Mae: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, and More

Fact: Mae is often linked to the month of May, which is associated with springtime, flowers, and new beginnings. This connection gives the name a fresh and natural vibe.

Mae Overview

Meaning

Bitter, pearl, mother, month of May

Gender

Girl

Origin

British, Hebrew, Portuguese

Etymology

Derived from the Old English word “maege,” meaning “pearl”

Pronunciation

/meɪ/

Popularity

Mae is cherished in various English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In the USA, Mae ranked 637th for girls in 2023

Syllable

1 syllable

Length

3 letters

Numerology

1 (Pioneering, Independent, Leading)

Name Styles

Vintage, Classic, Short

Associated Traits

Elegant, classic, gentle, timeless

Spiritual, Religious, or Cultural Significance

Mae holds cultural significance as a name often associated with spring and renewal, reflecting the qualities of growth and beauty.

Name Day

May 1st (Poland)

Mae Variations in Different Cultures

Popular Variations

May, Mabel, Maeve, Maegan, Maelle

Common Nicknames

Mimi, Emmy, Mae-Mae, M, Maisie

Diminutives

Mae-B, Maeby, Mie

Famous People

Mae Jemison
(American Astronaut)
Mae West
(American Actress)
Mae Whitman
(American Actress)
Mae Murray
(American Actress)
Mae Questel
(American Voice Actress)

Pop Culture Icons and Works

Mae Mobley
("The Help," Film)
Mae Whitman
("Parenthood," TV Series)
Mae
("The Circle," Film)
Mae Young
("WWE," TV Series)

Places

Mae Hong Son City
(Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand)
Mae Klong River
(Samut Songkhram Province, Thailand)
Mae Sai Town
(Chiang Rai Province, Thailand)

What Is the Meaning of Mae?

Mae means “bitter,” “pearl,” “mother,” and is also associated with the month of May. Individuals named Mae are often seen as pure and precious, bringing a sense of calm and beauty to those around them.

What Is the Origin of The Name Mae?

Mae originates from British, Hebrew, and Portuguese cultures. In British origin, Mae is derived from the Old English word “maege,” meaning “pearl.” In Hebrew, it is connected to “Marah,” meaning “bitter.” In Portuguese, Mae means “mother.”

