About the name Mae
The origin of Mae is debated, and we couldn't confirm its meaning from a sourced etymology. A commonly cited theory links it to English roots, with the meaning “The month of May; also a form of Mary”. Treat that as a theory, not a settled fact.
Why we say this: we only state a meaning as fact when a sourced etymology (Wiktionary, with its references) supports it. For Mae we didn't find one we were confident in, so we show the popular explanation as a theory.
It has a vintage, short & sweet feel. In 2025, Mae ranked #501 for girls in the US, with 594 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1940. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Mae were girls.
- US rank 2025
- #501
- In 2015
- #588
- Babies in 2025
- 594
Popularity of Mae, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Hello, world
Mae
Your last name
born on your big day
7 LB 4 OZ · 20 IN
The Baby Kit
See Mae on a birth announcement
Birth announcements, shower invitations, nursery wall art and milestone cards, all personalized with Mae. Type your details once and print at home or at any print shop.
Nicknames for Mae
Mae is already short and sweet, so it doesn't usually get a nickname.
Names similar to Mae
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.