Name May

May is a feminine name with Latin, English, Roman origins. It is considered a ubiquitous name that has experienced moderate growth in popularity recently.

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Meaning of the name May

Origins and Core Meaning

The name May is derived from the Latin word "Maius", which means "great" or "magnificent". It is also the name of the Roman goddess of growth and fertility. The name May has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages, and it has remained popular ever since.

Detailed Insights on May

Origins

Latin, meaning "Great" or "magnificent" - It also carries influences from English, Roman.

Personality Traits

The name May is associated with a number of positive emotions, including happiness, joy, and abundance. It is also a name that is often associated with nature and the springtime.

Key Personality Traits

Personal Meanings of the Name May

  • May can also loosely mean "drop of the sea".

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  • In Limburgish, this name is a short form of Maria and Marie. The pronunciation would be MAHY: thea'-sound is slightly different than in the English pronunciation. It's similar to theahinaha(as in: "Aha! I found something!").

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  • It can also be a nickname for Mary. My name is Mary but everyone just calls me May.

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May Overview & Analysis

Gender statistics

May is predominantly a girl's name with a strong feminine identity. Among 29,727 people named May, 29,722 are female and 5 are male resulting in a 99.983% female distribution. This pronounced gender imbalance underscores the name May's strong feminine identity.

Data Explanation

This data is sourced from actual birth records, ensuring that the statistics provided are accurate reflections of real naming trends. The percentage has been rounded up for easier readability, but the underlying figures are grounded in factual data, not estimates. This ensures that the information is both reliable and user-friendly, giving a clear and truthful picture of the name May's gender association.

Popularity

May classified as an ubiquitous name and ranks 1,420 in the Namedary database. It has experienced moderate growth over the years, and experienced moderate growth recently. The chance of meeting someone named May is nearly 0.008%, or about one in 10,000+ people.

Popularity and Usage Trends for May

Based on the latest data from 2021 (47), 2022 (54), 2023 (89), May's year-to-year percentage change in popularity is 64.81%. The name May was most popular in 1915, making up 0.06% of baby names (or about one in 1,000+ babies), and reached its lowest point in 2009 with a usage rate of 0.001%.

Country-Specific Prevalence
May Popularity by Country
FlagCountryRankPopularity
New Zealand4970.05%
United Kingdom1,0640.01%
United States1,4620.008%
Australia1,7670.001%
Canada2,5490.003%

People named May are predominantly found in New Zealand (NZ), where it constitutes 0.05% of the total population.

Data Source

The data in this section was gathered from a variety of sources, including:

To enhance readability, percentages are rounded up. Values less than 0.0015% have been omitted.

Additional Information on May

Pronunciation and Phonetics

Name
May
Pronunciation
  • may
  • m-ai
  • mey
IPA Notation
mejˈ
Syllable
Chinese Translation of the Name May
Translation
Pronunce
(PinYin) : méi
Feng Shui
Wood
May in Numerology
May: Name to Numerology Conversion
MAY
17
4

Applying the rules of numerology (Pythagorean numerology):

May's Soul Number (Heart's Desire Number): Number 8

  • Embrace your true self when you have achieved financial independence, secured a stable job, and established your own home.
  • You aspire to become a business-minded leader, guided by high ideals and an attitude of abundance.
  • You desire equity, empowerment, and abundance in both your personal and professional life.

May's Expression Number (Personality Number): Number 4

  • You are highly skilled and often seek physically engaging activities.
  • You particularly enjoy physical exercise, sports, or construction and repair activities.

May's Destiny Number (Life Path Number): Number 3

  • You are optimistic, creative, enthusiastic, romantic, and humorous, bringing joy to those around you.
  • You possess excellent creative leadership skills and have a knack for business success.
Famous People Named May
  • May Pang - Photographer and former girlfriend of John Lennon.
  • Maya Angelou - American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist.
  • Mayim Bialik - American actress, neuroscientist, and author.
  • Maynard James Keenan - American singer, songwriter, and musician.
  • Maynard Ferguson - Canadian jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer.

User-Submitted Information about May

  • Also used in Swedish and Norwegian: https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/May_1

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  • In 2018, 85 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) May who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1, 566th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.

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  • The name May was given to 128 girls born in the US in 2015.

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Conclusion

The name May is a beautiful and versatile name with a rich history and many positive associations. It is a name that is perfect for a child who is born in the month of May, but it can also be used as a standalone name. The name May is a name that is sure to bring joy and happiness to its bearer.

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