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
- Peak · girls
- 1907 · 257 births
- Debut · girls
- 13 births
- In top 100 · girls
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 32,059since 1880
Fay over time
girlsboys
Rank within each sex, plotted together. Click any year to open it.
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
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #3,780 | 39 | — | |
| 2024 | #3,395 | 46 | — | |
| 2023 | #4,191 | 34 | — | |
| 2022 | #3,893 | 38 | — | |
| 2021 | #3,553 | 43 | — | |
| 2020 | #4,169 | 33 | — | |
| 2019 | #3,851 | 38 | — | |
| 2018 | #3,789 | 39 | — | |
| 2017 | #5,045 | 26 | — | |
| 2016 | #3,464 | 45 | — | |
| 2015 | #5,288 | 25 | — | |
| 2014 | #4,269 | 34 | — | |
| 2013 | #5,143 | 26 | — | |
| 2012 | #4,707 | 30 | — | |
| 2011 | #5,207 | 26 | — | |
| 2010 | #5,977 | 22 | — | |
| 2009 | #5,378 | 26 | — | |
| 2008 | #6,559 | 20 | — | |
| 2007 | #5,377 | 26 | — | |
| 2006 | #5,086 | 27 | — | |
| 2005 | #7,138 | 16 | — | |
| 2004 | #5,062 | 25 | — | |
| 2003 | #4,943 | 25 | — | |
| 2002 | #5,086 | 23 | — | |
| 2001 | #6,322 | 17 | — | |
| 2000 | #4,791 | 24 | — | |
| 1999 | #7,239 | 13 | — | |
| 1998 | #5,363 | 19 | — | |
| 1997 | #5,626 | 17 | — | |
| 1996 | #7,574 | 11 | — | |
| 1995 | #5,958 | 15 | — | |
| 1994 | #5,445 | 17 | — | |
| 1993 | #5,673 | 16 | — | |
| 1992 | #5,718 | 16 | — | |
| 1991 | #4,808 | 20 | — | |
| 1990 | #3,909 | 26 | — | |
| 1989 | #3,477 | 29 | — | |
| 1988 | #3,585 | 26 | — | |
| 1987 | #3,331 | 27 | — | |
| 1986 | #3,459 | 25 | — | |
| 1985 | #2,860 | 32 | — | |
| 1984 | #2,781 | 32 | — | |
| 1983 | #2,552 | 35 | — | |
| 1982 | #2,581 | 36 | — | |
| 1981 | #2,774 | 32 | — | |
| 1980 | #2,308 | 42 | — | |
| 1979 | #2,795 | 31 | — | |
| 1978 | #2,050 | 46 | — | |
| 1977 | #1,901 | 52 | — | |
| 1976 | #1,729 | 55 | #4,012 | 8 |
| 1975 | #1,838 | 50 | — | |
| 1974 | #1,820 | 48 | — | |
| 1973 | #1,666 | 54 | — | |
| 1972 | #1,724 | 51 | #4,986 | 5 |
| 1971 | #1,473 | 69 | #4,375 | 6 |
| 1970 | #1,474 | 68 | #4,724 | 5 |
| 1969 | #1,234 | 82 | #2,861 | 10 |
| 1968 | #991 | 111 | #3,673 | 6 |
| 1967 | #970 | 111 | #2,760 | 9 |
| 1966 | #843 | 140 | — | |
| 1965 | #792 | 155 | #3,930 | 5 |
| 1964 | #767 | 184 | #2,854 | 9 |
| 1963 | #703 | 210 | #2,858 | 9 |
| 1962 | #682 | 227 | #2,504 | 11 |
| 1961 | #653 | 246 | #2,070 | 16 |
| 1960 | #600 | 274 | #2,423 | 12 |
| 1959 | #615 | 260 | #2,414 | 12 |
| 1958 | #563 | 302 | #2,265 | 13 |
| 1957 | #596 | 265 | #2,019 | 16 |
| 1956 | #517 | 328 | #2,015 | 16 |
| 1955 | #561 | 263 | #1,682 | 21 |
| 1954 | #495 | 321 | #2,114 | 14 |
| 1953 | #500 | 302 | #1,836 | 18 |
| 1952 | #471 | 320 | #1,665 | 21 |
