A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Mae since 1880
Babies named Mae per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Mae's real moment was 1892.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5,647 |
| 1890s | 10,918 |
| 1900s | 12,711 |
| 1910s | 21,530 |
| 1920s | 22,760 |
| 1930s | 12,859 |
| 1940s | 8,947 |
| 1950s | 5,542 |
| 1960s | 2,172 |
| 1970s | 830 |
| 1980s | 606 |
| 1990s | 654 |
| 2000s | 1,714 |
| 2010s | 4,427 |
| 2020s | 3,518 |
Meaning & origin
Mae is a short, sweet feminine name that has been in consistent use since records began in 1880. It peaked in the late 19th century, hitting its highest rank at 32nd in 1892. After a long decline, the name has been climbing again in recent decades; its trajectory has been rising since 1992. In its most recent year, 2025, it ranked 500th. The name is notably popular in states like Maine, South Dakota, and Utah. While historically a diminutive or a month name, Mae's simplicity and vintage charm have made it a favorite for parents seeking a classic yet understated choice.
Mae is an English name that emerged as a short form of Mary and also as a direct use of the month May. Its popularity as a given name rose in the late 19th century, often used as a middle name or a simple, sweet standalone choice. The name has seen periodic revivals, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Where Mae is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Mae” around the world
Where Mae lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#84
in 2024
Ireland
26
babies in 2025
Quebec
13
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: May
Sibling names for Mae
Names that share Mae's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Alice, Rose, Grace, Claire, June, Bessie, Cora, Della, Dora, Elsie, Essie, Eula, Faye, Josie, Kay, Melba, Nellie, Nola, Rae, Rita, Viola, Allene, Alta, Arlie, Belva, Birdie, Bulah, Cleo, Delina, Effie, Elma, Elva, Era, Etta, Exie, Fay, Floy, Glenna, Ila, Ina, Iola, Iva, Ivey, Jetta, Kaye, Larue, Leatha, Lela, Lelia, Lennie, Lilian, Lilyann, Lin, Lura, Nelle, Neva, Norah, Oma, Ona, Ora, Ova, Rosalee, Rubye, Rue, Thea, Tressa, Twila, Vada, Vera, Yetta, Zena, Aide, Alys, Annah, Arrie, Avie, Bea, Bee, Berna, Billye, Chere, Cordie, Delcie, Delpha, Eda, Elvie, Elzie, Ena, Erie, Fae, Female, Flo, France, Glennie, Grayce, Halee, Illa, Jaye, Launa, Lenna, Mel, Merna, Nella, Nori, Onie, Onnie, Pa, Pearle, Pearly, Raye, Rea, Reita, Rella, Sula, Toi, Tomie, Ula, Vallie, Verdie, Voncile, Zadie, Adra, Alie, Ame, Anona, Arah, Ardie, Audre, Aurie, Babe, Besse, Birda, Ceil, Chanie, Charle, Clary, Coni, Cyd, Deetta, Deette, Dela, Dene, Dicie, Dorma, Elese, Eller, Elsia, Estes, Evah, Floye, Gae, Gaila, Gaile, Hasel, Ilean, Imo, Irean, Ireta, Ivah, Jinnie, July, Kae, Leoma, Lilley, Linna, Loa, Loetta, Lore, Lular, Ma, Mada, Mame, Mayola, Mc, Mell, Monie, Neita, Nobie, Novie, Omie, Onalee, Oretha, Orma, Parlee, Rhetta, Roe, Roizy, Ruie, Sayde, See, Shella, Shi, Ura, Vadie, Verma, Virdie, Wanza, Willodean, Wrenn, Zo, Acy, Ader