Gay
Gay is a boy's name of French origin.
Meaning
Joyful, cheerful, or carefree.
Origin and history
Gay originated as a French vocabulary word meaning joyful or cheerful, which was later adopted as a given name and surname. Historically used for both boys and girls in the early-to-mid 20th century in the United States, its usage as a given name has sharply declined due to the shift in the primary meaning of the word.
Popularity in the United States
1,382 babies in the United States have been named Gay since 1880. It ranks #3334 all-time.
States where it is most popular
- WV (41.4 %)
- TX (22.9 %)
- CA (7.1 %)
- MI (7.1 %)
- NC (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 19 |
| 1890-1900 | 46 |
| 1900-1910 | 16 |
| 1910-1920 | 164 |
| 1920-1930 | 258 |
| 1930-1940 | 300 |
| 1940-1950 | 276 |
| 1950-1960 | 206 |
| 1960-1970 | 73 |
| 1970-1980 | 24 |
| 1980-1990 | 0 |
| 1990-2000 | 0 |
| 2000-2010 | 0 |
| 2010-2019 | 0 |
| 2020-2029 | 0 |
Famous people named Gay
- Gay Brewer: Professional Golfer
- Gay Talese: Journalist, Author
Fun facts
- The name originates from the Old French word 'gai', meaning lighthearted, joyful, or bright.
- While once a moderately popular given name for both males and females in the U.S., its usage fell dramatically after the mid-20th century.