When was May most popular?

The name May reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name May Donnelly?

The name May Donnelly combines two different traditions: the first name May has Arabic roots, while the surname Donnelly originates from Celtic.

May Donnelly — 45K & 32K bearers

May Donnelly is a name that combines Arabic origins. The first name May is a feminine given name of Arabic origin. May is an English feminine given name. It is derived from the name of the month, which comes from Maia, the name of a Roman fertility goddess. It can also be a variant of the Arabic name Mai مي, which either means water or little gazelle. Mary of Teck (1867–1953), queen consort of George V, King of the United Kingdom. She was informally referred to as "May". The surname Donnelly: Donnelly is an Irish surname. Also used as: O’Donnelly or Donley. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Donnghaile meaning 'descendant of Donnghal', a given name composed of the elements donn ('dark, brown') and gal ('valour'). O'Donnelly was historically of the Northern Uí Néill's Cenél nEoghain, descended from Donnghal, the great-grandson of Domhnall, King of Ailech. It is most commonly found in Ulster, especially in County Tyrone and in parts of County Donegal. Donnelly is also prevalent in Connacht, particularly in County Galway. May is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 45K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name May reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: May

Arabic

May is an English feminine given name. It is derived from the name of the month, which comes from Maia, the name of a Roman fertility goddess. It can also be a variant of the Arabic name Mai مي, which either means water or little gazelle. Mary of Teck (1867–1953), queen consort of George V, King of the United Kingdom. She was informally referred to as "May".

Surname: Donnelly

Celtic

Donnelly is an Irish surname. Also used as: O’Donnelly or Donley. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Donnghaile meaning 'descendant of Donnghal', a given name composed of the elements donn ('dark, brown') and gal ('valour'). O'Donnelly was historically of the Northern Uí Néill's Cenél nEoghain, descended from Donnghal, the great-grandson of Domhnall, King of Ailech. It is most commonly found in Ulster, especially in County Tyrone and in parts of County Donegal. Donnelly is also prevalent in Connacht, particularly in County Galway.

Geographic Distribution

The first name May is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 52%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 9%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name May by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named May Donnelly

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for May Donnelly:

5

Expression Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

3

Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

11

Personality Number

Intuition and inspiration (Master Number 11). Amplifies spiritual awareness, creative vision and sensitivity.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name May?: The first name May originates from Arabic. May is an English feminine given name. It is derived from the name of the month, which comes from Maia, the name of a Roman fertility goddess. It can also be a variant of the Arabic name Mai مي, which either means water or little gazelle. Mary of Teck (1867–1953), queen consort of George V, King of the United Kingdom. She was informally referred to as "May".
When was May most popular?: The name May reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Donnelly?: The surname Donnelly originates from Celtic. Donnelly is an Irish surname. Also used as: O’Donnelly or Donley. It is derived from the Gaelic Ó Donnghaile meaning 'descendant of Donnghal', a given name composed of the elements donn ('dark, brown') and gal ('valour'). O'Donnelly was historically of the Northern Uí Néill's Cenél nEoghain, descended from Donnghal, the great-grandson of Domhnall, King of Ailech. It is most commonly found in Ulster, especially in County Tyrone and in parts of County Donegal. Donnelly is also prevalent in Connacht, particularly in County Galway.
What are the origins of the name May Donnelly?: The name May Donnelly combines two different traditions: the first name May has Arabic roots, while the surname Donnelly originates from Celtic.