insights into a person’s life based on celestial positions at birth. Rashi and nakshatra, which are an integral part of Jyotisha, are believed to influence an individual’s personality and life events. The following sections give you rashi-related information, such as the associated letters, elements, ruling body, quality, and nakshatra for the name May. These details help analyze a person’s characteristics, personality, and behavior.
Zodiac Sign (Rashi)
As shown in the following table, each rashi is associated with specific sounds, which are often used as the starting letters of names for newborns in Hindu families. Each rashi is represented by a figure and one of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (Space). One ruling celestial body, known as its 'rashi lord' or 'ruler' is assigned to these rashis. These bodies include Venus, Mars, Sun, Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, the rashis are assigned various qualities or gunas.
Rashi (zodiac sign) | Simha (Leo) |
---|---|
Starting letters for Simha (Leo) rashi | M, TT |
Representation | Lion |
Element | Fire |
Ruling body | Sun |
Quality | Fixed |
Birth Star (Nakshatra)
Another important aspect of Vedic Astrology is the nakshatras, the lunar constellations or star clusters that the Moon occupies during a person's birth. There are 27 nakshatras, each with its own unique qualities, attributes, and symbolism. Each rashi contains two-and-one-fourth nakshatras in it. For example, Aries contains Ashwini, Bharani, and Krithika nakshatras.
The below table provides information on the nakshatras’ degrees on the zodiac circle, their lords and related syllables, for babies born in the Simha (Leo) rashi. These syllables/phonetics are popularly used to choose the baby name. For precise nakshatra calculation based on your baby's birthplace and date, use our Nakshatra Calculator.
Nakshatra | Degrees Of The Nakshatra | Nakshatra Lord (Ruler) | Name Syllables |
---|---|---|---|
Magha (Makha, Makam) | Leo (0 to 13.20 degrees) | Ketu | Ma, Maa, Mi, Mee, Mu, Me |
Purva Phalguni (Pooram, Pubba) | Leo (13.20 to 26.40 degrees) | Venus | Mo, Ta, Taa, Ti, Tee, Tu |
Uttara Phalguni (Uthiram, Utram) | Leo (26.40 to 30 degrees) | Sun | Te, Ta, Taa, To, Pa, Paa, Pi, Pee |
May Personality Traits As Per Numerology
The numerology belief system envisages a relationship between a name and numbers. The related numbers are believed to give insights into a person’s character. We have researched this area to connect the numerology-based characteristic traits to the letters of the English alphabet. And the results are fascinating.
Numerology followers believe that each letter signifies attributes that can influence a person’s attitude and approach. Among these placements, the most significant are the first letter (Cornerstone) and the last letter (Capstone) of a name. Cornerstone highlights your primary personality traits and explains how you face challenges and opportunities in life. Capstone can tell you about your approach to work and how you complete them. Often, a letter may be repeated twice or more in a name. This repetition signifies the intensification or amplification of the traits associated with the letter in an individual’s personality.
Read to know what characteristics the name May is known for in numerology. Here we have avoided repetition of letters and added them just once for a better reading experience.
MYou are introspective, diligent, and pragmatic. You love to be independent but can be quite a workaholic..
AYou are ambitious, brave, and independent. You tend to be dominating and seek power and status.
YYou tend to overwork and stray from the original plans but still manage to complete the work. However, others may not appreciate your attitude.
Infographic: Know The Name May‘s Personality As Per Numerology
May In Different Languages
It’s exciting to see our baby’s name spelled and written in various languages. See how people spell May in Spanish, French, German, Italian, and more! Each language has its own way of saying May, but it’s still the same special name. Learn how the name looks and sounds in different languages around the world!
