May - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of May

May is a bright little name with a surprisingly long story behind its three crisp letters. In the West, it began as the English name of the month honoring Maia, the Roman goddess of spring—so a baby May naturally carries whispers of fresh blossoms and new beginnings. Over time, it also became a gentle pet form of classics like Mary and Margaret, giving it the quiet strength of those time-tested saints and queens. In Indian hearts, the word “May” evokes the season of mangoes, gulmohar flames and long school holidays, lending the name an extra dash of sunshine; one can almost hear grandparents teasing, “May aapki khushiyon se bhar de!” (“May she fill your life with joy!”). Easy to pronounce—simply “MAY”—and impossible to frown while saying, the name travels well across borders and generations. Its steady yet modest popularity in U.S. records shows that, much like a trusty cotton kurta, May never truly goes out of style; it just waits patiently for parents who appreciate elegance in miniature.