Fay

#3,780 for girls in 2025, 39 births · Last seen for boys in 1976 at #4,012
Given to girls 88.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1907 · 257 births
Debut · girls
13 births
In top 100 · girls
never
of 146 years
Total births · girls
32,059
since 1880

Fay over time

girlsboys

Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201931peak #202, 1907peak #292, 1893girlsboys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#3,78039—
2024#3,39546—
2023#4,19134—
2022#3,89338—
2021#3,55343—
2020#4,16933—
2019#3,85138—
2018#3,78939—
2017#5,04526—
2016#3,46445—
2015#5,28825—
2014#4,26934—
2013#5,14326—
2012#4,70730—
2011#5,20726—
2010#5,97722—
2009#5,37826—
2008#6,55920—
2007#5,37726—
2006#5,08627—
2005#7,13816—
2004#5,06225—
2003#4,94325—
2002#5,08623—
2001#6,32217—
2000#4,79124—
1999#7,23913—
1998#5,36319—
1997#5,62617—
1996#7,57411—
1995#5,95815—
1994#5,44517—
1993#5,67316—
1992#5,71816—
1991#4,80820—
1990#3,90926—
1989#3,47729—
1988#3,58526—
1987#3,33127—
1986#3,45925—
1985#2,86032—
1984#2,78132—
1983#2,55235—
1982#2,58136—
1981#2,77432—
1980#2,30842—
1979#2,79531—
1978#2,05046—
1977#1,90152—
1976#1,72955#4,0128
1975#1,83850—
1974#1,82048—
1973#1,66654—
1972#1,72451#4,9865
1971#1,47369#4,3756
1970#1,47468#4,7245
1969#1,23482#2,86110
1968#991111#3,6736
1967#970111#2,7609
1966#843140—
1965#792155#3,9305
1964#767184#2,8549
1963#703210#2,8589
1962#682227#2,50411
1961#653246#2,07016
1960#600274#2,42312
1959#615260#2,41412
1958#563302#2,26513
1957#596265#2,01916
1956#517328#2,01516
1955#561263#1,68221
1954#495321#2,11414
1953#500302#1,83618
1952#471320#1,66521
1951#422393#1,68320
1950#413376#1,65720
1949#398401#1,25233
1948#421354#1,65620
1947#389420#1,27133
1946#374410#1,19634
1945#384335#1,16332
1944#349390#1,03840
1943#324471#1,10638
1942#309489#93350
1941#318430#97143
1940#280497#81059
1939#277502#97642
1938#282496#85253
1937#267550#90647
1936#263530#78061
1935#263543#72571
1934#247633#66683
1933#246608#65779
1932#241655#73971
1931#238632#65982
1930#251614#68583
1929#244654#68980
1928#258628#66988
1927#254665#64397
1926#243722#597111
1925#269607#569119
1924#277563#600113
1923#264595#564122
1922#273568#557129
1921#269612#553128
1920#250690#526134
1919#250660#491148
1918#248662#541123
1917#238690#481142
1916#234676#455153
1915#224701#462141
1914#223566#481102
1913#233427#47583
1912#213436#53256
1911#208339#58427
1910#205316#58224
1909#228246#48728
1908#204267#56620
1907#202257#66415
1906#211215#61315
1905#211215#40428
1904#224186#49219
1903#219190#31236
1902#222181#34832
1901#235151#35926
1900#248170#41330
1899#235139#38423
1898#223171#39425
1897#235141#58413
1896#281107#42421
1895#257121#39923
1894#242124#29834
1893#28089#29235
1892#26997#42220
1891#25392#37721
1890#25099#35125
1889#25684#41519
1888#29663#52814
1887#31047#40917
1886#35237#33625
1885#29048#42218
1884#31539#39920
1883#33628#46015
1882#30034#46915
1881#39318#44215
1880#46613#46515
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Fay was already there! It came in at #466, and was given to 13 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1995–1996, when fewer than 16 girls a year got the name.

Where Fay is popular in 1931

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNHWashington: #229 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,742 girlsWAIdaho: #169 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 697 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #248 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,180 girlsMNIllinois: #275 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 2,775 girlsILWisconsin: #228 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,098 girlsWIMichigan: #261 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,408 girlsMINew York: #203 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 1,648 girlsNYMassachusetts: #133 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 880 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedIAIndiana: #236 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,973 girlsINOhio: #240 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 2,246 girlsOHPennsylvania: #141 for girls · 86 births · 1 in 899 girlsPANew Jersey: #259 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,058 girlsNJConnecticut: #214 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,071 girlsCTCalifornia: #315 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 2,507 girlsCAUtah: #170 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 725 girlsUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNEMissouri: #299 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,698 girlsMOKentucky: #210 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,130 girlsKYWest Virginia: #227 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 1,429 girlsWVVirginia: #239 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,738 girlsVAMaryland: #171 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,181 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedKSArkansas: #220 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,099 girlsARTennessee: #270 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,020 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #238 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,688 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #314 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 2,637 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #233 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,292 girlsOKLouisiana: #186 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 842 girlsLAMississippi: #224 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,181 girlsMSAlabama: #177 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 919 girlsALGeorgia: #224 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,345 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedHITexas: #285 for girls · 38 births · 1 in 1,479 girlsTXFlorida: #190 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 902 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Massachusetts#133 · 1 in 880
  2. Pennsylvania#141 · 1 in 899
  3. Idaho#169 · 1 in 697
  4. Utah#170 · 1 in 725
  5. Maryland#171 · 1 in 1,181