Mae Name Popularity

Popularity Chart of the Name Mae in the U.S. over the Years

United States	#5112022	#5062023
Top 3 Rankings	#521892	#521895	#531893

Annual Statistics Breakdown for Mae

Year	Name Ranking	Number of Births	Birth Rate (%)
2023	506 (+5 from 2022)	597 (-17 from 2022)	0.03413
2022	511 (-7 from 2021)	614 (-4 from 2021)	0.03424
2021	504 (+67 from 2020)	618 (+107 from 2020)	0.03449
2020	571 (-23 from 2019)	511 (-45 from 2019)	0.02891
2019	548 (+5 from 2018)	556 (-5 from 2018)	0.03030
2018	553 (+84 from 2017)	561 (+100 from 2017)	0.03017
2017	637 (-58 from 2016)	461 (-74 from 2016)	0.02440
2016	579 (+9 from 2015)	535 (+22 from 2015)	0.02764
2015	588 (+97 from 2014)	513 (+100 from 2014)	0.02630
2014	685 (-9 from 2013)	413 (-6 from 2013)	0.02111
2013	676 (+70 from 2012)	419 (+46 from 2012)	0.02174
2012	746 (+55 from 2011)	373 (+36 from 2011)	0.01923
2011	801 (+178 from 2010)	337 (+78 from 2010)	0.01739
2010	979 (+84 from 2009)	259 (+19 from 2009)	0.01321
2009	1063 (+60 from 2008)	240 (+10 from 2008)	0.01185
2008	1123 (+82 from 2007)	230 (+22 from 2007)	0.01104
2007	1205 (-32 from 2006)	208 (+1 from 2006)	0.00983
2006	1173 (+104 from 2005)	207 (+32 from 2005)	0.00990
2005	1277 (+103 from 2004)	175 (+24 from 2004)	0.00862
2004	1380 (+231 from 2003)	151 (+32 from 2003)	0.00748
2003	1611 (-235 from 2002)	119 (-21 from 2002)	0.00593
2002	1376 (+251 from 2001)	140 (+28 from 2001)	0.00709
2001	1627 (-225 from 2000)	112 (-20 from 2000)	0.00565
2000	1402 (+265 from 1999)	132 (+33 from 1999)	0.00661
1999	1667 (+178 from 1998)	99 (+16 from 1998)	0.00509
1998	1845 (+225 from 1997)	83 (+15 from 1997)	0.00428
1997	2070 (+270 from 1996)	68 (+12 from 1996)	0.00356
1996	2340 (-151 from 1995)	56 (-5 from 1995)	0.00292
1995	2189 (-110 from 1994)	61 (-5 from 1994)	0.00317
1994	2079 (+597 from 1993)	66 (+21 from 1993)	0.00339
1993	2676 (-243 from 1992)	45 (-8 from 1992)	0.00228
1992	2433 (-341 from 1991)	53 (-11 from 1991)	0.00264
1991	2092 (+82 from 1990)	64 (+5 from 1990)	0.00315
1990	2174 (-54 from 1989)	59 (+1 from 1989)	0.00287
1989	2120 (-26 from 1988)	58 (+3 from 1988)	0.00291
1988	2094 (-176 from 1987)	55 (-4 from 1987)	0.00286
1987	1918 (+107 from 1986)	59 (+6 from 1986)	0.00315
1986	2025 (-77 from 1985)	53 (-3 from 1985)	0.00287
1985	1948 (-222 from 1984)	56 (-7 from 1984)	0.00303
1984	1726 (+44 from 1983)	63 (+3 from 1983)	0.00349
1983	1770 (-35 from 1982)	60 (-4 from 1982)	0.00335
1982	1735 (+113 from 1981)	64 (+5 from 1981)	0.00353
1981	1848 (-346 from 1980)	59 (-20 from 1980)	0.00330
1980	1502 (+192 from 1979)	79 (+14 from 1979)	0.00444
1979	1694 (-147 from 1978)	65 (-6 from 1978)	0.00377
1978	1547 (-79 from 1977)	71 (-4 from 1977)	0.00432
1977	1468 (+31 from 1976)	75 (+6 from 1976)	0.00456
1976	1499 (-208 from 1975)	69 (-17 from 1975)	0.00439
1975	1291 (-39 from 1974)	86 (-1 from 1974)	0.00551
1974	1252 (-57 from 1973)	87 (-3 from 1973)	0.00555
1973	1195 (-26 from 1972)	90 (-2 from 1972)	0.00579
1972	1169 (+236 from 1971)	92 (+17 from 1971)	0.00571
1971	1405 (-380 from 1970)	75 (-45 from 1970)	0.00428
1970	1025 (-82 from 1969)	120 (-7 from 1969)	0.00655
1969	943 (+41 from 1968)	127 (+15 from 1968)	0.00720
1968	984 (-159 from 1967)	112 (-35 from 1967)	0.00655
1967	825 (-95 from 1966)	147 (-34 from 1966)	0.00856
1966	730 (-10 from 1965)	181 (-8 from 1965)	0.01031
1965	720 (+3 from 1964)	189 (-16 from 1964)	0.01034
1964	723 (-80 from 1963)	205 (-42 from 1963)	0.01047
1963	643 (-16 from 1962)	247 (-12 from 1962)	0.01242
1962	627 (-110 from 1961)	259 (-100 from 1961)	0.01278
1961	517 (+2 from 1960)	359 (+13 from 1960)	0.01728
1960	519 (-9 from 1959)	346 (-22 from 1959)	0.01664
1959	510 (-15 from 1958)	368 (-6 from 1958)	0.01770
1958	495 (-58 from 1957)	374 (-85 from 1957)	0.01810
1957	437 (-13 from 1956)	459 (-6 from 1956)	0.02188
1956	424 (-59 from 1955)	465 (-111 from 1955)	0.02258
1955	365 (+6 from 1954)	576 (+22 from 1954)	0.02873
1954	371 (-44 from 1953)	554 (-85 from 1953)	0.02783
