Kay
Kay is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Rejoice, or key bearer (derived from Latin Caius or Old Norse/Arthurian sources).
Origin and history
Kay is a historic name derived from Arthurian legend as Sir Kay, Arthur's foster brother, as well as an independent short form of names like KAI or KATHERINE. Though historically masculine in medieval tales, in the United States it has been used for both sexes, remaining a rare choice for boys today.
Popularity in the United States
3,924 babies in the United States have been named Kay since 1880. It ranks #2030 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1861.
States where it is most popular
- UT (32.2 %)
- CA (15.5 %)
- ID (10.4 %)
- PA (4.5 %)
- TX (4.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 11 |
| 1890-1900 | 16 |
| 1900-1910 | 39 |
| 1910-1920 | 292 |
| 1920-1930 | 760 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,306 |
| 1940-1950 | 725 |
| 1950-1960 | 321 |
| 1960-1970 | 164 |
| 1970-1980 | 64 |
| 1980-1990 | 55 |
| 1990-2000 | 47 |
| 2000-2010 | 18 |
| 2010-2019 | 40 |
| 2020-2029 | 66 |
Famous people named Kay
- Kay Kyser: bandleader, musician
Fun facts
- Sir Kay is a prominent knight of the Round Table and King Arthur's foster brother in Arthurian tradition.
- Although used historically as a masculine given name, Kay grew significantly popular for females in the mid-20th century.