, Alean, Arkie, Azzie, Cay, Clema, Dellia, Der, Detta, Dore, Elesa, Ellamae, Ellon, Elsi, Elsye, Emmylou, Evva, Exa, Gola, Ica, Inetta, Io, Ioma, Jaine, Junnie, Lema, Lether, Lilas, Linn, Lulie, Maedell, Maie, Mamye, Mao, Mee, Melvine, Modean, Morine, Myna, Necie, Okla, Opaline, Opel, Ople, Orena, Osa, Paw, Pearlee, Reah, Ree, Reida, Roann, Rushie, Saidee, Sennie, Thy, Varina, Veria, Vi, Clytee, Elvy, Oza, Adie, Amalee, Annye, Asalee, Axie, Ayn, Azlee, Beva, Boots, Charl, Clova, Creta, Ermie, Eulene, Eulla, Eupha, Euva, Ezma, Fayne, Fey, Floree, Foye, Hyla, Lafaye, Lai, Lille, Loella, Mane, Marg, Michie, Mimie, Minie, Nary, Nel, Orean, Otie, Perle, Ranie, Rebie, Rosealie, Rubylee, Suda, Therma, Twylah, Vear, Vetta, Wavie, Zoa
Brothers: James, Henry, Jack, Theodore, Charles, Alton, Clyde, Dale, Dewey, Elton, Floyd, Forrest, Frank, Gene, Ira, Jay, Otto, Wade, Waylon, Acie, Aleck, Alvah, Arlen, Artie, Audie, Bo, Boone, Cal, Carroll, Cass, Clark, Coy, Dell, Dock, Duke, Early, Ed, Elden, Garnett, Gus, Hank, Hoyt, Ike, Jed, Jere, Kip, Kit, Laroy, Little, Lon, Lou, Lue, Mack, Monte, Nat, Otha, Otis, Ozie, Rance, Smith, Toney, Tye, Val, Van, Verne, Ward, Wiley, Wylie, Alvie, Arch, Arlan, Arley, Beck, Boyce, Buck, Clem, Cleve, Coley, Deane, Doc, Dutch, Earlie, Elmore, Emmit, Faron, Foy, Gaines, Garner, Geo, Hale, Hardin, Hosie, Isom, Jr, Juel, Kee, Kemp, Landis, Leeroy, Lem, Len, Lew, Lige, Lonzo, Loy, Merl, Mozell, Obie, Park, Phillips, Rosco, Rosevelt, Trae, True, Vann, Vic, Waymon, Webb, Whit, Wright, Young, Ab, Alf, Augie, Blu, Boe, Boss, Byrd, Chay, Chee, Clide, Cline, Cloyce, Colvin, Corda, Coye, Curlee, Dal, Deloy, Deno, Dodge, Dow, Doy, Elige, Elven, Emit, Emitt, Emmette, Eual, Evertt, French, Gable, Garlin, Gleen, Guss, Hadden, Hardie, Harve, Hill, Hoke, Hoy, Hue, Ilo, Isham, Jb, Jud, Kern, Kong, Kord, Lafe, Lang, Lenn, Loney, Lonzie, Loye, Lum, Master, Maynor, Meade, Mister, Moe, Moody, Odus, Orren, Orrie, Orry, Oz, Parke, Ples, Raeford, Real, Rockey, Rozell, Spence, Sy, Taz, Tobe, Tosh, Troyce, Wash, Wil, Wray, Yeng, Zell, Abron, Anner, Arby, Arles, Audy, Bawi, Bing, Birl, Birt, Burk, Buzz, Bynum, Carr, Clete, Clif, Coe, Corbet, Crockett, Da, Dace, Dae, Dewie, Dorn, Dorse, Doyl, Duel, Dyke, Ebb, Elzy, Ervie, Esco, Gram, Hamp, Irl, Irvan, Jabe, Jep, Julis, Jw, Kell, Kin, Less, Linc, Loc, Loel, Mal, Maylon, Mingo, Odes, Okey, Rahn, Redell, Saw, Shep, Si, Sims, Tell, Win, Winn, Wirt, Burel, Hulan, Key, Leavy, Trew, Add, Adean, Allin, Alphus, Argyle, Bates, Bonner, Boykin, Brace, Burch, Burris, Byard, Cap, Caz, Cha, Chin, Chrys, Clanton, Cleburn, Clee, Cloy, Cloyde, Coyt, Curly, Dahl, Dare, Dodd, Doil, Dois, Doren, Dorr, Dover, Doye, Earmon, El, Ell, Emett, Floyde, Forney, Fue, Gid, Governor, Gurnie, Ho, Hoyte, Huie, Hy, Idus, Ikey, Ison, Jamas, Jas, Leray, Lister, Lott, Loyed, Mead, Mirl, Mort, Mung, Noan, Nore, Odas, Ogle, Ohn, Oney, Orby, Orvie, Phat, Ran, Robey, Skeeter, Sye, Tip, Trice, Twain, Ulus, Ulys, Vane, Weber, Wyley, Zeph
Names like Mae
Names whose popularity has moved with Mae's over the last 50 years.

