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#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201953peak #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 1953

  • 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: #356 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 4,423 girlsMNIllinois: #710 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 13,491 girlsILWisconsin: #323 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,991 girlsWIMichigan: #470 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 6,384 girlsMINew York: #382 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 3,945 girlsNYMassachusetts: #373 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 6,894 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: #478 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 7,417 girlsOHPennsylvania: #349 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 3,954 girlsPANew Jersey: #553 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 9,986 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #699 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 9,918 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: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedMOKentucky: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedWVVirginia: #354 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,594 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: #323 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,429 girlsARTennessee: #441 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 5,402 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #627 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 10,259 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 girls named Fay, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #311 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,058 girlsLAMississippi: #378 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,096 girlsMSAlabama: #527 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 7,268 girlsALGeorgia: #481 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 5,572 girlsGAHawaii: #147 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 497 girlsHITexas: #585 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 6,156 girlsTXFlorida: #393 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 3,573 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Hawaii#147 · 1 in 497
  2. Louisiana#311 · 1 in 2,058
  3. Arkansas#323 · 1 in 2,429
  4. Wisconsin#323 · 1 in 3,991
  5. Pennsylvania#349 · 1 in 3,954

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Hawaii#147121 in 497
Louisiana#311181 in 2,058
Arkansas#32381 in 2,429
Wisconsin#323101 in 3,991
Pennsylvania#349281 in 3,954
Virginia#354111 in 3,594
Minnesota#35681 in 4,423
Massachusetts#37371 in 6,894
Mississippi#37891 in 3,096
New York#382391 in 3,945
Florida#393101 in 3,573
Tennessee#44171 in 5,402
Michigan#470131 in 6,384
Ohio#478131 in 7,417
Georgia#48181 in 5,572
Alabama#52751 in 7,268
New Jersey#55351 in 9,986
Texas#585181 in 6,156
North Carolina#62751 in 10,259
California#699141 in 9,918
Illinois#71071 in 13,491
Alaska———
Arizona———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Idaho———
Indiana———
Iowa———
Kansas———
Kentucky———
Maine———
Maryland———
Missouri———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oklahoma———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
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 1953

girls
#500
302 births · 1 in 6,229 girls
boys
#1,836
18 births · 1 in 109,572 boys

Top girls' names in 1953

  1. #1Mary64,389
  2. #2Linda61,281
  3. #3Deborah52,199
  4. #4Patricia51,019
  5. #5Susan44,297
  6. #6Barbara38,473
  7. #7Debra36,856
  8. #8Nancy30,620
  9. #9Karen29,858
  10. #10Pamela25,760
  11. #500Fay302

Top boys' names in 1953

  1. #1Robert86,243
  2. #2James86,066
  3. #3Michael84,198
  4. #4John80,165
  5. #5David76,119
  6. #6William61,829
  7. #7Richard58,389
  8. #8Thomas47,008
  9. #9Charles38,421
  10. #10Gary36,967
  11. #1,836Fay18
More about 1953

girls

1,881,301 girls got a published name in 1953; 1 in 6,229 of them was named Fay, which outranked 92.3% of the 6,497 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #497Jocelyn308
  2. #498Leticia307
  3. #499Mitzi305
  4. #500Fay302
  5. #500Dorothea302
  6. #502Leanne299
  7. #503Lorrie298
  8. #504Lesley297

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

Biggest movers since 1952
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,253Enola#3,201 → #948
  2. ↑ 885Lu#1,368 → #483
  3. ↑ 749Joni#1,046 → #297
  4. ↑ 553Brooke#1,351 → #798
  5. ↑ 531Lorri#1,430 → #899
Fallers
  1. ↓ 274Roseanna#808 → #1,082
  2. ↓ 253Georgie#946 → #1,199
  3. ↓ 218Pandora#783 → #1,001
  4. ↓ 204Fonda#822 → #1,026
  5. ↓ 195Brinda#935 → #1,130

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

boys

1,972,299 boys got a published name in 1953; 1 in 109,572 of them was named Fay, which outranked 57.7% of the 4,341 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Fay
  1. #1,765Virginia19
  2. #1,765West19
  3. #1,765Zenon19
  4. #1,836Fay18
  5. #1,836Adlai18
  6. #1,836Alphonza18
  7. #1,836Arland18
  8. #1,900Alferd17
  9. #1,900Andris17
  10. #1,900Arlis17

Tied with 63 names at #1,836; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1952
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,276Faron#2,251 → #975
  2. ↑ 694Shane#1,213 → #519
  3. ↑ 528Enrico#1,517 → #989
  4. ↑ 441Blaise#1,430 → #989
  5. ↑ 429Robbin#1,268 → #839
Fallers
  1. ↓ 427Durwood#981 → #1,408
  2. ↓ 392Jonnie#939 → #1,331
  3. ↓ 312Elvis#968 → #1,280
  4. ↓ 293Edsel#968 → #1,261
  5. ↓ 292Beverly#766 → #1,058

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

See the top 100 for 1953 →