May
5 countries#1229 in United States, 2025Popularity across 5 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when May was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
50,099 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #1229 · peaked in 1919 with 991 births
Most common in: New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Mississippi
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
2,142 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #384 · peaked in 2010 with 138 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
1,928 births recorded 1996–2021 · currently #654 · peaked in 2007 with 137 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
1,317 births recorded 1900–2022 · currently #994 · peaked in 2019 with 43 births
Most common in: Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Bouches-du-Rhône, Seine-Saint-Denis, Rhône
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
🏴 Scotland
185 births recorded 1974–2025 · currently #301 · peaked in 2025 with 11 births
Source: National Records of Scotland, official birth-registration data
Northern Ireland
29 births recorded 2009–2024 · peaked in 2016 with 6 births
Source: NISRA, official birth-registration data
United States rank history
May’s rank among girls’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #2459 | — |
| 2007 | #2163 | ↑296 |
| 2008 | #2137 | ↑26 |
| 2009 | #2396 | ↓259 |
| 2010 | #1886 | ↑510 |
| 2011 | #2156 | ↓270 |
| 2012 | #1886 | ↑270 |
| 2013 | #1849 | ↑37 |
| 2014 | #1569 | ↑280 |
| 2015 | #1643 | ↓74 |
| 2016 | #1649 | ↓6 |
| 2017 | #1677 | ↓28 |
| 2018 | #1640 | ↑37 |
| 2019 | #1598 | ↑42 |
| 2020 | #1704 | ↓106 |
| 2021 | #1680 | ↑24 |
| 2022 | #1443 | ↑237 |
| 2023 | #1430 | ↑13 |
| 2024 | #1358 | ↑72 |
| 2025 | #1229 | ↑129 |
Frequently asked questions about May
Is May a popular name?
Yes — May currently ranks #1229 among girls’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is May more common for boys or girls?
May is recorded predominantly as a girls’ name in official United States birth data.
When was May most popular?
May peaked in 1919 in United States, with 991 recorded births that year.
Is May rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, May’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #57 in 1880 to #1229 in 2025.
How many babies have been named May?
At least 53,558 babies have been recorded with the name May across official birth statistics in 5 countries.
Is May popular in more than one country?
Yes — May appears in official birth records in 5 countries: United States, England & Wales, France, Scotland, Northern Ireland.
What names are similar in popularity to May?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to May include Mariela, Xitlali, Eliany.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to May in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.