1953	327 (-8 from 1952)	639 (-1 from 1952)	0.03312
1952	319 (-29 from 1951)	640 (-90 from 1951)	0.03365
1951	290 (-3 from 1950)	730 (-7 from 1950)	0.03952
1950	287 (-13 from 1949)	737 (-55 from 1949)	0.04191
1949	274 (-22 from 1948)	792 (-92 from 1948)	0.04511
1948	252 (+1 from 1947)	884 (+25 from 1947)	0.05073
1947	253 (-4 from 1946)	859 (+53 from 1946)	0.04725
1946	249 (-24 from 1945)	806 (-48 from 1945)	0.04997
1945	225 (-1 from 1944)	854 (-14 from 1944)	0.06344
1944	224 No change from 1943	868 (-8 from 1943)	0.06352
1943	224 (-20 from 1942)	876 (-121 from 1942)	0.06103
1942	204 (-13 from 1941)	997 (+3 from 1941)	0.07170
1941	191 (-6 from 1940)	994 (-23 from 1940)	0.07978
1940	185 (-5 from 1939)	1017 (-43 from 1939)	0.08609
1939	180 (+3 from 1938)	1060 (-23 from 1938)	0.09347
1938	183 (+2 from 1937)	1083 (+12 from 1937)	0.09488
1937	185 (-15 from 1936)	1071 (-65 from 1936)	0.09720
1936	170 (-10 from 1935)	1136 (-131 from 1935)	0.10542
1935	160 (-13 from 1934)	1267 (-117 from 1934)	0.11658
1934	147 (+1 from 1933)	1384 (+94 from 1933)	0.12787
1933	148 (-7 from 1932)	1290 (-166 from 1932)	0.12332
1932	141 No change from 1931	1456 (-6 from 1931)	0.13161
1931	141 (-4 from 1930)	1462 (-189 from 1930)	0.13246
1930	137 (-5 from 1929)	1651 (-115 from 1929)	0.14154
1929	132 (-2 from 1928)	1766 (-42 from 1928)	0.15256
1928	130 (-5 from 1927)	1808 (-264 from 1927)	0.15123
1927	125 (-7 from 1926)	2072 (-189 from 1926)	0.16758
1926	118 (-2 from 1925)	2261 (-71 from 1925)	0.18380
1925	116 (-2 from 1924)	2332 (-37 from 1924)	0.18463
1924	114 (-5 from 1923)	2369 (-59 from 1923)	0.18284
1923	109 (+2 from 1922)	2428 (+24 from 1922)	0.19386
1922	111 (-1 from 1921)	2404 (-185 from 1921)	0.19269
1921	110 (-11 from 1920)	2589 (-141 from 1920)	0.20231
1920	99 No change from 1919	2730 (+96 from 1919)	0.21945
1919	99 (-4 from 1918)	2634 (-122 from 1918)	0.22424
1918	95 (+1 from 1917)	2756 (+249 from 1917)	0.22922
1917	96 (-4 from 1916)	2507 (-100 from 1916)	0.22310
1916	92 (-3 from 1915)	2607 (+121 from 1915)	0.24012
1915	89 (-4 from 1914)	2486 (+437 from 1914)	0.24281
1914	85 (-6 from 1913)	2049 (+235 from 1913)	0.25721
1913	79 (-5 from 1912)	1814 (+39 from 1912)	0.27698
1912	74 (-4 from 1911)	1775 (+326 from 1911)	0.30253
1911	70 (-5 from 1910)	1449 (-4 from 1910)	0.32796
1910	65 (+3 from 1909)	1453 (+223 from 1909)	0.34634
1909	68 (-11 from 1908)	1230 (-154 from 1908)	0.33415
1908	57 No change from 1907	1384 (+9 from 1907)	0.39038
1907	57 (+3 from 1906)	1375 (+150 from 1906)	0.40749
1906	60 No change from 1905	1225 (-59 from 1905)	0.39083
1905	60 (-2 from 1904)	1284 (+70 from 1904)	0.41438
1904	58 No change from 1903	1214 (+22 from 1903)	0.41513
1903	58 (-5 from 1902)	1192 (-69 from 1902)	0.42847
1902	53 (+1 from 1901)	1261 (+121 from 1901)	0.44983
1901	54 No change from 1900	1140 (-266 from 1900)	0.44841
1900	54 (+5 from 1899)	1406 (+371 from 1899)	0.44250
1899	59 (-3 from 1898)	1035 (-204 from 1898)	0.41820
1898	56 (-2 from 1897)	1239 (+95 from 1897)	0.45195
1897	54 (+1 from 1896)	1144 (-4 from 1896)	0.46078
1896	55 (-3 from 1895)	1148 (-45 from 1895)	0.45557
1895	52 (+2 from 1894)	1193 (+59 from 1894)	0.48279
1894	54 (-1 from 1893)	1134 (+63 from 1893)	0.48057
1893	53 (-1 from 1892)	1071 (-30 from 1892)	0.47551
1892	52 (+2 from 1891)	1101 (+168 from 1891)	0.48952
1891	54 (+4 from 1890)	933 (+13 from 1890)	0.47465
1890	58 (-1 from 1889)	920 (+37 from 1889)	0.45621
1889	57 (+3 from 1888)	883 (+47 from 1888)	0.46666
1888	60 (-2 from 1887)	836 (+156 from 1887)	0.44129
1887	58 (+3 from 1886)	680 (+39 from 1886)	0.43752
1886	61 (+2 from 1885)	641 (+63 from 1885)	0.41695
1885	63 (+1 from 1884)	578 (+36 from 1884)	0.40719
1884	64 (+6 from 1883)	542 (+119 from 1883)	0.39394
1883	70 (+1 from 1882)	423 (+17 from 1882)	0.35232
1882	71 (+4 from 1881)	406 (+92 from 1881)	0.35093
1881	75 (-4 from 1880)	314 (-30 from 1880)	0.31764
1880	71 First SSA data recorded	344 First SSA data recorded	0.35244