| 1951 | #422 | 393 | #1,683 | 20 |
| 1950 | #413 | 376 | #1,657 | 20 |
| 1949 | #398 | 401 | #1,252 | 33 |
| 1948 | #421 | 354 | #1,656 | 20 |
| 1947 | #389 | 420 | #1,271 | 33 |
| 1946 | #374 | 410 | #1,196 | 34 |
| 1945 | #384 | 335 | #1,163 | 32 |
| 1944 | #349 | 390 | #1,038 | 40 |
| 1943 | #324 | 471 | #1,106 | 38 |
| 1942 | #309 | 489 | #933 | 50 |
| 1941 | #318 | 430 | #971 | 43 |
| 1940 | #280 | 497 | #810 | 59 |
| 1939 | #277 | 502 | #976 | 42 |
| 1938 | #282 | 496 | #852 | 53 |
| 1937 | #267 | 550 | #906 | 47 |
| 1936 | #263 | 530 | #780 | 61 |
| 1935 | #263 | 543 | #725 | 71 |
| 1934 | #247 | 633 | #666 | 83 |
| 1933 | #246 | 608 | #657 | 79 |
| 1932 | #241 | 655 | #739 | 71 |
| 1931 | #238 | 632 | #659 | 82 |
| 1930 | #251 | 614 | #685 | 83 |
| 1929 | #244 | 654 | #689 | 80 |
| 1928 | #258 | 628 | #669 | 88 |
| 1927 | #254 | 665 | #643 | 97 |
| 1926 | #243 | 722 | #597 | 111 |
| 1925 | #269 | 607 | #569 | 119 |
| 1924 | #277 | 563 | #600 | 113 |
| 1923 | #264 | 595 | #564 | 122 |
| 1922 | #273 | 568 | #557 | 129 |
| 1921 | #269 | 612 | #553 | 128 |
| 1920 | #250 | 690 | #526 | 134 |
| 1919 | #250 | 660 | #491 | 148 |
| 1918 | #248 | 662 | #541 | 123 |
| 1917 | #238 | 690 | #481 | 142 |
| 1916 | #234 | 676 | #455 | 153 |
| 1915 | #224 | 701 | #462 | 141 |
| 1914 | #223 | 566 | #481 | 102 |
| 1913 | #233 | 427 | #475 | 83 |
| 1912 | #213 | 436 | #532 | 56 |
| 1911 | #208 | 339 | #584 | 27 |
| 1910 | #205 | 316 | #582 | 24 |
| 1909 | #228 | 246 | #487 | 28 |
| 1908 | #204 | 267 | #566 | 20 |
| 1907 | #202 | 257 | #664 | 15 |
| 1906 | #211 | 215 | #613 | 15 |
| 1905 | #211 | 215 | #404 | 28 |
| 1904 | #224 | 186 | #492 | 19 |
| 1903 | #219 | 190 | #312 | 36 |
| 1902 | #222 | 181 | #348 | 32 |
| 1901 | #235 | 151 | #359 | 26 |
| 1900 | #248 | 170 | #413 | 30 |
| 1899 | #235 | 139 | #384 | 23 |
| 1898 | #223 | 171 | #394 | 25 |
| 1897 | #235 | 141 | #584 | 13 |
| 1896 | #281 | 107 | #424 | 21 |
| 1895 | #257 | 121 | #399 | 23 |
| 1894 | #242 | 124 | #298 | 34 |
| 1893 | #280 | 89 | #292 | 35 |
| 1892 | #269 | 97 | #422 | 20 |
| 1891 | #253 | 92 | #377 | 21 |
| 1890 | #250 | 99 | #351 | 25 |
| 1889 | #256 | 84 | #415 | 19 |
| 1888 | #296 | 63 | #528 | 14 |
| 1887 | #310 | 47 | #409 | 17 |
| 1886 | #352 | 37 | #336 | 25 |
| 1885 | #290 | 48 | #422 | 18 |
| 1884 | #315 | 39 | #399 | 20 |
| 1883 | #336 | 28 | #460 | 15 |
| 1882 | #300 | 34 | #469 | 15 |
| 1881 | #393 | 18 | #442 | 15 |
| 1880 | #466 | 13 | #465 | 15 |
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 1940
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Montana#157 · 1 in 714
- North Dakota#167 · 1 in 886
- Idaho#175 · 1 in 854
