May

May is a girl's name of Arabic origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 168 girls in the United States.

May at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
Muslim & Arabic · English & American
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/meɪ/

About the name May

May belongs to the Muslim & Arabic and English & American tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess.

In the United States, May first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #57 in 1880, and in 2024 168 babies received the name — 49,216 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

May in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#57 in 1880
Peak year
1919
Babies named May in 2024
168
Total since 1880
49,216

May in England & Wales records

First recorded (since 1996)
1996
Best rank
#325 in 2007
Babies named May in 2025
64
Total since 1996
2,173

Similar names

More names from the Muslim & Arabic shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name May mean?

The meaning of May is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Arabic origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is May a boy or girl name?

May is a girl name. In 2024, 168 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name May?

May comes from the Muslim & Arabic and English & American tradition.

How popular is the name May?

May first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #57 in 1880, and 168 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce May?

May is pronounced /meɪ/ (IPA).

Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. England & Wales figures are from the Office for National Statistics. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.