- May 2 Jacob Gilboa [Erwin Goldberg], Israeli composer, born in Košice, Czechoslovakia (d. 2007)
- May 2 Jean-Marie Auberson, Swiss conductor, born in Chavornay, Switzerland (d. 2004)
- May 2 Otto Buchsbaum, Austrian writer and ecological activist, born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2000)
- May 3 John Lewis, American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer (Modern Jazz Quartet, 1952-97), born in La Grange, Illinois (d. 2001)
- May 3 Nina Bara [Frances Bauer], Argentinian actress (Missile to the Moon, Space Patrol), born in Buenos Aires, Argentina (d. 1990)
- May 5 Hidalgo Moya, American architect and designer (Skylon), born in Los Gatos, California (d. 1994)
- May 8 Maurice Cranston, English philosopher and political scientist (John Locke biographies), born in Harringay, England (d. 1993)
- May 8 Saul Bass, American graphic designer of logos and film titles, born in NYC, New York (d. 1996)
- May 8 Sloan Wilson, American novelist (Man in the Gray Flannal, born in Norwalk, Connecticut
- May 8 Tom of Finland [Touko Laaksonen], Finnish fetish artist, born in Helsinki (d. 1991)
- May 9 Richard Adams, English author (Watership Down), born in Newbury (d. 2016)
- May 9 William Tenn, American author
- May 10 Basil Kelly, Lord Justice of Appeals (Northern Ireland)
- May 10 Bert Weedon, English guitar player ("Play in a Day" books), born in London (d. 2012)
- May 11 Beryl Bryden, British jazz/blues singer and washboard player, born in Norwich, Norfolk (d. 1998)
- May 11 Denver Pyle, American actor (The Dukes of Hazzard, The Andy Griffith Show), born in Cincinnati, Ohio (d. 1997)
- May 13 Gareth Morris, British flautist (d. 2007)
- May 13 Ratu Kasmisere Mara, Fijian tribal chief, first Prime Minister of Fiji (1970-92) President (1994-2000), born in Lomaloma, Colony of Fiji (d. 2004)
- May 15 Hugh Henry Home Popham, aviator/writer/poet
- May 16 Dave Philley, Texas, Major League Baseball switch-hitter (record 9 straight pinch hits), born in Paris, France (d. 2012)
- May 16 Martine Carol [Maryse Mopurer], French actress (Lola Montèsm, Trente et quarante), born in Saint-Mandé, Seine (d. 1967)
- May 17 Harriet Van Horne, columnist/panelist (Leave it to Girls), born in Syracuse, New York
- May 17 Lydia Wideman, Finnish cross country skier (first female cross-country Olympic medalist, gold 10k 1952), born in Vippula, Finland (d. 2019)
- May 18 Lucia Mannucci, Italian jazz singer (Quartetto Cetra, 1947-88), born in Bologna, Italy (d. 2012)
John Paul II (1920-2005)
May 18 264th Roman Catholic Pope (1978-2005), born in Wadowice, Poland
- May 19 Tina Strobos, Netherlands, physician and resistor to Nazi occupation, (d. 2012)
- May 20 Elizabeth "Betty" Driver, British singer and actress (Coronation Street, Pardon the Expression), born in Leicester, England (d. 2011)
- May 20 John Cruickshank, banker
- May 20 William Simpson, British trade union leader
- May 21 Anthony Steel, British actor and singer (Malta Story, The Wooden Horse), born in London, England (d. 2001)
- May 22 Hugh Armstrong Clegg, English industrial relations academic, born in Truro, England (d. 1995)
- May 22 Thomas Gold, Austrian astrophysicist (proposed steady-state theory of universe), born in Vienna, Austria (d. 2004)
- May 23 Helen O'Connell, American big-band singer (Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra - "Green Eyes"; "Anapola"), and TV host (Today Show, 1956-58), born in Lima, Ohio (d. 1993) [1]
- May 23 Sid Melton [Sidney Meltzer], American actor (Green Acres; The Danny Thomas Show), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2011)
- May 26 Jack Cheetham, South African cricket batsman and captain (24 Tests; Western Province), born in Cape Town, South Africa (d. 1980)
Peggy Lee (1920-2002)
May 26 American singer ("Fever"; "Is That All There Is?"), songwriter ("Mañana"), and actress (Pete Kelly's Blues; Lady and the Tramp), born in Jamestown, North Dakota
- May 27 Gwyneth George, Welsh cellist and teacher, born on the Mumbles, Wales (d. 2016)
- May 27 Michael Webster, CEO (DRG)
- May 27 William Crawshay, Lord-Lt of Gwent
- May 29 Clifton James, American actor (Live and Let Die, Silver Streak), born in Spokane, Washington (d. 2017)
- May 29 John Harsanyi, Hungarian-American economist (Nobel Prize in Economics, 1994, for game theory), and educator (University of California, Berkeley, 1964-90), born in Budapest, Hungary (d. 2000) [1]
- May 29 Robin Haydon, British diplomat, born in Wandsworth, England (d. 1999)
- May 30 George London, bass-baritone (Monterone-Rigoleto), born in Montreal, Quebec (d. 1985)
- May 30 John Heawood, Canadian actor, singer and choreographer (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), born in Canada (d. 1995)
- May 31 Edward Bennett Williams, American lawyer/team owner (Washington Redskins, Baltimore Orioles), born in Hartford, Connecticut (d. 1988)
About May 1920
How Old? 102 years old
Generation: Greatest Generation
Leap Year: Yes