- Massachusetts#185 · 1 in 1,837
- Pennsylvania#191 · 1 in 1,415
Best ever in a state: #59 in Utah, 1911.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | #157 | 6 | 1 in 714 |
| North Dakota | #167 | 6 | 1 in 886 |
| Idaho | #175 | 5 | 1 in 854 |
| Massachusetts | #185 | 16 | 1 in 1,837 |
| Pennsylvania | #191 | 53 | 1 in 1,415 |
| Utah | #195 | 5 | 1 in 1,001 |
| Wisconsin | #195 | 13 | 1 in 1,860 |
| Louisiana | #197 | 28 | 1 in 836 |
| Kentucky | #206 | 24 | 1 in 1,194 |
| Connecticut | #216 | 5 | 1 in 2,130 |
| Tennessee | #216 | 22 | 1 in 1,280 |
| Virginia | #220 | 18 | 1 in 1,374 |
| Florida | #229 | 12 | 1 in 1,235 |
| Maryland | #231 | 7 | 1 in 1,857 |
| Alabama | #235 | 21 | 1 in 1,406 |
| Michigan | #235 | 20 | 1 in 2,186 |
| Minnesota | #253 | 10 | 1 in 2,270 |
| Mississippi | #255 | 16 | 1 in 1,413 |
| New York | #257 | 38 | 1 in 2,361 |
| Georgia | #270 | 17 | 1 in 1,868 |
| North Carolina | #278 | 17 | 1 in 2,215 |
| Ohio | #284 | 17 | 1 in 3,100 |
| Missouri | #313 | 9 | 1 in 3,108 |
| New Jersey | #335 | 6 | 1 in 4,306 |
| Indiana | #347 | 7 | 1 in 3,837 |
| Texas | #355 | 26 | 1 in 2,312 |
| California | #366 | 15 | 1 in 3,328 |
| Illinois | #407 | 11 | 1 in 5,115 |
| Arkansas | #421 | 5 | 1 in 3,823 |
| South Carolina | #421 | 5 | 1 in 4,380 |
| Oklahoma | #444 | 5 | 1 in 4,033 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| District of Columbia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | — | — | — |
| 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
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 411 | #256 (1889) | #331 |
| 1890s | 1,180 | #223 (1898) | #253 |
| 1900s | 2,078 | #202 (1907) | #220 |
| 1910s | 5,473 | #205 (1910) | #228 |
| 1920s | 6,304 | #243 (1926) | #260 |
| 1930s | 5,763 | #238 (1931) | #258 |
| 1940s | 4,197 | #280 (1940) | #355 |
| 1950s | 3,130 | #413 (1950) | #515 |
| 1960s | 1,740 | #600 (1960) | #824 |
| 1970s | 524 | #1,473 (1971) | #1,847 |
| 1980s | 316 | #2,308 (1980) | #2,971 |
| 1990s | 170 | #3,909 (1990) | #5,731 |
| 2000s | 229 | #4,791 (2000) | #5,574 |
| 2010s | 311 | #3,464 (2016) | #4,674 |
| 2020s | 233 | #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 1940
girls
#280
497 births · 1 in 2,301 girls
boys
#810
59 births · 1 in 19,647 boys
Top girls' names in 1940
Top boys' names in 1940
More about 1940
girls
1,143,528 girls got a published name in 1940; 1 in 2,301 of them was named Fay, which outranked 94.4% of the 5,028 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,159,172 boys got a published name in 1940; 1 in 19,647 of them was named Fay, which outranked 79.4% of the 3,937 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).