Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
May 7 Indian philosopher, poet, writer (Nobel Prize for Literature 1913), born in Calcutta, British India
- May 11 Frederick Russell Burnham, American scout and adventurer whose friendship with Baden-Powell inspired the founding of the international scouting movement, born in Tivoli, a Dakota Sioux Indian reservation in modern-day Minnesota, (d. 1947)
- May 12 Ivan Caryll [Félix Tilkin], Belgian composer of operetta and musical comedy (The Shop Girl; The Spring Chicken; The Pink Lady), born in Liège, Belgium (d. 1921)
H. H. Holmes (1861-1896)
May 16 American serial killer associated with 27 deaths, born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Nellie Melba (1861-1931)
May 19 Australian operatic soprano and face of the Australian 100 dollar note, born in Richmond, Victoria, Australia
