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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201936peak #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 1936

  • 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 1,031 girlsMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedWAIdaho: #164 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 753 girlsIDMontana: #155 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 780 girlsMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #199 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 1,529 girlsMNIllinois: #291 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,808 girlsILWisconsin: #194 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,623 girlsWIMichigan: #260 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 2,584 girlsMINew York: #253 for girls · 36 births · 1 in 2,275 girlsNYMassachusetts: #256 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 3,404 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 3,313 girlsINOhio: #435 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 6,700 girlsOHPennsylvania: #170 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 1,146 girlsPANew Jersey: #266 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,938 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #299 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,301 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedNEMissouri: #236 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 1,722 girlsMOKentucky: #209 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 1,225 girlsKYWest Virginia: #284 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,295 girlsWVVirginia: #209 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,421 girlsVAMaryland: #188 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,235 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: #306 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,922 girlsARTennessee: #185 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 943 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #251 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,875 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #312 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,496 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #315 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 2,219 girlsOKLouisiana: #209 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 975 girlsLAMississippi: #219 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,120 girlsMSAlabama: #262 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 1,668 girlsALGeorgia: #269 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 1,836 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedHITexas: #252 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 1,277 girlsTXFlorida: #257 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,399 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Montana#155 · 1 in 780
  2. Idaho#164 · 1 in 753
  3. Pennsylvania#170 · 1 in 1,146
  4. Maine#181 · 1 in 1,031
  5. Tennessee#185 · 1 in 943

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Montana#15551 in 780
Idaho#16451 in 753
Pennsylvania#170621 in 1,146
Maine#18161 in 1,031
Tennessee#185281 in 943
Maryland#18891 in 1,235
Wisconsin#194141 in 1,623
Minnesota#199131 in 1,529
Kentucky#209211 in 1,225
Louisiana#209211 in 975
Virginia#209161 in 1,421
Mississippi#219191 in 1,120
Missouri#236151 in 1,722
North Carolina#251191 in 1,875
Texas#252431 in 1,277
New York#253361 in 2,275
Massachusetts#25681 in 3,404
Florida#25791 in 1,399
Michigan#260151 in 2,584
Alabama#262171 in 1,668
New Jersey#26681 in 2,938
Georgia#269161 in 1,836
West Virginia#28481 in 2,295
Illinois#291181 in 2,808
Indiana#29671 in 3,313
California#299161 in 2,301
Arkansas#30691 in 1,922
South Carolina#31281 in 2,496
Oklahoma#31591 in 2,219
Ohio#43571 in 6,700
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
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 1936

girls
#263
530 births · 1 in 1,963 girls
boys
#780
61 births · 1 in 17,003 boys

Top girls' names in 1936

  1. #1Mary54,377
  2. #2Shirley35,161
  3. #3Barbara31,682
  4. #4Betty25,868
  5. #5Patricia23,916
  6. #6Dorothy17,666
  7. #7Joan17,072
  8. #8Nancy16,755
  9. #9Margaret14,596
  10. #10Carol14,520
  11. #263Fay530

Top boys' names in 1936

  1. #1Robert58,500
  2. #2James54,694
  3. #3John47,683
  4. #4William39,398
  5. #5Richard33,494
  6. #6Charles29,101
  7. #7Donald28,639
  8. #8Thomas18,342
  9. #9George18,197
  10. #10David17,476
  11. #780Fay61
More about 1936

girls

1,040,390 girls got a published name in 1936; 1 in 1,963 of them was named Fay, which outranked 94.6% of the 4,856 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #260Henrietta553
  2. #261Imogene543
  3. #262Ina531
  4. #263Fay530
  5. #264Jimmie526
  6. #265Nelda524
  7. #266Sallie521
Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 3,238Shelba#3,742 → #504
  2. ↑ 662Shelby#840 → #178
  3. ↑ 600Wendy#1,418 → #818
  4. ↑ 588Deanna#1,356 → #768
  5. ↑ 546Shari#1,514 → #968
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,028Norita#713 → #1,741
  2. ↓ 506Vernetta#974 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 461Ozella#984 → #1,445
  4. ↓ 400Shirleyann#896 → #1,296
  5. ↓ 342Idell#925 → #1,267

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

boys

1,037,205 boys got a published name in 1936; 1 in 17,003 of them was named Fay, which outranked 80.7% of the 4,037 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. #774Merton62
  2. #774Rayburn62
  3. #774Santo62
  4. #780Fay61
  5. #780Aloysius61
  6. #780Gaylon61
  7. #780Hermon61
  8. #787Alvie60
  9. #787Artis60
  10. #787Dayton60

Tied with 6 names at #780; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1935
Risers
  1. ↑ 802Errol#1,708 → #906
  2. ↑ 644Sergio#1,584 → #940
  3. ↑ 601Brice#1,494 → #893
  4. ↑ 537Windell#1,390 → #853
  5. ↑ 529Kim#1,390 → #861
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,082Stafford#980 → #2,062
  2. ↓ 889Darwyn#750 → #1,639
  3. ↓ 461Hunter#956 → #1,417
  4. ↓ 399Orvil#844 → #1,243
  5. ↓ 370Rosendo#956 → #1,326

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

See the top 100 for 1936 →