- May 1 Johann A Schall von Bell, German missionary and astronomer, born in Cologne, Germany (d. 1666)
- May 8 Francis Quarles, English poet (Argalus & Parthenia, Emblems), born in Romford, Essex (d. 1644)
- May 13 John Cloppenburg, Dutch Calvinist theologian, born in Amsterdam (d. 1652)