The nameMae
Mae is a vintage girl's name, an old pet form of Mary and Margaret, much used as a middle name.
- Girl's name
- English
Meaning
Mae is a variant of May, a diminutive of Mary and Margaret. It also evokes the month of May.
Origin
English. In France, Maé is a different name, given to boys and girls.
History
Mae ranked 52nd in the United States in 1892. Mae West made it iconic in the 1930s. Today it is a favourite middle name, as in Lily Mae or Ella Mae.
Mae in other languages
Mae is an old English pet form of Mary and Margaret, often given as a middle name. The actress Mae West made it famous. In France, Maé is given to both girls and boys.
Famous people named Mae
- Mae West, actress
- Mae Jemison, astronaut
- Mae Whitman, actress
Popularity of the name Mae
Mae in the United States
Mae was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 22,905 births over the decade, 20% of all recorded babies named Mae. Half of all babies named Mae in the United States were born before 1922, so it is mostly a great-grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 585 births a year.
Mae in the United Kingdom
Mae was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 1,118 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Mae. Half of all babies named Mae in the United Kingdom were born before 2011, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 106 births a year on average, against 84 in the five years before.
Mae in France
Mae in Belgium
Mae in Switzerland
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Mae
Names from the same generation as Mae, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Mae? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Mae with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Mae side by side with the name of your choice.
Mae in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Mae mean?
Mae is a variant of May, a diminutive of Mary and Margaret. It also evokes the month of May.
What is the origin of the name Mae?
English. In France, Maé is a different name, given to boys and girls.
Is Mae a girl's or a boy's name?
Mae is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Mae?
In 2024, Mae was the 531st most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 574 births.
What are the variants of the name Mae?
Variants and related names of Mae include Mary and May.
What are good sibling names for Mae?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Imogen, Emmy, Estelle and Evie for a sister, Otis, Samson, Elliot and Yusuf for a brother.
Who are famous people named Mae?
Mae West, actress; Mae Jemison, astronaut; Mae Whitman, actress.