May Name Meaning & Origin
May
Origin of the name May:
Originally used as a pet form of Mary and Margaret (pearl). More recently, however, it is usually associated with the name of the month, which is derived from the Latin Maius (the month of Maia, the Greek mythological goddess of increase). May is often bestowed as a middle name, or used as a name element in combination names such as Anna-Mae or May-Lynn. The name was borne by the popular actress Mae West (1892 - 1980). Her shapely bustline led to her name being used for an inflatable life preserver vest for use by RAF aviators downed at sea during World War II.
From A World of Baby Names by Teresa Norman.
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US Popularity of May Over Time

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- Comments and insights on the name May
Amy, May and Mya are anagrams of each other; they contain the same letters.
- Personal experiences with the name May
- Nicknames for May
Maisie
- Meanings and history of the name May
- Famous real-life people named May
May Sarton, American poet
May Swenson, American poet
May Alcott Niemeker, sister of writer Louisa May Alcott, and inspiration for "Amy" in "Little Women" ("Amy" is an anagram of "May")
Miranda May Kerr, Australian model
May Rose Nivola (b. 2010), daughter of English actress and screenwriter Emily Mortimer
May is the stage name for a Korean pop idol in the group Cherry Bullet- May in song, story & screen
May Welland was the young society wife of Newland Archer in Edith Wharton's novel "The Age of Innocence"
Aunt May Parker, Spider-Man's aunt (Marvel Comics character)