Given name & surname
Mays
“from the meadow”·“from the field”
Mays is a variant of Mayes. Interpretations include “from the meadow” (English) and “from the field” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Mays is a variant of Mayes. Interpretations include “from the meadow” (English) and “from the field” (English). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Mays is a variant of Mayes. An origin associated with Mayes is English.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Mays as a surname is a short form of Thomas.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1922. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Mays through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 197
- 143 boys · 54 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 18 babies
- 2025
- 17
- #7,504 for boys · #14,334 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +3%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 11 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 7,504 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 531 as a first name in 2020; 39,073 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Mays’s family of names
In English usage, Mays as a surname is a short form of Thomas. Mays has a related form in Mayes. In English usage, Mays as a surname has a related form in MAIS.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Mays, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Arley
“from the hare's meadow”
68% boys · 32% girls
Rowan
“of the red-berry tree”
74% boys · 26% girls
Ashe
“from the ash tree”
56% boys · 44% girls
Weslee
“from the western meadow”
72% boys · 28% girls
Royal
“of the king; a regal man”
69% boys · 31% girls
Woods
“a woman of the forest” · “a man of the forest”
98% boys · 2% girls
Ocean
“sea”
56% boys · 44% girls
Dallas
“from the valley meadow” · “from the dales; from the city in Texas”
74% boys · 26% girls