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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201950peak #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 1950

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedWAIdaho: 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: #318 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,686 girlsMNIllinois: #406 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 4,832 girlsILWisconsin: #316 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 4,094 girlsWIMichigan: #322 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 3,486 girlsMINew York: #497 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 6,801 girlsNYMassachusetts: #283 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 4,013 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: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedINOhio: #396 for girls · 15 births · 1 in 5,676 girlsOHPennsylvania: #304 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 3,298 girlsPANew Jersey: #426 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 6,146 girlsNJConnecticut: #264 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,908 girlsCTCalifornia: #458 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 4,936 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: #295 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,028 girlsMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedWVVirginia: #369 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,885 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedMDDelaware: 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: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedARTennessee: #262 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 2,159 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #590 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 9,654 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #472 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,524 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #284 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,361 girlsDCOklahoma: #430 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,330 girlsOKLouisiana: #312 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 2,125 girlsLAMississippi: #355 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 2,834 girlsMSAlabama: #488 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 6,136 girlsALGeorgia: #350 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 3,219 girlsGAHawaii: #195 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 761 girlsHITexas: #513 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 4,785 girlsTXFlorida: #365 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,143 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#195 · 1 in 761
  2. Tennessee#262 · 1 in 2,159
  3. Connecticut#264 · 1 in 2,908
  4. Massachusetts#283 · 1 in 4,013
  5. District of Columbia#284 · 1 in 2,361

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#19571 in 761
Tennessee#262171 in 2,159
Connecticut#26461 in 2,908
Massachusetts#283111 in 4,013
District of Columbia#28451 in 2,361
Missouri#295131 in 3,028
Pennsylvania#304311 in 3,298
Louisiana#312161 in 2,125
Wisconsin#31691 in 4,094
Minnesota#31891 in 3,686
Michigan#322211 in 3,486
Georgia#350131 in 3,219
Mississippi#355101 in 2,834
Florida#36591 in 3,143
Virginia#36991 in 3,885
Ohio#396151 in 5,676
Illinois#406181 in 4,832
New Jersey#42671 in 6,146
Oklahoma#43051 in 4,330
California#458231 in 4,936
South Carolina#47251 in 5,524
Alabama#48861 in 6,136
New York#497211 in 6,801
Texas#513201 in 4,785
North Carolina#59051 in 9,654
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Delaware———
Idaho———
Indiana———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Kentucky———
Maine———
Maryland———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Utah———
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
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 1950

girls
#413
376 births · 1 in 4,556 girls
boys
#1,657
20 births · 1 in 89,513 boys

Top girls' names in 1950

  1. #1Linda80,433
  2. #2Mary65,481
  3. #3Patricia47,944
  4. #4Barbara41,556
  5. #5Susan38,017
  6. #6Nancy29,617
  7. #7Deborah29,063
  8. #8Sandra28,896
  9. #9Carol26,163
  10. #10Kathleen25,706
  11. #413Fay376

Top boys' names in 1950

  1. #1James86,228
  2. #2Robert83,553
  3. #3John79,412
  4. #4Michael65,136
  5. #5David60,729
  6. #6William60,680
  7. #7Richard51,003
  8. #8Thomas45,596
  9. #9Charles39,095
  10. #10Gary33,737
  11. #1,657Fay20
More about 1950

girls

1,713,054 girls got a published name in 1950; 1 in 4,556 of them was named Fay, which outranked 93.2% of the 6,109 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #410Amanda380
  2. #411Dona378
  3. #412Ruthie377
  4. #413Fay376
  5. #414Nelda375
  6. #415Katharine373
  7. #416Rena370
Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,242Mindy#2,013 → #771
  2. ↑ 649Geralyn#1,627 → #978
  3. ↑ 636Kyle#1,512 → #876
  4. ↑ 416Debrah#1,109 → #693
  5. ↑ 405Debbra#1,353 → #948
Fallers
  1. ↓ 241Luana#823 → #1,064
  2. ↓ 231Christene#930 → #1,161
  3. ↓ 216Pearline#785 → #1,001
  4. ↓ 210Ingrid#518 → #728
  5. ↓ 201Dayle#982 → #1,183

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

boys

1,790,262 boys got a published name in 1950; 1 in 89,513 of them was named Fay, which outranked 60.5% of the 4,196 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. #1,615Wilburt21
  2. #1,615Winslow21
  3. #1,615Zebedee21
  4. #1,657Fay20
  5. #1,657Adelbert20
  6. #1,657Alvino20
  7. #1,657Anastacio20
  8. #1,701Alain19
  9. #1,701Arno19
  10. #1,701Arvel19

Tied with 43 names at #1,657; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1949
Risers
  1. ↑ 744Ezzard#1,616 → #872
  2. ↑ 510Kelvin#1,085 → #575
  3. ↑ 447Nancy#1,297 → #850
  4. ↑ 420Samual#1,380 → #960
  5. ↑ 376Shaun#1,275 → #899
Fallers
  1. ↓ 371Sharon#885 → #1,256
  2. ↓ 369Melvyn#770 → #1,139
  3. ↓ 367Les#997 → #1,364
  4. ↓ 351Delmas#905 → #1,256
  5. ↓ 315Denzil#808 → #1,123

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

See the top 100 for 1950 →