Jay

#10,107 for girls in 2025, 9 births · #392 for boys in 2025, 809 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1960 · 5,385 births
Debut · boys
103 births
In top 100 · boys
16 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
195,548
since 1880

Jay over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201916peak #78, 1960boys
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#10,1079#392809
2024#6,93216#396822
2023#8,98911#381837
2022#7,63114#367897
2021#8,02413#377864
2020#8,40612#380808
2019#8,59712#373848
2018—#397799
2017#8,77612#382859
2016#14,3316#392818
2015#11,8358#393806
2014#6,98717#370850
2013#13,1507#389767
2012#16,8695#386772
2011—#397718
2010#14,9596#410687
2009#9,97511#408719
2008—#394763
2007#8,52014#396752
2006#13,6067#350867
2005#14,5026#348852
2004#12,7617#347822
2003#7,99813#344810
2002—#334825
2001#8,19612#313888
2000#15,0315#326869
1999#9,4799#325855
1998#10,1228#326833
1997#10,8367#292946
1996#8,8129#287942
1995#7,51411#2751,011
1994#6,31914#2621,102
1993#4,99819#2601,106
1992#10,4797#2361,220
1991#7,98710#2341,268
1990#6,13114#2171,403
1989#6,53112#2031,444
1988#5,32115#1991,369
1987#5,31214#1851,487
1986#4,53917#1791,484
1985#3,98320#1751,524
1984#4,16618#1711,554
1983#3,80620#1701,541
1982#4,16718#1641,667
1981#4,34417#1531,787
1980#3,60922#1411,984
1979#3,54122#1262,145
1978#3,19624#1192,151
1977#3,61220#1302,097
1976#3,54019#1262,105
1975#2,23237#1172,174
1974#2,61628#1102,360
1973#2,26734#1182,215
1972#2,05738#1152,443
1971#3,06222#1142,866
1970#2,12038#973,415
1969#2,35030#953,181
1968#2,16431#873,428
1967#1,84840#873,612
1966#2,58622#913,598
1965#2,06432#903,944
1964#1,97536#844,567
1963#1,81541#854,720
1962#1,44459#805,158
1961#1,69745#815,119
1960#1,69544#785,385
1959#1,55249#884,940
1958#1,57846#865,027
1957#1,50750#884,630
1956#1,37857#924,120
1955#1,48047#1033,396
1954#1,31757#1013,372
1953#1,42447#993,235
1952#1,45444#1063,028
1951#1,55537#1162,637
1950#1,65332#1152,584
1949#1,46939#1182,457
1948#1,66931#1232,272
1947#1,57636#1192,438
1946#1,36041#1152,196
1945#1,26140#1251,760
1944#1,48630#1361,554
1943#1,62527#1341,673
1942#1,91720#1331,598
1941#1,56925#1371,416
1940#1,59124#1391,291
1939#2,03816#1421,146
1938#1,50525#1381,181
1937#1,41627#1361,147
1936#1,54923#1401,102
1935#1,55023#1471,067
1934#1,34429#157933
1933#1,65821#151949
1932#1,52025#161934
1931#1,94117#166867
1930#1,74821#166891
1929#1,44728#168842
1928#1,31034#185769
1927#1,30337#171870
1926#1,19841#175827
1925#1,94620#182789
1924#2,30816#170854
1923#2,26416#172829
1922#2,38715#180780
1921#2,19517#174828
1920#2,17217#201666
1919#2,81311#197637
1918#1,88720#185706
1917#1,43127#188643
1916#1,44526#184640
1915#1,96416#200537
1914#1,74015#213379
1913#1,52815#192349
1912#2,3607#183318
1911#2,4635#229126
1910#1,7738#213120
1909—#21798
1908#1,4399#21889
1907—#21091
1906—#20387
1905#1,5387#19392
1904—#18995
1903—#19382
1902—#18889
1901—#16096
1900—#189107
1899—#20863
1898—#18485
1897—#18682
1896#1,5835#20278
1895—#17191
1894—#16096
1893—#142105
1892—#145111
1891—#13799
1890—#133108
1889—#139104
1888—#129122
1887—#124106
1886—#126107
1885—#14991
1884—#130110
1883—#12897
1882—#17080
1881—#12396
1880—#126103
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Jay was already there! It came in at #126, and was given to 103 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1895–1899, when fewer than 92 boys a year got the name.

Where Jay is popular in 1916

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedWAIdaho: #85 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 294 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #226 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,709 boysMNIllinois: #202 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,841 boysILWisconsin: #325 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 4,012 boysWIMichigan: #128 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 788 boysMINew York: #186 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,867 boysNYMassachusetts: #338 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 5,813 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedRIOregon: #145 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 887 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedSDIowa: #136 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 785 boysIAIndiana: #138 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 885 boysINOhio: #175 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 1,504 boysOHPennsylvania: #120 for boys · 81 births · 1 in 906 boysPANew Jersey: #186 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,424 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #177 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,196 boysCAUtah: #30 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 128 boysUTColorado: #122 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 620 boysCONebraska: #185 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,156 boysNEMissouri: #214 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,640 boysMOKentucky: #140 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 896 boysKYWest Virginia: #245 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,864 boysWVVirginia: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #129 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 544 boysNMKansas: #122 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 659 boysKSArkansas: #189 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,054 boysARTennessee: #144 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 984 boysTNNorth Carolina: #160 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 931 boysNCSouth Carolina: #213 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,524 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #133 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 648 boysOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedLAMississippi: #227 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,473 boysMSAlabama: #244 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,764 boysALGeorgia: #159 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,005 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedHITexas: #291 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,913 boysTXFlorida: #230 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,502 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Utah#30 · 1 in 128
  2. Idaho#85 · 1 in 294
  3. Pennsylvania#120 · 1 in 906
  4. Colorado#122 · 1 in 620
  5. Kansas#122 · 1 in 659