Name | Language | Code |
---|---|---|
May | English | en |
可能 | Chinese | zh-CN |
मई | Hindi | hi |
May | Spanish | es |
May | French | fr |
يمكن | Arabic | ar |
হতে পারে | Bengali | bn |
May | Portuguese | pt |
может | Russian | ru |
ہو سکتا ہے | Urdu | ur |
May | Indonesian | id |
May | German | de |
5月 | Japanese | ja |
मई | Marathi | mr |
మే | Telugu | te |
May | Turkish | tr |
கூடும் | Tamil | ta |
May | Vietnamese | vi |
May | Tagalog | tl |
5월 | Korean | ko |
May | Hausa | ha |
May | Swahili | sw |
May | Javanese | jv |
May | Italian | it |
ਹੋ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ | Punjabi | pa |
શકે છે | Gujarati | gu |
อาจ | Thai | th |
ಮೇ | Kannada | kn |
ግንቦት | Amharic | am |
मई | Bhojpuri | bho |
May | Yoruba | yo |
May In Fancy Fonts
Visualize your little one’s name in different captivating fonts. You can use these fancy styles on birth announcement cards, nursery decorations, personalized gifts, to name a few. Select the perfect font from these options for a touch of personalization.
- Double Struck Font𝕄 𝕒 𝕪
- Bold Script Font𝓜 𝓪 𝔂
- Fancy Style 35 Fontm α ψ
- Fancy Style 7 FontΜ Δ ¥
- Love FontM♥ a♥ y♥
- Black Square Font🅼 🅰 🆈
- Hand Writing 2 FontM α ყ
- X Above Bellow FontM͓̽ a͓̽ y͓̽
Liked our fancy fonts for May? Why not go a step forward with these beautiful posters? They are perfect to download and use as display pictures or social media posts! You may also use them as part of decorating your child’s room. These personalized wallpapers celebrate the positive vibes of the name, offering a unique way to show how much this name means to you. What’s more! You have multiple options here to choose depending on your mood or occasion.
May 3D Wallpaper
May Birthday Wallpaper
‘I Love May’ Wallpaper
Stylish May Wallpaper
May Name Initial Wallpaper
How To Communicate The Name May In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
May
In Sign Language
May
In Braille Alphabet
May
In Morse Code
May
In Barcode
In Binary
01001101 01100001 01111001
Name Numerology For May
Numerology is an occult system that gives significance to numbers and their influence on human life and destiny. Numerologists attribute specific qualities, energies, and characteristics to a number. Parents who believe in numerology prefer to choose baby names that resonate positively with the child’s unique numerical vibrations, often derived from their date of birth. Here we give a general birth number and personality traits of the name May, based on the Pythagorean (Western) system. This analysis will differ from child to child based on their date of birth. You may use our numerology calculator for more personalized information.
Destiny Number
You are an inspiration to others. You remain positive and always enthusiastic about things in general. You have a knack to bring out the best in others.
Personality Number
Friendly, unpretentious, and draw others easily with your warm and serene nature. Understanding, patient, and especially, concerned about your physical appearance and take time to dress and groom.
Soul Number
Independent, and have a strong desire to become a leader in your respective field. You long to be in complete control of your destiny.
Baby Name Lists Containing May
Read through our baby name lists that include the name May and several other similar names. The wider the choice, the better your selection. Isn't it?
- Baby Girl Names With Meanings›
- Baby Girl Names That Start With Letter M›
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- English Baby Names Starting With Letter M›
- English Baby Girl Names, Starting With Letter M›
- Latin Baby Names With Meanings›
- Latin Baby Names Starting With Letter M›
- Latin Baby Girl Names, Starting With Letter M›
- Christianity Baby Names With Meanings›
- Christianity Baby Names Starting With Letter M›
- Christianity Baby Girl Names, Starting With Letter M›
- Judaism Baby Names With Meanings›
- Judaism Baby Names Starting With Letter M›
- Judaism Baby Girl Names, Starting With Letter M›
- 200 Unique And Meaningful Non-religious Or Atheist Baby Names›
- 300+ Popular Baby Girl Names Ending With Y, With Meanings›
- 300 Wonderful Word Names From Dictionary, For Boys And Girls›
- Top 21 Names For Babies Born In May›
Movie Titles Inspired By The Name May
Discover the presence of May in an array of films. Know about the various movies that have this name.
