Mae

Mae is an English spelling of May and can also be used as a short form of Mary or Margaret. These routes do not produce one universal meaning: May evokes the month, Margaret means “pearl,” and Mary’s ultimate meaning is uncertain. A family’s reason for choosing Mae determines which connection matters most.

Its one-syllable sound makes Mae concise as either a first or middle name. The spelling separates it visually from the month, although both are usually pronounced alike. Parents considering Mae and Mei should know that Mei belongs to additional language traditions and cannot automatically be treated as the same name. Maye offers another English spelling to compare.