May - Name Meaning and Origin

The girl's name May \may\ is pronounced may. It is of English origin, and its meaning is "the fifth month". The month of May was named for Maia, the Roman earth goddess. Also a short form of the names Matthew and Mary. Also a Sanskrit word meaning "illusion". See also Mai. Actress Mae West; writer Maya Angelou; poet May Sarton.

May has 12 variant forms: Mae, Maelee, Maelynn, Maia, Maj, Mala, Maya, Mayana, Maye, Mayleen, Maylene and Mei.

For more information, see also related names Annemae, Claramae and September.

Baby names that sound like May are Mya, Moya, Mayah, Maiya, Miya, Miah, Mia, Meya and Mea.

May is a very popular female first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name May. Click here to compare May with related baby names.