Home / Name Directory / May
How Many People Are Named May?
Estimated people named May living in the U.S. today
9,988
Gender distribution
2% male · 98% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 49,915
- Peak year: 1919 (991 births)
- Estimated living today: 9,988
May by age group — who carries the name today?
May popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name May
May has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 49,915 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 9,988 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 34,221 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Mays you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named May in the US?
An estimated 9,988 people named May are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes May very rare — about 1 in 34,221 Americans.
Is May a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, May is 2% male and 98% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was May most popular?
May peaked in 1919, when 991 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name May?
May ranks #2,409 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 53 out of 100 (higher means rarer).