American States Popularity Rankings for Mae

(From the Most to Least Popular, Based on Number of Births )

Pennsylvania (PA)

#4252021

#4502022

#3702023

Texas (TX)

#7852021

#7132022

#7672023

Georgia (GA)

#10472021

#6612022

#6342023

New York (NY)

#5322021

#6362022

#5382023

North Carolina (NC)

#5472021

#5992022

#8422023

Mississippi (MS)

#2672018

#3572021

#6242023

Alabama (AL)

#6292021

#3162022

#3942023

South Carolina (SC)

#5212021

#6502022

#8842023

Kentucky (KY)

#8212017

#6972021

#8112023

Illinois (IL)

#3712021

#3952022

#2612023

Tennessee (TN)

#10722021

#5212022

#8102023

Arkansas (AR)

#5282018

#5342022

#4592023

Louisiana (LA)

#4692021

#4232022

#4572023

Virginia (VA)

#3912021

#5892022

#4282023

Ohio (OH)

#3182021

#4312022

#4252023

Florida (FL)

#10552021

#6782022

#7072023

California (CA)

#6912021

#8322022

#7882023

New Jersey (NJ)

#8982021

#13382022

#7142023

Michigan (MI)

#3262021

#4852022

#4602023

Missouri (MO)

#3452021

#3192022

#6922023

Wisconsin (WI)

#4992021

#3392022

#3412023

Minnesota (MN)

#2962021

#2802022

#3592023

Oklahoma (OK)

#6302016

#5892021

#5952022

Massachusetts (MA)

#2352021

#4082022

#3002023

West Virginia (WV)

#3801950

#3851951

#3892015

Indiana (IN)

#5302021

#5592022

#4722023

Iowa (IA)

#3292021

#2692022

#6402023

Maryland (MD)

#7632021

#8902022

#4962023

Washington (WA)

