Mae

Meaning of Mae

Mae is a short form of Mary or Margaret. It often means "pearl" or "bitter."

Mae has English roots — browse every English baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Mae

Mae is more popular than ever, reaching a new high of #501 in 2025 from #981 in 2010.

Notable people named Mae

• Mae West
  American actress, playwright, screenwriter
• Mae Whitman
  American actress and singer
• Mae Jemison
  American astronaut and physician
• Mae Muller
  English singer and songwriter
• Mae Clarke
  American actress (1931 Frankenstein)

More English names

Questions about the name Mae

What does the name Mae mean?

Mae means mae is a short form of mary or margaret. it often means "pearl" or "bitter.", and it comes from English origins.

Is Mae a boy's or a girl's name?

Mae is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Mae?

In 2025, Mae ranked #501 for girls, up from #530 the year before.

When was Mae most popular?

Mae peaked at #501 in 2025.