Names / May
Is May a first name or a last name?
May is both: a family name in some places and a given name in others. It is mostly a family name in Germany; mostly a given name in Norway.
How to address someone called May
- United States. May is used both ways: about 103,306 people had it as a surname in the 2010 census, and 7,746 babies born between 1950 and 2017 were given it as a first name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
- United Kingdom. May is used both ways: 56% of people from the United Kingdom with this name in our data carry it as a family name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
- Germany. May is a family name, usually written last. Write Dear Mr. May or Dear Ms. May.
- Australia. May is used both ways: 32% of people from Australia with this name in our data carry it as a family name. Look at where it sits in the name and how the person signs.
Not sure which part of a full name is which? Check the full name with the country where the person is based.
May by country
People recorded in Wikidata who carry May as a family name or as a given name, by country of citizenship (1,289 in total).
| Country | As family name | As given name | Family name share |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 241 | 253 | 49% |
| United Kingdom | 109 | 86 | 56% |
| Germany | 96 | 4 | 96% |
| Australia | 30 | 63 | 32% |
| New Zealand | 14 | 47 | 23% |
| Canada | 32 | 25 | 56% |
| Norway | 0 | 33 | 0% |
| France | 15 | 14 | 52% |
| Switzerland | 20 | 4 | 83% |
| Austria | 19 | 2 | 90% |
Wikidata covers notable people, so counts show how the name is used, not how many people carry it.
May in the United States
- As a surname: about 103,306 people in the 2010 census, rank 304 among US surnames.
- As a first name: 7,746 babies born between 1950 and 2017, 98% of them girls.
May as a given name: men or women?
About 99% of people with May as a given name in Wikidata are women, and 98% of US babies given the name. This describes the name, not any one person: a title is usually a safe guess, but the full name without a title is always polite.
Related names
James · Paul · Thomas · George · Henry · Albert · Alexander · Frank · Arthur · Francis