May
Say it: MAY/meɪ/
GirlMeans the month of May, named after the Roman goddess Maia3 letters1 syllable
#718
in Ireland (2025)
#692 with spellings combined
4
babies in 2025
#263
best rank (2023)
255
babies since 1967
Down 289
10-year rank change
May through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | #692 |
| 2024 | 11 | #341 |
| 2023 | 15 | #263 |
| 2022 | 14 | #306 |
| 2021 | 14 | #301 |
| 2020 | 13 | #313 |
| 2019 | 13 | #322 |
| 2018 | 12 | #358 |
| 2017 | 16 | #289 |
| 2016 | 7 | #518 |
| 2015 | 11 | #403 |
| 2014 | 13 | #353 |
| 2013 | 10 | #428 |
| 2012 | 5 | #679 |
| 2011 | 13 | #361 |
| 2010 | 10 | #445 |
| 2009 | 8 | #489 |
| 2008 | 5 | #667 |
| 2007 | 3 | #841 |
| 2005 | 5 | #524 |
| 2004 | 4 | #576 |
| 2003 | 4 | #559 |
| 2002 | 4 | #512 |
| 2001 | 6 | #400 |
| 1999 | 3 | #527 |
| 1998 | 3 | #499 |
| 1997 | 3 | #576 |
| 1994 | 3 | #502 |
| 1985 | 6 | #386 |
| 1982 | 3 | #523 |
| 1980 | 3 | #542 |
| 1976 | 3 | #497 |
| 1971 | 3 | #466 |
| 1967 | 5 | #315 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does May mean?
The month of May, named after the Roman goddess Maia
English, from the month name, and long used as a pet form of Mary and Margaret.
Say it right
MAY
The story of May
May is the name of the fifth month, which came into English through French from the Latin Maius, “Maia’s month”. Maia was a Roman goddess of the earth and growth. As a girls’ name, though, May began mostly as a pet form of Mary and Margaret, and the month, with its spring flowers, helped it along. Mae is a later spelling of the same name.
Because it was so often a pet name, some women known as May in older records were christened Mary or Margaret.
As a name in its own right on the birth certificate, May first appears in the CSO records in 1967. It was given to more girls in the 2010s, and its biggest year was 2017, with 16 girls. Its best rank was number 263 in 2023. It has been quieter since, with 4 girls named May in 2025. The CSO counts Mae separately.
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Sources
- Wiktionary: May (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: May (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| May | 4 | 255 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #276 (2016); 29 babies since 2009.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.