Jay
Jay is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Jaybird; also associated with the Latin word meaning 'to rejoice'.
Origin and history
Jay is derived from the English name for the bird in the crow family, ultimately originating from Late Latin 'gaius' meaning to rejoice or jaybird. While historically used more frequently for males, it has a long history of steady, subtle usage for females in the United States. Today, it functions as a simple, modern bird-inspired or nature name for girls.
Popularity in the United States
2,584 babies in the United States have been named Jay since 1880. It ranks #3474 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2026.
States where it is most popular
- TX (39.3 %)
- CA (23.9 %)
- NY (16.8 %)
- OH (10.7 %)
- MO (2.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 5 |
| 1900-1910 | 16 |
| 1910-1920 | 150 |
| 1920-1930 | 241 |
| 1930-1940 | 227 |
| 1940-1950 | 313 |
| 1950-1960 | 466 |
| 1960-1970 | 380 |
| 1970-1980 | 282 |
| 1980-1990 | 173 |
| 1990-2000 | 108 |
| 2000-2010 | 75 |
| 2010-2019 | 73 |
| 2020-2029 | 75 |
Famous people named Jay
- Jay Presson Allen: Playwright, Screenwriter
Fun facts
- The name references the vivid crest and plumage of the jaybird.
- In addition to its nature roots, Jay often developed independently as a given name spelled out from the letter 'J'.