Best ever in a state: #59 in Utah, 1911.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Massachusetts#133341 in 880
Pennsylvania#141861 in 899
Idaho#16951 in 697
Utah#17061 in 725
Maryland#171101 in 1,181
Alabama#177311 in 919
Louisiana#186241 in 842
Florida#190131 in 902
New York#203551 in 1,648
Kentucky#210231 in 1,130
Connecticut#21451 in 2,071
Arkansas#220161 in 1,099
Georgia#224221 in 1,345
Mississippi#224171 in 1,181
West Virginia#227121 in 1,429
Wisconsin#228111 in 2,098
Washington#22951 in 1,742
Oklahoma#233171 in 1,292
Indiana#236121 in 1,973
North Carolina#238201 in 1,688
Virginia#239131 in 1,738
Ohio#240211 in 2,246
Minnesota#24891 in 2,180
New Jersey#25991 in 3,058
Michigan#261161 in 2,408
Tennessee#270131 in 2,020
Illinois#275191 in 2,775
Texas#285381 in 1,479
Missouri#299101 in 2,698
South Carolina#31471 in 2,637
California#315141 in 2,507
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Maine———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Fay
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 385 spots since 2024 (#3,395 → #3,780)
  • 389 spots since 2020 (#4,169 → #3,780)
  • 1,508 spots since 2015 (#5,288 → #3,780)
  • Biggest jump: 93 spots in 1882 (#393 → #300)
  • Biggest drop: 243 spots in 1969 (#991 → #1,234)
Rise & fade · girls
27 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1907 at #202 (257 births)
  • Births halved by 1967, 60 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 1,000 for 89 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 89 yrs · run 1880–1968
Share of babies · girls
1 in 1,234
  • Highest: 1 in 1,234 girls born in 1911 were named Fay (0.08%)
  • Latest: 1 in 41,212 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #202 in 1907, was only 1 in 1,240 (0.08%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1920s
  • 19.7% of all girls named Fay (6,304) were born in this decade
Girls or boys?
Flipped in 1881
  • Mostly boys until 1880, mostly girls since
all girlsall boys
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s411#256 (1889)#331
1890s1,180#223 (1898)#253
1900s2,078#202 (1907)#220
1910s5,473#205 (1910)#228
1920s6,304#243 (1926)#260
1930s5,763#238 (1931)#258
1940s4,197#280 (1940)#355
1950s3,130#413 (1950)#515
1960s1,740#600 (1960)#824
1970s524#1,473 (1971)#1,847
1980s316#2,308 (1980)#2,971
1990s170#3,909 (1990)#5,731
2000s229#4,791 (2000)#5,574
2010s311#3,464 (2016)#4,674
2020s233#3,395 (2024)#3,830

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Fay in 1931

girls
#238
632 births · 1 in 1,685 girls
boys
#659
82 births · 1 in 12,679 boys

Top girls' names in 1931

  1. #1Mary60,299
  2. #2Betty36,105
  3. #3Dorothy26,524
  4. #4Barbara21,804
  5. #5Joan19,119
  6. #6Helen17,664
  7. #7Margaret17,332
  8. #8Patricia16,469
  9. #9Shirley14,405
  10. #10Doris13,629
  11. #238Fay632

Top boys' names in 1931

  1. #1Robert60,519
  2. #2James51,212
  3. #3John48,423
  4. #4William43,280
  5. #5Richard31,822
  6. #6Charles29,934
  7. #7Donald29,100
  8. #8George20,685
  9. #9Joseph19,326
  10. #10Thomas16,847
  11. #659Fay82
More about 1931

girls

1,064,728 girls got a published name in 1931; 1 in 1,685 of them was named Fay, which outranked 95.2% of the 4,979 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #235Lydia646
  2. #236Jacquelyn645
  3. #237Freda640
  4. #238Fay632
  5. #238Cynthia632
  6. #240Jackie631
  7. #241Nadine630
  8. #242Angela619

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1930
Risers
  1. ↑ 857Joretta#1,320 → #463
  2. ↑ 519Joetta#1,460 → #941
  3. ↑ 483Sondra#1,031 → #548
  4. ↑ 465Celine#1,460 → #995
  5. ↑ 343Lynne#1,274 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 377Margo#937 → #1,314
  2. ↓ 349Rachael#894 → #1,243
  3. ↓ 317Evelyne#926 → #1,243
  4. ↓ 287Vivien#971 → #1,258
  5. ↓ 283Ardeth#629 → #912

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,039,665 boys got a published name in 1931; 1 in 12,679 of them was named Fay, which outranked 84.7% of the 4,321 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #656Andre83
  2. #656Hans83
  3. #656Jason83
  4. #659Fay82
  5. #659Dorsey82
  6. #659Farrell82
  7. #659Garry82
  8. #664Andres81
  9. #664Burt81
  10. #664Joan81

Tied with 4 names at #659; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1930
Risers
  1. ↑ 794Kenton#1,753 → #959
  2. ↑ 420Wyman#1,330 → #910
  3. ↑ 408Jan#1,330 → #922
  4. ↑ 402Leopold#1,399 → #997
  5. ↑ 398Odie#1,299 → #901
Fallers
  1. ↓ 513Artie#976 → #1,489
  2. ↓ 469Arnulfo#892 → #1,361
  3. ↓ 385Rose#832 → #1,217
  4. ↓ 357Ransom#976 → #1,333
  5. ↓ 343Jodie#990 → #1,333

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1931 →