Mae

Mae is an English feminine name that originated as a variant spelling of May, itself derived from the name of the month, which traces back to the Latin Maius, associated with the Roman goddess Maia. Maia was a goddess of growth and springtime, and her name is likely connected to the Latin root meaning great or larger. The name gained wide popularity in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, boosted by the fame of American actress and entertainer Mae West. Related forms include May, Maé, and Mae also appears as a short form of Margaret or Mary in some traditions.