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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201935peak #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 1935

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedAKMaine: #181 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,050 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNHWashington: #163 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 898 girlsWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #177 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,289 girlsMNIllinois: #295 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,966 girlsILWisconsin: #237 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,264 girlsWIMichigan: #225 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,900 girlsMINew York: #226 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 1,882 girlsNYMassachusetts: #196 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,979 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: #296 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 3,249 girlsINOhio: #281 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 3,051 girlsOHPennsylvania: #194 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 1,491 girlsPANew Jersey: #302 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,912 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #323 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 2,686 girlsCAUtah: #180 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 775 girlsUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNEMissouri: #257 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,882 girlsMOKentucky: #177 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 887 girlsKYWest Virginia: #238 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,675 girlsWVVirginia: #233 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,634 girlsVAMaryland: #207 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,649 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: #283 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 1,723 girlsARTennessee: #203 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 1,139 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #283 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,439 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #287 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,050 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #464 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,394 girlsOKLouisiana: #209 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 935 girlsLAMississippi: #260 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,471 girlsMSAlabama: #199 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,045 girlsALGeorgia: #242 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,513 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedHITexas: #288 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 1,576 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Washington#163 · 1 in 898
  2. Kentucky#177 · 1 in 887
  3. Minnesota#177 · 1 in 1,289
  4. Utah#180 · 1 in 775
  5. Maine#181 · 1 in 1,050

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Washington#163101 in 898
Kentucky#177301 in 887
Minnesota#177151 in 1,289
Utah#18061 in 775
Maine#18161 in 1,050
Pennsylvania#194481 in 1,491
Massachusetts#196141 in 1,979
Alabama#199281 in 1,045
Tennessee#203241 in 1,139
Maryland#20771 in 1,649
Louisiana#209221 in 935
Michigan#225201 in 1,900
New York#226441 in 1,882
Virginia#233141 in 1,634
Wisconsin#237101 in 2,264
West Virginia#238111 in 1,675
Georgia#242201 in 1,513
Missouri#257141 in 1,882
Mississippi#260151 in 1,471
Ohio#281151 in 3,051
Arkansas#283111 in 1,723
North Carolina#283151 in 2,439
South Carolina#287101 in 2,050
Texas#288361 in 1,576
Illinois#295171 in 2,966
Indiana#29671 in 3,249
New Jersey#30261 in 3,912
California#323131 in 2,686
Oklahoma#46451 in 4,394
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Kansas———
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 1935

girls
#263
543 births · 1 in 1,931 girls
boys
#725
71 births · 1 in 14,667 boys

Top girls' names in 1935

  1. #1Mary55,076
  2. #2Shirley42,366
  3. #3Barbara30,698
  4. #4Betty28,674
  5. #5Patricia22,879
  6. #6Dorothy19,406
  7. #7Joan18,220
  8. #8Margaret14,727
  9. #9Nancy14,544
  10. #10Helen12,785
  11. #263Fay543

Top boys' names in 1935

  1. #1Robert56,527
  2. #2James55,005
  3. #3John47,509
  4. #4William40,204
  5. #5Richard33,946
  6. #6Charles29,983
  7. #7Donald29,674
  8. #8George18,564
  9. #9Thomas17,684
  10. #10Joseph17,181
  11. #725Fay71
More about 1935

girls

1,048,577 girls got a published name in 1935; 1 in 1,931 of them was named Fay, which outranked 94.6% of the 4,893 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #260Henrietta555
  2. #261Jimmie550
  3. #262Lorene545
  4. #263Fay543
  5. #264Frankie541
  6. #265Dorthy532
  7. #266Estelle529
Biggest movers since 1934
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,736Norita#3,449 → #713
  2. ↑ 1,073Shelby#1,913 → #840
  3. ↑ 672Darla#1,344 → #672
  4. ↑ 396Shirleyann#1,292 → #896
  5. ↑ 375Loris#1,236 → #861
Fallers
  1. ↓ 545Marcelina#938 → #1,483
  2. ↓ 456Tomasa#925 → #1,381
  3. ↓ 393Glendora#938 → #1,331
  4. ↓ 388Marceline#993 → #1,381
  5. ↓ 358Rheta#526 → #884

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

boys

1,041,351 boys got a published name in 1935; 1 in 14,667 of them was named Fay, which outranked 82.5% of the 4,146 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #716Margaret72
  2. #716Quentin72
  3. #716Santo72
  4. #725Fay71
  5. #725Christian71
  6. #725Garth71
  7. #725Justin71
  8. #731Barton70
  9. #731Dock70
  10. #731Domenic70

Tied with 5 names at #725; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1934
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,371Darwyn#2,121 → #750
  2. ↑ 678Landon#1,608 → #930
  3. ↑ 678Stafford#1,658 → #980
  4. ↑ 666Lance#1,658 → #992
  5. ↑ 492Delwin#1,461 → #969
Fallers
  1. ↓ 534Estel#792 → #1,326
  2. ↓ 493Gustav#897 → #1,390
  3. ↓ 381Florian#845 → #1,226
  4. ↓ 353Laurie#942 → #1,295
  5. ↓ 342Valentin#931 → #1,273

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

See the top 100 for 1935 →