Gay
Gay is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Joyful, lighthearted, or cheerful.
Origin and history
Gay is an English name derived from the Old French word 'gai', meaning joyful, carefree, or bright. It was a common feminine given name in the United States during the mid-20th century. Its usage as a given name declined sharply in the late 20th century due to the word's primary modern shift to mean homosexual.
Popularity in the United States
17,985 babies in the United States have been named Gay since 1880. It ranks #1135 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- TX (13.6 %)
- CA (9.1 %)
- NY (5.6 %)
- IL (5.4 %)
- MI (5.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 41 |
| 1890-1900 | 160 |
| 1900-1910 | 183 |
| 1910-1920 | 483 |
| 1920-1930 | 745 |
| 1930-1940 | 2,587 |
| 1940-1950 | 4,329 |
| 1950-1960 | 5,654 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,409 |
| 1970-1980 | 388 |
| 1980-1990 | 6 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Gay
- Gay Gayle: Artist, Painter
Fun facts
- Originally meaning happy or colorful, the adoption of 'gay' as the standard term for homosexuality caused the name to plummet in usage for newborns.
- The name reached its peak popularity in the United States during the 1930s through the 1950s.