In our continuing series of examining Google Search Trends to gain insights into the top keywords queried in the USA, we present our findings for May 2021.
Every day, we capture the top three keyword phrases in terms of search volume as reported by Google Trends (US Only). Each term has an estimated query volume attached to it, which we also record. The number scale tops out at 10,000,000+ with a lower limit of 200,000+. After the conclusion of the month, we look at the phrases we collected along with their volumes to get an understanding of what drove queries for the month.
The Highest Queried Phrase in May 2021 (according to Google Trends)
Unlike other months where we see multiple keyword phrases hit the maximum query number, we only have one to report for this May.
- Memorial Day – 5/30/2021- 10,000,000+ queries
Even though this term is related to a holiday and the unofficial start of summer in the USA, the query numbers were aided by a Google Doodle which records a query with every click on the modified Google logo. AMP thinks the lack of compelling news stories this month was the reason we didn't see many 10 million+ queried terms, which is probably a good thing.
May 2021's Other Holidays and Special Occasions
Memorial Day may have been the holiday that got the most queries, but there were other days in May that sparked the need to search for information using Google:
- US Teacher Appreciation Week – 5/2/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Cinco de Mayo – 5/4/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
- Cinco de Mayo – 5/5/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
- Happy Mother’s Day! – 5/7/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Mother’s Day 2021 – 5/9/2021 – 5,000,000+ queries
- Happy Mother’s Day – 5/9/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
Teacher Appreciation Week is a subject that makes the top 3 most queried terms in Google Trends on an annual basis. It has grown in popularity over the last 5 years. With the pandemic raging last year, it hit new heights, which you can see in this chart:
In 2021, the topic wasn't as popular as it was last year, but that can be expected. AMP does anticipate that this week will become a more popular gift giving season in future years.
The two other holidays, Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day, had multiple entries across multiple days. We found the 2 day Cinco De Mayo queries interesting as it may show the last minute planning that is associated with this holiday.
As for Mother's Day – who doesn't enjoy seeing an exclamation as a top queried phrase? Looking at the data, Mother's Day continues to be a popular May holiday for US search audience.
Top Movies and TV Shows
To understand the popularity of a movie or TV show, AMP Agency looks closely at Google Trends top queried phrases. Here are the films, trailers and TV shows that were searched for the most in May 2021:
- Those Who Wish Me Dead – 5/14/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- The Woman in the Window – 5/14/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- Army of the Dead – 5/21/2021 -1,000,000+ queries
- A Quiet Place 2 – 5/27/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Cruella – 5/28/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
Friday the 14th was a big night for streaming as two films were made available on that day. Towards the end of the month, the sequel to A Quiet Place and a 101 Dalmatians prequel of sorts drove search interest.
Previews of upcoming films sparked the imaginations of searchers with the trailers being released in May:
- Dear Evan Hansen – 5/18/2021 -500,000+ queries
- Eternals – 5/24/2021 – 500,000+ queries
The film version of Dear Evan Hansen is set to be released in September 2021 and Eternals has a November 2021 release date.
Fans of the ‘90s television show Friends seeked more information about the cast's reunion that was available to be streamed on HBO Max:
- Friends reunion – 5/27/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
At 2 million plus queries, it was the most popular TV event of the month, using search interest as a proxy.
Finance and Technology
With the meme-stock trend that started back in January of this year, the AMP Agency team has been keeping a close eye on keywords related to financial matters. Here are the top phrases for May 2021.
- AMC stock – 5/13/2021 – 200,000+ queries
- AMC stock – 5/26/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
Keywords related to stock of the movie theater chain made the top 3 of Google Trends twice in May as speculation about the stock's price was in the news and discussed on message boards.
Phrases related to cryptocurrency were prevalent during May 2021:
- Dogecoin – 5/3/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Elon Musk – 5/8/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
- Dogecoin – 5/9/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
- Bitcoin price – 5/12/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Bitcoin price – 5/16/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- Bitcoin price – 5/19/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
Queries into Dogecoin and Bitcoin led the pack this month, and Elon Musk's appearance on Saturday Night Live had effects on query volume related to cryptocurrency. The more recent queries about Bitcoin were driven by its falling price.
Lastly, the gasoline shortage fueled by (pun intended) a ransomware hack drove people to search for gas price apps:
- GasBuddy – 5/11/2021 – 500,000+ queries
NBA Playoffs
A clear indication that things are getting back to normal, keywords related to sports took up a third of all of the queries we collected for the month. The biggest segment of sports queries were related to the NBA playoffs. Here's the list of NBA team name keywords that spiked when the team was playing.
- Warriors – 5/16/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- Celtics – 5/18/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- Lakers – 5/19/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
- Miami Heat – 5/22/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- Knicks – 5/23/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Lakers – 5/25/2021 – 2,000,000+ queries
- Clippers – 5/25/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Knicks – 5/26/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Lakers – 5/27/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
- Celtics – 5/28/2021 – 500,000+ queries
- Celtics – 5/30/2021 – 1,000,000+ queries
Seeing the Lakers and Celtics make the list 3 times each is bittersweet since they were both knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. Oh well – there's always next year.
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Until next month.
