MallowbyNames

Mae

MAY · Derived from the month of May, or a short form of Mary.

2025 rank (girls)
#500
Babies named in 2025
594
Peak popularity
1892
2025 frequency
1 in 2,706 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Rising since 1992

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.

9191.8k2.8k1880192019602000Most births 1918Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s5,647
1890s10,918
1900s12,711
1910s21,530
1920s22,760
1930s12,859
1940s8,947
1950s5,542
1960s2,172
1970s830
1980s606
1990s654
2000s1,714
2010s4,427
2020s3,518

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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few 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.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

M is for Mae, our favorite little girl.

M is for Mae…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Mae's letter becomes Mae's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Mae's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Mae mean?
Mae is a variant of May, referring to the month of May, or a short form of Mary.
How popular is the name Mae today?
According to the Social Security Administration, Mae ranked 500th in 2025, with approximately 1 in 2,706 girls given that name.
Is Mae used for boys or girls?
Mae is almost exclusively used as a feminine name.