Jay
Jay is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Jaybird; also related to 'to rejoice' via Latin Gaius.
Origin and history
Jay is a short, energetic classic name derived from the colorful jaybird, as well as an abbreviation for names starting with the letter J. Historically linked to the Late Latin name Gaius meaning 'to rejoice', it gained widespread popularity in the mid-20th century. It remains a steady, familiar choice in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
195,548 babies in the United States have been named Jay since 1880. It ranks #187 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #381.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.4 %)
- NY (8.3 %)
- PA (7.2 %)
- TX (6.6 %)
- OH (5.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,016 |
| 1890-1900 | 918 |
| 1900-1910 | 926 |
| 1910-1920 | 4,455 |
| 1920-1930 | 8,054 |
| 1930-1940 | 10,217 |
| 1940-1950 | 18,655 |
| 1950-1960 | 36,969 |
| 1960-1970 | 42,712 |
| 1970-1980 | 23,971 |
| 1980-1990 | 15,841 |
| 1990-2000 | 10,686 |
| 2000-2010 | 8,167 |
| 2010-2019 | 7,924 |
| 2020-2029 | 5,037 |
Famous people named Jay
- Jay Leno: Television host, Comedian
- Jay Gould: Financier, Railroad executive
- Jay Inslee: Politician, Lawyer
Fun facts
- Besides its English nature origin, Jay often functions as a full given name derived from the letter 'J' or as a short form for James, Jason, or Jacob.
- Jay was a top 100 name for boys in the United States for much of the mid-20th century.