How to say it
MAE
meɪ
Feminine
Mae
Pearl; the month of May
What it means
A short form of Mary and Margaret, also tied to the month of May.
Mae began as a pet form of Mary and Margaret and ties in with the springtime month of May, named for the Roman goddess Maia. The Mae spelling carries old-Hollywood sparkle through Mae West. Sweet, vintage, and a favorite middle name. Just one bright syllable.
How to spell Mae
The standard spelling is Mae. Common variants include May, Mai, Maye, but Mae is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #52 in 1892, currently #501 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
A short form of Mary or Margaret; also the month.
- Pop culture
Actress Mae West.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Mae West American actress and screenwriter of the early Hollywood era
- Mae Jemison American astronaut, the first African American woman to travel into space
Spelling variants
- May
- Mai
- Maye
Names with the same feeling
See Mae from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Mae mean?
- A short form of Mary and Margaret, also tied to the month of May.
- What does Mae mean in English?
- In English, Mae means "Pearl; the month of May." Mae began as a pet form of Mary and Margaret and ties in with the springtime month of May, named for the Roman goddess Maia. The Mae spelling carries old-Hollywood sparkle through Mae West. Sweet, vintage, and a favorite middle name. Just one bright syllable.
- Is Mae short for Mary?
- Yes. Mae is a short form of Mary, and it carries the same meaning, "Pearl; the month of May." These days many parents use Mae as a given name in its own right, not only as a nickname.
- How do you pronounce Mae?
- Mae is pronounced meɪ. Say it as MAE, with the stress on the "mae" syllable.
- How do you spell Mae?
- The standard spelling is Mae. Common spelling variants include May, Mai, Maye.
- Is Mae a boy or girl name?
- Mae is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Mae?
- Mae ranked #501 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.