Best ever in a state: #19 in Utah, 1937.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#30311 in 128
Idaho#85111 in 294
Pennsylvania#120811 in 906
Colorado#122101 in 620
Kansas#122201 in 659
Michigan#128351 in 788
New Mexico#12951 in 544
Oklahoma#133241 in 648
Iowa#136231 in 785
Indiana#138231 in 885
Kentucky#140221 in 896
Tennessee#144191 in 984
Oregon#14551 in 887
Georgia#159261 in 1,005
North Carolina#160271 in 931
Ohio#175271 in 1,504
California#177151 in 1,196
Nebraska#18591 in 1,156
New Jersey#186101 in 2,424
New York#186431 in 1,867
Arkansas#189131 in 1,054
Illinois#202271 in 1,841
South Carolina#213111 in 1,524
Missouri#214151 in 1,640
Minnesota#226111 in 1,709
Mississippi#227111 in 1,473
Florida#23051 in 1,502
Alabama#244121 in 1,764
West Virginia#24561 in 1,864
Texas#291201 in 1,913
Wisconsin#32551 in 4,012
Massachusetts#33851 in 5,813
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Hawaii———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
Virginia———
Washington———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys 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 Jay
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 4 spots since 2024 (#396 → #392)
  • 12 spots since 2020 (#380 → #392)
  • 1 spot since 2015 (#393 → #392)
  • Biggest jump: 46 spots in 1912 (#229 → #183)
  • Biggest drop: 47 spots in 1882 (#123 → #170)
Rise & fade · boys
80 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1960 at #78 (5,385 births)
  • Births halved by 1972, 12 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 16 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 16 yrs · run 1956–1970
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 396
  • Highest: 1 in 396 boys born in 1960 were named Jay (0.25%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,111 boys born in 2025 (0.05%)
Era · boys
The 1960s
  • 21.8% of all boys named Jay (42,712) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,016#123 (1881)#134
1890s918#133 (1890)#167
1900s926#160 (1901)#196
1910s4,455#183 (1912)#198
1920s8,054#168 (1929)#178
1930s10,217#136 (1937)#150
1940s18,655#115 (1946)#128
1950s36,969#86 (1958)#99
1960s42,712#78 (1960)#86
1970s23,971#97 (1970)#117
1980s15,841#141 (1980)#174
1990s10,686#217 (1990)#271
2000s8,167#313 (2001)#356
2010s7,924#370 (2014)#389
2020s5,037#367 (2022)#382

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Jay in 1916

girls
#1,445
26 births · 1 in 40,167 girls
boys
#184
640 births · 1 in 1,391 boys

Top girls' names in 1916

  1. #1Mary61,438
  2. #2Helen32,661
  3. #3Dorothy27,418
  4. #4Margaret24,953
  5. #5Ruth23,189
  6. #6Mildred15,633
  7. #7Anna15,228
  8. #8Elizabeth14,940
  9. #9Frances13,746
  10. #10Virginia12,487
  11. #1,445Jay26

Top boys' names in 1916

  1. #1John50,043
  2. #2William40,418
  3. #3James35,569
  4. #4Robert31,741
  5. #5Joseph23,883
  6. #6Charles23,612
  7. #7George23,381
  8. #8Edward17,005
  9. #9Frank15,291
  10. #10Thomas11,998
  11. #184Jay640
More about 1916

girls

1,044,334 girls got a published name in 1916; 1 in 40,167 of them was named Jay, which outranked 72.0% of the 5,161 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Jay
  1. #1,408Tresa27
  2. #1,408Vashti27
  3. #1,408Yolande27
  4. #1,445Jay26
  5. #1,445Allegra26
  6. #1,445Armella26
  7. #1,445Beata26
  8. #1,485Aili25
  9. #1,485Albena25
  10. #1,485Angelica25

Tied with 39 names at #1,445; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1915
Risers
  1. ↑ 567Trinidad#1,317 → #750
  2. ↑ 388Coral#1,367 → #979
  3. ↑ 377Coletta#1,317 → #940
  4. ↑ 370Clifford#1,285 → #915
  5. ↑ 327Maida#1,231 → #904
Fallers
  1. ↓ 364Louis#934 → #1,298
  2. ↓ 354Herminia#944 → #1,298
  3. ↓ 346Gertha#900 → #1,246
  4. ↓ 344Lahoma#934 → #1,278
  5. ↓ 310Hassie#900 → #1,210

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

boys

890,080 boys got a published name in 1916; 1 in 1,391 of them was named Jay, which outranked 95.9% of the 4,535 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.7% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Jay
  1. #180Elbert662
  2. #182Nick656
  3. #183Forrest652
  4. #184Jay640
  5. #185Adolph633
  6. #186Isaac629
  7. #187Julian625
Biggest movers since 1915
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,568Tatsuo#3,392 → #824
  2. ↑ 1,088Hughes#1,878 → #790
  3. ↑ 410Angel#1,181 → #771
  4. ↑ 378Trinidad#1,181 → #803
  5. ↑ 354Rolla#1,306 → #952
Fallers
  1. ↓ 500Nicolas#804 → #1,304
  2. ↓ 468Collins#906 → #1,374
  3. ↓ 463Hilliard#952 → #1,415
  4. ↓ 383Arvo#952 → #1,335
  5. ↓ 363Rayford#941 → #1,304

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

See the top 100 for 1916 →