Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

May as a first name?

30 replies

Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 17/03/2021 08:02

Thoughts on May as a first name?

It's very common as a middle name, would that put you off?

I dislike the hyphenated versions e.g. Rosie-May etc., and worry they take the shine off the name, for me.

Otherwise, I think it's a very beautiful, simple, sophisticated name which reminds me of Spring and nature.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 17/03/2021 19:36

@IamnotwhouthinkIam

May is gorgeous - classic, elegant, simple and feminine, I really can't understand why this is used so much as a middle name, yet relatively rarely as a first name.

I would definitely keep the spelling as May if you are in England - far more classic (was popular in Victorian times as a "floral" name alongside Rose, Lily etc because of the May flower, as well as a given name - possibly to honour Mary's in the family). Mae looks cuter but less elegant to me, as it looks more nicknamey imo (it's a diminutive for Margaret).

My thoughts exactly - it seems odd that it's rarely used as a first name, so I wondered whether I was missing something! I really like its simplicity, and it seems pretty without being too 'frilly'.
OP posts:
schoolsoutforever · 17/03/2021 19:17

May was my grandmother's name. I love it. She'd have been born around 1915-20 I think so I'd guess it was popular then.

Oodilallygolly · 17/03/2021 19:16

May is gorgeous! Really refreshing
Mae looks awful

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 17/03/2021 19:06

May is gorgeous - classic, elegant, simple and feminine, I really can't understand why this is used so much as a middle name, yet relatively rarely as a first name.

I would definitely keep the spelling as May if you are in England - far more classic (was popular in Victorian times as a "floral" name alongside Rose, Lily etc because of the May flower, as well as a given name - possibly to honour Mary's in the family). Mae looks cuter but less elegant to me, as it looks more nicknamey imo (it's a diminutive for Margaret).

DramaAlpaca · 17/03/2021 18:59

I like May (that spelling). It's sweet, simple and pretty.

finallychangedmyusername · 17/03/2021 18:48

I'm really not keen on the May "hyphen names" - Ellie-May, Lola-May etc but really like May by itself.

partyatthepalace · 17/03/2021 18:25

Lovely.

Deffo no no no to the double barrel Lexie-May names, but as well as being a month name it’s traditionally short for Mary and Margaret - so you could always call her Mary or Marianne etc if you wanted to have options

Watchingthetelly · 17/03/2021 18:00

May is absolutely lovely. It’s pretty for a child but also elegant for a grown woman.

AbstractHeart · 17/03/2021 17:13

I think it'll get misspelled as Mae a lot, it's also very similar to "me" in some accents, which could cause confusion

MercyBodle · 17/03/2021 16:57

May is a lovely first name, and definitely May spelling.

Fedupmiddleagedwoman · 17/03/2021 16:52

Definitely May not Mae

KirstenBlest · 17/03/2021 13:49

I prefer Mary to May, and am not keen on Mabel.

The Mae spelling is not good.

Mumdiva99 · 17/03/2021 13:42

I like Mabel more than May. Although May is lovely too - spelled as Mae seems more exotic to me. But I grew up with an Auntie May so that is the spelling I am used to.

Beenabadday · 17/03/2021 13:40

Definitely May.

Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 17/03/2021 13:39

Thanks all. That's a very positive reaction.

Do you think May is a nicer spelling or do you prefer Mae? I prefer May, but worry it might be confusing??

OP posts:
ILoveStickers · 17/03/2021 13:08

Yes, nice. Can also be a nickname for Mary, but a nice standalone name too.

KirstenBlest · 17/03/2021 11:05

I'd still try it out.

Won't be good with a surname starting with Nott or Hem.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 17/03/2021 11:05

Yes. Ours is a short surname so 'May' was too abrupt with it.

Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 17/03/2021 10:55

@KirstenBlest

Check how it goes with the surname.
We have a fairly long double barrelled surname, so I quite like the idea of a short, simple first name.
OP posts:
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 17/03/2021 10:49

I think it's lovely. I considered it, but it didn't go with our surname.

dottyrobin · 17/03/2021 10:48

I like it but it's my surname so could never use it Grin

sticktomygun · 17/03/2021 10:47

Love it! Lovely and positive.

It's my middle name ( not hyphenated first name thank you Hmm)

funnyoldonion · 17/03/2021 10:46

Really love it, I was born in May so would use it, it's refreshing as a first name like Rose is also.

KirstenBlest · 17/03/2021 10:42

Check how it goes with the surname.

AnyaMoondial · 17/03/2021 09:38

Really like it.