- May 1 Leo Sowerby, American organist and composer (Pulitzer Prize for Music, 1946), born in Grand Rapids, Michigan (d. 1968)
- May 2 Alfred Kurella, German author and functionary of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany in East Germany, born in Brieg, Silesia (d. 1975)
- May 2 Peggy Bacon, American author and illustrator (Off With Their Heads), born in Ridgefield, Connecticut (d. 1987)
- May 2 Lorenz Hart, American lyricist, born in Harlem, New York (d. 1943)
- May 3 Ernst Kantorowicz, German-American historian (Laudes regiae), born in Posen, Prussia (d. 1963)
- May 3 Cornelius Van Til, Dutch philosopher and Christian apologist, Grootegast, Netherlands (d. 1987)
Rudolph Valentino
May 6 Rudolph Valentino, Italian sheik and actor (Eagle), born in Castellaneta, Italy (d. 1926)
Rudolph Valentino
- May 6 Fidél Pálffy, Hungarian Nazi (d. 1946)
- May 6 Júlio César de Mello e Souza, Brazilian writer (d. 1974)
- May 8 Edmund Wilson, American critic/writer (Patriotic Gore)
- May 8 Fulton J Sheen, El Paso Ill, bishop (Life is Worth Living)
- May 8 Jose Gomez, [Joselito el Gallo], bullfighter
- May 8 James H. "Dutch" Kindelberger, American aerospace pioneer (d. 1962)
- May 9 Lucian Blaga, Romaniams philosopher/poet (Dogmatic Aeon)
- May 9 Richard Barthelmess, American actor (Broken Blossoms, Noose, Heroes for Sales), born in NYC, New York (d. 1963)
- May 11 Jan Parandowski, writer
- May 11 William Grant Still, American composer ("Afro-American" Symphony), born in Woodville, Mississippi (d. 1978)
- May 12 Jiddu Krishnamurti, India, philosopher (Songs of Life) [NS=May 22]
- May 14 Lew Lehr, comedian (Stop Me if I heard this One), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- May 14 Renato Lunelli, composer
- May 15 Charles Lamont, director (Abbott & Costello Go to Mars), born in San Francisco, California
- May 15 William D. Byron, U.S. Congressman (d. 1941)
- May 19 Albert Hay Malotte, composer
- May 19 Cecil Gray, Scottish composer and music critic (d. 1959)
- May 20 Reginald J "R" Mitchell, English aviation manufacturer (Spitfire)
- May 22 Jiddu Krishnamurti, India, philosopher (Songs of Life) [OS=May 12]
- May 24 H S T L "Stork" Hendry, cricketer (Australian all-rounder post-WWI)
- May 24 Samuel I Newhouse Sr., American businessman and publisher (Parade, Vogue, Glamour), born in NYC, New York (d. 1979)
- May 26 Dorothea Lange, American documentary photographer, born in Hoboken, New Jersey (d. 1965)
Paul Lukas
May 26 Paul Lukas, Hungarian actor (Watch on the Rhine, Sphynx), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 1971)
Paul Lukas