Movie title | Other titles | Release year |
---|---|---|
May December | Secretos de un escándalo | 2023 |
Mother, May I? | Mother, May I?, Zapytaj matkę, Мамо, можна?.., Матушка, можно? | 2023 |
May-December-January | 2022 | |
Eleven Days in May | 2022 | |
May Labor Day | May Labour Day, Praznik dela, Praznik rada, Święto pracy | 2022 |
May God Be with You | Que Dieu te protège | 2021 |
There May Be Ghosts | 2021 | |
May You Stay Forever Young | Shao nian, Siu Nin, 少年, 少年たちの時代革命 | 2021 |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name May?
The name May means ‘Goddess of spring’ or ‘fifth month.’
2. What is the origin of the name May?
May has an English origin.
3. How to pronounce the name May?
May is pronounced as ‘mey.’
4. What does the name May mean in Spanish?
May is an English name not commonly used among Spanish speakers. Instead, its variations are used. For example, Margarita, Spanish for ‘Daisy,’ Míriam, meaning ‘beloved,’ and Mía, Spanish for ‘mine.’
5. What are some middle names for May?
References
- Astrology, Hermes (2023); Astrology for Beginners.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370635414_Astrology_for_Beginners - Shirley Lawrence; The Secret Science of Numerology: The Hidden Meaning of Numbers and Letters.
https://www.academia.edu/97492675/The_Secret_Science_of_Numerology_The_Hidden_Meaning_of_Numbers_and_Letters_Shirley_Lawrence&nav_from=a3c5c3fd-555f-4584-b66d-4a3c8023402e&rw_pos=0 - Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia; “zodiac”; Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/zodiac - P.V.R. Narasimha Rao; Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach.
https://www.vedicastrologer.org/articles/vedic_astro_textbook.pdf - Paulo Martins; A Concise History of Hindu Astrology and Indian Spirituality; Scholars Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
https://www.saspublishers.com/media/articles/SJAHSS_112_33-36_FT_MAEgJAB.pdf - WikiLeaks; Meanings of Muslim Names.
https://wikileaks.org/gifiles/attach/176/176358_MuslimNameMeanings.pdf - International Phonetic Association.
https://www.internationalphoneticassociation.org/ - Adam Szczegielniak; Phonetics: The Sounds of Language; Harvard University.
https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/adam/files/phonetics.ppt.pdf - Lalita K. Wani et al; Review of Scientific Analysis Of Sacred Sound OM (AUM); Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR), Novermber 2020.
https://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2011207.pdf
Look Up For Many More Names
Do you have a name in mind and want to know more about it? Or want to find names belonging to a particular origin, religion, or having a specific meaning? Use our search tool below to explore more baby names with different combinations.
Phonemic Representation Of May
Phonemics is the study of a language’s distinctive sound units (phonemes), as standardized by the International Phonetics Association. When choosing a name for your baby, knowing its phonemic pronunciation gives an idea about the name’s sound pattern and auditory appeal. You can assess the name’s ease of pronunciation, memorability, and softness. Here is the phonemic transcription of May in American and British accents.
- In American English: /meɪ/
- In British English: /meɪ/
Pronunciation of names, in fact, any spoken word, involves the participation of various parts of the mouth, vocal cord, nose, and lungs. Underneath all the sounds we make is the airstream flowing from the lungs and moving up to the mouth. It’s incredible how lips, tongue, teeth, alveolar ridge, palate, glottis, and larynx work harmoniously to bring out the words. Studies have proved that positive sounds like OM (AUM) help maintain hormonal balance and mental health and reduce stress and anxiety. So, what parts does May trigger? Find the details here; the sound of May might bring in more positive vibes into your life!
Phoneme | Articulation |
---|---|
/m/ | Bringing both lips together. Airflow stops for a fraction of a second |
/eɪ/ | Tongue mid front to high front, spread lips. Airflow is continuous |
Community Experiences
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