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Baby names

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

Original poster

A middle name for May?

67 replies

Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 23/03/2021 15:22

I'm looking for a nice middle name for May - at least two syllables. Feels trickier as usually May is the middle name! I like Welsh names, nature names and mythology names in particular, but open to all suggestions 😊

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partyatthepalace · 23/03/2021 21:55

I think you need something quite long and soft sounding - 3 syllables for balance. A lot of Welsh names are pretty but too short and sharp to contrast nicely with May -but most of the ones below are Celtic or mythological in some way

May Gwendoline
May Elowen
May Ysella (Ee-sella - Cornish)
May Isabeau
May Myfanwy
May Avalon
May Morgana
May Athena
May Serena
May Genevieve
May Gwinevere
May Sophia
May Marsali
May Davina

Itsjustaride8w737 · 23/03/2021 21:28

I also have 2 girls, one has a middle name one doesn't.

LifesLittleDeciders · 23/03/2021 21:11

Bea

Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 23/03/2021 21:08

I like both Cerys and Carys

OP posts:
Chunkymenrock · 23/03/2021 21:04

Tamsin, Laura, Cerys, Sasha.

Slothkin · 23/03/2021 20:56

I’m biased but I know a May Isabelle and I think it’s a lovely name for a lovely girl.

imalmostthere · 23/03/2021 20:53

May Emmanuelle
May Emmeline
May Evelyn
May Amelia
May Annabelle
May Aurora

I think it sounds best with an E or A after it for some reason!

yellowlorry123 · 23/03/2021 20:52

Belline

Thefaceofboe · 23/03/2021 20:44

I absolutely love May as a first name. Really refreshing to hear Smile

tiredmum2468 · 23/03/2021 20:40

May Fleur
May Rose/Rosa
May Hazel
May Sophia
May Grace

Or even use May as the middle name and use something else as a first name

Some lovely suggestions

Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 23/03/2021 20:35

@Itsjustaride8w737

Why use a middle name op?

May is a beautiful name, it doesn't need a generic slightly crappier middle name, it will take away from it's simplicity.

I'd leave the middle name out unless there's a relatives name you'd like to use.

I have another daughter, so would feel a bit bad about giving one a middle name and leaving the other without one.
OP posts:
Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 23/03/2021 20:32

@KirstenBlest

I'm not keen on Mai either - it's too popular as a middle name.

A friend's mother was a May, born in April.

May Eluned?

Eluned is nice
OP posts:
MrsBDarcy · 23/03/2021 20:32

Louisa

tiredmum2468 · 23/03/2021 20:32

May-belle?

Chilldonaldchill · 23/03/2021 20:26

May Carys
May Seren
May Eleanor
May Emilia
May Catherine
May Caroline
May Rowena
May Rowan

KirstenBlest · 23/03/2021 20:23

I'm not keen on Mai either - it's too popular as a middle name.

A friend's mother was a May, born in April.

May Eluned?

Bouny · 23/03/2021 20:17

I don’t think May flows at all well with a longer middle name.
Maybe call her Robyn May or whatever and just use the middle name?

Itsjustaride8w737 · 23/03/2021 20:14

Why use a middle name op?

May is a beautiful name, it doesn't need a generic slightly crappier middle name, it will take away from it's simplicity.

I'd leave the middle name out unless there's a relatives name you'd like to use.

Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 23/03/2021 20:12

@YoniAndGuy

May Mabli? (Mab-lee) Welsh version of Mabel.

May is a hard one!

In Welsh, May is Mai (said like My) - that’s nice.

I love Mabli! Tried to get it past DH as a first name, but he hates it 😔
OP posts:
Original poster
Noodlesnoodlesnoodles · 23/03/2021 20:09

@KirstenBlest

I think a May will get similar jokes.

Something like Catrin? I can think of lots of names but how Welsh do you want them to be? As it's a middle name, you could use something a bit more unusual than the names that appear on the Welsh Names threads. Some of my favourite Welsh names have letters not in English. If you're not a Welsh speaker I'd go for something fairly easy to get right.

You could use Mai as a first name.

I don't think that kids would come up with any of the jokes you've suggested - teenagers, possibly, but I'm pretty sure she'd be able to handle it by then. And let's be honest, none of them are rude or that hilarious, so they're unlikely to stick.

I don't think May is a particularly unusual first name. It's been around in the UK since at least the 19th century. It was also used as a nn for Margaret and Mary. I don't see it as being that different from other month names like April or June, or flower names, like Rose, so I'm pretty surprised at some of the comments.

The middle name doesn't need to be Welsh, I just like the sound of a lot of Welsh names, and I have Welsh heritage - i'd definitely be interested in something more unusual. Catrin sounds too hard to me, and Mai is pronounced differently - I'm not as keen on it.

OP posts:
YoniAndGuy · 23/03/2021 19:54

May Morwenna is lovely

YoniAndGuy · 23/03/2021 19:53

May Mabli? (Mab-lee) Welsh version of Mabel.

May is a hard one!

In Welsh, May is Mai (said like My) - that’s nice.

Peachbubble · 23/03/2021 19:47

Athena
Morwenna

Somethingkindaoooo · 23/03/2021 19:43

Ann

Or combine- Mayanne

LolaNova · 23/03/2021 19:39

Ella
Orla
Imogen
Naomi
Fiona
Gwendolyn
Rowena
Rhiannon

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