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.
Famous People With The Name May
- May AllisonFormer long-distance runner, represented Canada at the 1996 Summer Olympics
- 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 RobsonAustralian-born American-based actress, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1933
- 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 AdministrationNames 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.
MaaglantMaaskelah Mabbe Mabrey Mabyle Maccvtreni Mace Machutus Mackenzi Mackynzie Girl Sibling Names For May
Looking for some suitable sister names for May? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
MabileMabilia Mabilie Mabill Mabilla Mabillae Mabillia Mable Mabley Mably Other 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.
Amy Mya Popular 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?
Mystical as the star-speckled moonlit night.
Aspiring and working hard for true success.
Yielding grace that feels like the Earth’s embrace.
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 |
Infographic: Know The Name May‘s Personality As Per Numerology
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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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 |
How To Communicate The Name May In Sign Languages
In Nautical Flags
may
In Sign Language
may
In Braille Alphabet
may
In Morse Code
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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.
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?
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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?
Look Up For Many More Names
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