When was May most popular?

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

What are the origins of the name May Shelley?

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

May Shelley — 45K & 14K bearers

May Shelley 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 Shelley: Shelley is a given name and surname. In many baby name books, Shelley is listed as meaning 'meadow's edge' or 'clearing on a bank'. It is Old English in origin. As with many other names (Courtney, Ashley, etc.), Shelley is today a name given almost exclusively to girls after historically being male. It is commonly used as a nickname for Michelle (and formerly as a variant of Shirley). Shelley is also a transferred surname used by those in Essex, Suffolk and Yorkshire, particularly in settlements where a wood/clearing was beside a ledge or hillside. Shelly is a common alternative spelling. 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: Shelley

English

Shelley is a given name and surname. In many baby name books, Shelley is listed as meaning 'meadow's edge' or 'clearing on a bank'. It is Old English in origin. As with many other names (Courtney, Ashley, etc.), Shelley is today a name given almost exclusively to girls after historically being male. It is commonly used as a nickname for Michelle (and formerly as a variant of Shirley). Shelley is also a transferred surname used by those in Essex, Suffolk and Yorkshire, particularly in settlements where a wood/clearing was beside a ledge or hillside. Shelly is a common alternative spelling.

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 Shelley

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 Shelley:

8

Expression Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

11

Soul Urge Number

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

6

Personality Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

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 Shelley?: The surname Shelley originates from English. Shelley is a given name and surname. In many baby name books, Shelley is listed as meaning 'meadow's edge' or 'clearing on a bank'. It is Old English in origin. As with many other names (Courtney, Ashley, etc.), Shelley is today a name given almost exclusively to girls after historically being male. It is commonly used as a nickname for Michelle (and formerly as a variant of Shirley). Shelley is also a transferred surname used by those in Essex, Suffolk and Yorkshire, particularly in settlements where a wood/clearing was beside a ledge or hillside. Shelly is a common alternative spelling.
What are the origins of the name May Shelley?: The name May Shelley combines two different traditions: the first name May has Arabic roots, while the surname Shelley originates from English.