Maye
A feminine name of English origin meaning "the fifth month".
Name Census estimates that about 285 living Americans carry the first name Maye. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Maye today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Maye births was 1921 (58 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Maye. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
285
~ 1 in 1,202,647 Americans
Peak year
1921
58 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,318
Tracked since 1880
Popularity
Maye: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Maye from the 1880s through to the 2020s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 424 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1910s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maye by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Maye during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mayes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 11 states and territories. Texas, Arkansas, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Maye, while Oklahoma, North Carolina, Mississippi recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Maye
The name Maye originated from the French language and culture, with its roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "mai," which means "May," referring to the fifth month of the year. This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with the arrival of spring and the renewal of life.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Maye can be found in the 13th century French epic poem, "The Song of Roland." In this literary work, a character named Maye is mentioned, though details about her significance are scarce.
During the Renaissance period, the name Maye gained some prominence, particularly in France and other parts of Europe. One notable figure bearing this name was Maye de Brie, a French noblewoman who lived in the 16th century. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her role in the cultural circles of the time.
In the 17th century, the name Maye appeared in religious texts, such as the writings of the French Catholic theologian Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet. He mentioned a woman named Maye in his sermons, though the specifics of her identity remain uncertain.
Moving into the 18th century, the name Maye found its way into historical records, particularly in France and parts of Europe. One notable figure was Maye Duval, a French artist and engraver born in 1730. Her works were highly regarded, and she contributed significantly to the development of printmaking during that era.
Another prominent individual with the name Maye was Maye Legros, a French botanist and naturalist born in 1792. She made significant contributions to the study of plants and is remembered for her extensive botanical illustrations and collections.
As the 19th century unfolded, the name Maye continued to be used, though it remained relatively uncommon. One notable bearer was Maye de Verdiguer, a French writer and poet born in 1812. Her works explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience.
In the 20th century, the name Maye gained some recognition through the life of Maye Bruce, an American philanthropist and socialite born in 1890. She was known for her involvement in various charitable organizations and her support of the arts.
While the name Maye has remained relatively rare throughout history, it carries a rich cultural heritage and has been borne by individuals who have left their mark in various fields, from the arts and literature to natural sciences and philanthropy.
People
Maye + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Maye as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Maye: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Maye?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 285 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Maye going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,202,647 US residents.
Is Maye a common name?
We classify Maye as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,947 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Maye most popular?
The single biggest year for Maye was 1921, when 58 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Maye is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Maye a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Maye in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.