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I see Mae as a needless prettification of an already beautiful name. And I cannot for the life of me see the point of it or of Fae, Rae etc.

I prefer May because it can stand as a plant name (hawthorn) whereas Mae is nicknamey to me. I knew a May who was a lot of fun - a neighbour when I was growing up.

This name is sweet. I like it as a nickname for Mary. I prefer Mae because it seems more like the "name version" while May is the "month version."

May, lovely name and both spellings are nice, but I think May's the one people will expect and it's also more visually appealing imo.

Mae seems unbalanced to me. May is much better. It's sweet, in a farm-girl sort of way. I'd consider it as a mn, because it's sort and soft and would blend well with a longer, heavier, more ornate fn.

I love this name, especially as a mn, but it works so beautifully as a fn too. I prefer the spelling Mae, as it's less like the month and word and more like a "real name".

I prefer the spelling "May".I haven't read any of the other posts,but rather think more might like "Mae" better.

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It's certainly alright as a first name, though not one I'd use. Nothing to dislike, there are just so many names I like better.

Mae strikes me as more of a middle name for some reason (perhaps because I know two people with the middle name Rae), while May seems more like it could hold its own in a first name spot. It's a very sweet name. Could be difficult to pair with a middle name because you don't want its simplicity to be overshadowed by a stronger, lengthier middle name.

I love the look of ae, so I'd definitely go for Mae. By the way I love Fae too!

I think it's great but I far prefer the Mae spelling. May sits around on chairs with doilies on them and sips tea and crochets. Mae is young and sexy and a little brash, offbeat, and doesn't like to stay home.

Honestly I think it sounds too unsubstantial as a first name (unless it is a nickname). I prefer May because I think that Mae looks too weird.

I like it, and I prefer May.

May

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My only problem with it as a first name is May Josephine do what? Like Mabel nicknamed May though

I prefer May. Mae seems a little rotund and too creamy to me.

I have always preferred May over Mae. That usually puts me in the minority - but I find it more complete looking and it looks sweeter.

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Fae I love though - and am not sure if I prefer Faye or Fay over it. It certainly carries more magic than the Mae spelling to me.

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I think May would be a great name for a child today. It's simple and easy, old-fashioned but fits the modern trend of being short and retro. I would totally use it myself, though I would never really consider Mae.

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*I should note that I have liked one Mae-name in my life... and that was a little girl named Louisa-Mae, who went by LouMae.

I think it's rather sweet. Re: the two spellings, I tend to gravitate towards Mae because May looks like a verb. And also, Mae is more aesthetically pleasing to me.

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I'd love to meet a young one named May / Mae. It was one of my mother's mns (spelled Mae), however, I've never known anyone who had it as their fn.

I prefer the spelling May (it's my middle name).

I adore May/Mae! I tend to go for the spelling Mae, but that's because it's always been on my list as a middle name to honor my grandmother who spelled it that way.

I love it. As a middle name May/Mae is boring and overused but as a first name she shines. I think of May, my preferred spelling, as warm and cozy.

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Great name!

I much prefer Mae. I think May is too closely related to the month, which isn't terrible, but worse it is a word as in "may I?"

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I like Mae because it brings up a more antique feel a la Mae West and Mae Murray.