May birthstone, birth flower & birthdays
The May birthstone is Emerald and the May birth flower is Lily of the valley or Hawthorn. Named after Maia, a Greek goddess associated with fertility and growth.
May birthstone
Emerald
Colour: Green
Emerald is linked with rebirth, love and wisdom, and it was a favourite of Cleopatra. Emerald meaning and facts →
May birth flowers
- Lily of the valley: traditionally symbolises sweetness and humility.
- Hawthorn: traditionally symbolises hope.
No other month begins on the same day of the week as May in the same year.
What zodiac sign is May?
May birthdays fall under two zodiac signs: Taurus (May 1–20) and Gemini (May 21–31). People born on May 20 or 21 are on the Taurus–Gemini cusp.
May birthdays by date
Famous people born in May
- May 5, 1818German-born philosopher (1818–1883)
- May 19, 1881Founding father of the Republic of Turkey (c. 1881–1938)
- May 6, 1856Austrian psychiatrist and founder of psychoanalysis (1856–1939)
- May 29, 1917President of the United States from 1961 to 1963 (1917–1963)
- May 11, 1904Spanish artist (1904–1989)
- May 23, 1707Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist (1707–1778)
- May 18, 1920264th pope of the Catholic Church (1978–2005)
- May 22, 1813German composer (1813–1883)
- May 8, 1884President of the United States from 1945 to 1953; politician (1884–1972)
- May 7, 1840Russian composer (1840–1893)
- May 18, 1872British philosopher and logician (1872–1970)
- May 24, 1941American singer-songwriter (born 1941)
- May 22, 1859British writer and physician (1859–1930)
- May 20, 1799French novelist and playwright (1799–1850)
- May 24, 1819Queen of the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901 (1819-1901)
- May 5, 1813Danish theologian, philosopher, poet and social critic (1813–1855)
- May 14, 1984American Internet entrepreneur
- May 11, 1918American theoretical physicist (1918–1988)
- May 6, 1953Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007
- May 25, 1803American philosopher (1803–1882)
- May 19, 1890Vietnamese communist leader, founder of North Vietnam (1890–1969)
- May 2, 1729Eighth Emperor of Russia, called the Great, r. 1762–1796 (lived 1729-1796)
- May 22, 1987Serbian tennis player (born 1987)
- May 12, 1820English social reformer, statistician, and founder of modern nursing (1820–1910)
- May 20, 1806British philosopher and political economist (1806–1873)
- May 31, 1819American poet, essayist and journalist (1819–1892)
- May 4, 1929British actress (1929–1993)
- May 2, 1921Indian filmmaker and writer (1921–1992)
- May 27, 1923American diplomat and geopolitical advisor, served as U.S. Secretary of State from 1973 to 1977 (1923–2023)
- May 30, 1814Russian revolutionary anarchist and philosopher (1814–1876)
Birthstones by month
Frequently asked questions
What is the May birthstone?
The May birthstone is Emerald. Emerald is linked with rebirth, love and wisdom, and it was a favourite of Cleopatra.
What is the May birth flower?
The May birth flowers are lily of the valley (sweetness and humility) and hawthorn (hope).
What zodiac sign is May?
May birthdays fall under two zodiac signs: Taurus (May 1–20) and Gemini (May 21–31). People born on May 20 or 21 are on the Taurus–Gemini cusp.