Holding steady, #10,107 for girls today.
Popularity of Maye since 1880
Babies named Maye per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Maye's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 137 |
| 1890s | 238 |
| 1900s | 304 |
| 1910s | 424 |
| 1920s | 341 |
| 1930s | 176 |
| 1940s | 128 |
| 1950s | 41 |
| 1960s | 12 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 55 |
| 2020s | 56 |
Meaning & origin
Maye is a name that has never broken into widespread use in the United States. First recorded in 1880, it reached its peak rank of 10,107 in 2025, though it has always been a rare choice. The name saw its highest usage in the early 1900s, with 1903 being its peak year. Since then, Maye has maintained a stable but low trajectory, never appearing in any state's top popularity lists. For parents seeking a name with vintage charm but without commonality, Maye offers an underused alternative to the more familiar May, Mae, or even Mia.
Maye is typically a variant of May, itself a diminutive of Mary or Margaret, but also associated with the month of May. The name May has been used since the 19th century, possibly influenced by the floral and springtime connotations. As a given name, Maye has remained rare, with sporadic usage in the United States since 1880.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: May
Sibling names for Maye
Names that share Maye's style, for a brother or sister.
