- May 1 David Tobey, American Basketball Hall of Fame referee (1918-45; first game with a 3-man officiating crew), born in New York, New York (d. 1988)
- May 1 Eugene R. Black, American President of World Bank (1953-62), born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 1992)
- May 2 Henry Hall, British bandleader (BBC Dance Orchestra), born in Peckham, South London, England (d. 1989)
- May 2 Jef Last, Dutch poet and writer, born in The Hague, Netherlands (d. 1972)
Golda Meir (1898-1978)
May 3 Israeli teacher, stateswoman and 4th Prime Minister of Israel (1969-74) known as the "Iron Lady" of Israeli politics, born in Kyiv, Ukraine
- May 3 Septima Poinsette Clark, American educator and civil rights activist, born in CHarleston, South Carolina (d. 1987)
- May 6 Daniel Frank Gerber, American manufacturer of baby food, born in Fremont, Michigan (d. 1974)
- May 6 Jascha Horenstein, Russian-born American conductor, born in Kiev, Russian Empire (d. 1973)
- May 8 Vera Chapman, English writer and Tolkien Society founder, born in Bournemouth, England (d. 1996)
Ariel Durant (1898-1981)
May 10 Russian-born American writer (Story of Civilization), born in Proskurov, Russian Empire
- May 10 Herbert Elwell, American composer (Happy Hypocrite), born in Minneapolis, Minnesota (d. 1974)
- May 13 Justin Tuveri, Italian veteran of the First World War (d. 2007)
- May 14 Bonifacio Gil Garcia, Spanish composer and folklorist, born in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, Spain (d. 1964)
- May 14 [Arthur] Zutty Singleton, American jazz drummer (Louis Armstrong's Hot Five), born in Bunkie, Louisiana (d. 1975)
- May 15 (Giovanni) John Abriani, Italian jazz violinist and bandleader, born in Lusiana, Italy (d. 1960)
- May 15 Arletty [Léonie Bathiat], French fashion model and actress (Hotel du Niord; Children of Paradise; The Longest Day), born in Courbevoie, France (d. 1992)
- May 16 Tamara de Lempicka, Polish-born painter (d. 1980)
- May 17 A. J. Casson, Canadian painter (member of Group of Seven), born in Toronto, Ontario (d. 1992)
- May 18 Juan José Domenchina, Spanish poet and interpreter (sombra desterrada), born in Madrid, Spain (d. 1959)
- May 19 Julius Evola, Italian philosopher (d. 1974)
- May 21 Armand Hammer, American industrialist (Occidental Petroleum), born in New York City (d. 1990)
- May 21 Karel Haba, Czech composer and violinist, born in Vizovice, Moravia (d. 1972)
- May 22 René de Vos, Dutch actor and composer (Jij Bent Mijn Leven), born in Denmark (d. 1977)
- May 23 Frank McHugh, American actor (Going My Way, Front Page, Gold Diggers 1935, Mighty Joe Young), born in Homestead, Pennsylvania (d. 1981)
- May 23 Joseph H. Hazen, Hollywood lawyer (Warner Brothers), born in Kingston, New York (d. 1996)
- May 23 Scott O'Dell, American author (d. 1989)
- May 24 Kathleen Hale, British children book writer and illustrator (Orlando), born in Lanarkshire, Scotland (d. 2000)
- May 25 Bennett Cerf, American publisher (Random House) and panelist (What's My Line), born in Manhattan, New York (d. 1971)
- May 25 Gene Tunney, American boxer (world heavyweight champion 1926-30), born in New York City (d. 1978)
- May 25 Gustav Regler, German writer, born in Merzig (d. 1963)
- May 25 Mischa Levitzki, Russian-born American pianist and composer (The Enchanted Nymph), born in Kremenchuk, Russian Empire (d. 1941)
- May 26 Ernst Bacon, American composer, born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1990)
- May 26 Gérard Bertouille, Belgian composer, born in Tournai, Belgium (d. 1981)
- May 28 Andy Kirk, American jazz drummer and bandleader (Clouds Of Joy - "I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You)"), born in Newport, Kentucky (d. 1992)
- May 31 Johan Brouwer, Dutch writer, Hispanist, and anti-Nazi resistance fighter, born in Delfshaven, Netherlands (d. 1943)
- May 31 Norman Vincent Peale, American clergyman, broadcaster (The Art Of Living), and author (The Power of Positive Thinking), born in Bowersville, Ohio (d. 1993)
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
80-89
Over 90