#5802021

#5042022

#3912023

Kansas (KS)

#4162021

#4302022

#2532023

Connecticut (CT)

#3042021

#2562022

#2832023

Utah (UT)

#2302021

#1982022

#3352023

Colorado (CO)

#3862021

#2882022

#3572023

Nebraska (NE)

#2112021

#3382022

#4612023

Arizona (AZ)

#4822020

#3872022

#6202023

Hawaii (HI)

#2201959

#1951960

#2951965

North Dakota (ND)

#1961935

#2131938

#1971944

South Dakota (SD)

#1991935

#2602014

#1332021

Oregon (OR)

#5502021

#3892022

#6762023

Montana (MT)

#1691930

#1451934

#1761938

Idaho (ID)

#3482021

#2292022

#3612023

New Mexico (NM)

#3611967

#4412016

#3712022

Maine (ME)

#2332020

#2412022

#1692023

District of Columbia (DC)

#2332021

#2152022

#1622023

Rhode Island (RI)

#1581932

#1392020

#1482021

Vermont (VT)

#1281931

#1171936

#1002020

Wyoming (WY)

#821922

#1151923

#951932

New Hampshire (NH)

#971924

#1392013

#2162023

Delaware (DE)

#821922

#811929

#2202017

Nevada (NV)

#5092015

#5332016

#5672022

Source: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Other National Sources

Is Mae a Name for Boys or Girls?

Mae is mostly given to girls. It’s a short, sweet name that parents love for its simplicity and charm.

Variants, Nicknames, Diminutives, and Ideal Middle Names for Mae

May
Meaning: Lovable, dear
Origin: LatinMabel
Meaning: She who intoxicates
Origin: IrishMaeve
Maegan
Maelle

Mae in Famous People Names, Pop Culture, and Places

Mae Jemison (Astronaut, born 1956): The first African American woman to travel in space.
Mae West (Actress, 1893–1980): A Hollywood icon known for her bold personality and wit.
Mae Whitman (Actress, born 1988): An American actress recognized for her roles in television and film.
Mae Murray (Actress, 1885–1965): A silent film star and one of the early Hollywood beauties.
Mae Questel (Voice Actress, 1908–1998): The voice of iconic characters like Betty Boop and Olive Oyl.
Mae Busch (Actress, 1891–1946): An Australian-American actress featured in many silent and sound films.
Mae Clarke (Actress, 1910–1992): Known for her roles in early 1930s films, including "Frankenstein."
Mae Marsh (Actress, 1894–1968): A prominent silent film actress who appeared in D.W. Griffith's films.

Sibling Names for Mae

For a Brother
For a Sister

Parents Who Like the Name Mae Also Like

Hope you enjoyed my guide! Good luck with choosing the right name for your bundle of joy. See you soon!

Helen Doanna

Editor in Chief, Educational Specialist, and Senior Content Creator

Expertise

Child Development Specialist, Child-care Coordinator, Family Support Specialist, Content Writer, Communications Specialist, Educational Consultant, STEAM Teacher

Education

1. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Literature and Journalism
Focus: In-depth knowledge of Literature, knowledge and skills to perceive, create literature or work in related fields; Basic knowledge of communications.

2. University of Social Science and Humanity, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Education Faculty
Focus: Core knowledge of social sciences and humanities – the root for the development of progressive values of education, Multicultural communication in education, Contemporary education in the context of globalization, Learning in the digital technology era, Basic issues of STEAM education, Classroom Management, Special education.

3. Oregon State University, Oregan, US

Program: Bachelor’s degree in Faculty of Human Development and Family Sciences – Child Development
Focus: Different stages of development, from infancy to adulthood; Develop a strong foundation for a career in early childhood programs or classrooms; Learn strategies for supporting young children’s development in early childhood settings.

Helen is an experienced educational specialist and content creator, known for her innovative approach to children’s learning. With a background in literature and child development, she composes engaging educational content for SimpleKids.net. Her work emphasizes creativity, engagement, and simplicity, aiming to make learning enjoyable and accessible for children and their families.

Mae Name Meaning