May is a distinctive choice, ranked #610 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only May in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#610
About the Name May
May is holding steady in the rankings at #610. It reached its peak of #325 in 2007 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
May is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name May
Unlikely. With around 64 UK babies named May per year, your child will almost certainly be the only May in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
May has held a stable position around #610 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #325 in 2007 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
May is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named May include: Theresa May — Theresa Mary May, Baroness May of Maidenhead, is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party...; Isabel May — Isabel May is an American actress.; May Day — May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on May 1, around halfway between the Northern....
May does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Mays in the wild.
64
UK babies named May (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 21 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name May
Likely around 1 other May in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to May
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Theresa Mary May, Baroness May of Maidenhead, is a British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016 to 2019. She previously served as Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016.
Lola J. May was a mathematics educator, consultant, author, producer of audio-visual materials, an early proponent of the new math educational process, and a household name among mathematics.
Isabel May is an American actress. She first gained attention as high school student Katie Cooper on the Netflix series Alexa & Katie as well as playing Elsa Dutton on the Paramount+ series 1883.
May Day is a European festival of ancient origins marking the beginning of summer, usually celebrated on May 1, around halfway between the Northern Hemisphere's spring equinox and midsummer solstice. Festivities may also be held the night before, known as May Eve.