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
#78
1960 · 5,385 births
Debut · boys
1880
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#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201928peak #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 1928

  • 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: #134 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 866 boysWAIdaho: #70 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 252 boysIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #225 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,276 boysMNIllinois: #195 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,747 boysILWisconsin: #175 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,548 boysWIMichigan: #153 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,194 boysMINew York: #126 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 1,064 boysNYMassachusetts: #213 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,319 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedORNevada: 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: #154 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 928 boysIAIndiana: #168 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,345 boysINOhio: #158 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 1,314 boysOHPennsylvania: #102 for boys · 106 births · 1 in 793 boysPANew Jersey: #139 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,278 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #184 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 1,210 boysCAUtah: #27 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 122 boysUTColorado: #168 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,077 boysCONebraska: #194 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,451 boysNEMissouri: #185 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,328 boysMOKentucky: #185 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 1,285 boysKYWest Virginia: #229 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,797 boysWVVirginia: #354 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,768 boysVAMaryland: #141 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,262 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedNMKansas: #128 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 674 boysKSArkansas: #192 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,204 boysARTennessee: #210 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,859 boysTNNorth Carolina: #247 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 2,148 boysNCSouth Carolina: #320 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 3,059 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #188 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 1,270 boysOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedLAMississippi: #242 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 1,813 boysMSAlabama: #298 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,718 boysALGeorgia: #303 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 2,811 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedHITexas: #276 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 1,758 boysTXFlorida: fewer than 5 boys named Jay, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Utah#27 · 1 in 122
  2. Idaho#70 · 1 in 252
  3. Pennsylvania#102 · 1 in 793
  4. New York#126 · 1 in 1,064
  5. Kansas#128 · 1 in 674

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Utah#27401 in 122
Idaho#70141 in 252
Pennsylvania#1021061 in 793
New York#126921 in 1,064
Kansas#128221 in 674
Washington#134111 in 866
New Jersey#139231 in 1,278
Maryland#141101 in 1,262
Michigan#153351 in 1,194
Iowa#154211 in 928
Ohio#158401 in 1,314
Colorado#16881 in 1,077
Indiana#168191 in 1,345
Wisconsin#175161 in 1,548
California#184311 in 1,210
Kentucky#185201 in 1,285
Missouri#185211 in 1,328
Oklahoma#188181 in 1,270
Arkansas#192141 in 1,204
Nebraska#19481 in 1,451
Illinois#195331 in 1,747
Tennessee#210131 in 1,859
Massachusetts#213101 in 3,319
Minnesota#22591 in 2,276
West Virginia#229101 in 1,797
Mississippi#242111 in 1,813
North Carolina#247161 in 2,148
Texas#276331 in 1,758
Alabama#298101 in 2,718
Georgia#303101 in 2,811
South Carolina#32061 in 3,059
Virginia#35461 in 3,768
Alaska———
Arizona———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Hawaii———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Montana———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Oregon———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———
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 1928

girls
#1,310
34 births · 1 in 33,921 girls
boys
#185
769 births · 1 in 1,440 boys

Top girls' names in 1928

  1. #1Mary66,871
  2. #2Betty36,083
  3. #3Dorothy33,733
  4. #4Helen22,937
  5. #5Margaret20,295
  6. #6Ruth17,859
  7. #7Doris16,575
  8. #8Barbara14,872
  9. #9Virginia14,500
  10. #10Shirley14,215
  11. #1,310Jay34

Top boys' names in 1928

  1. #1Robert60,701
  2. #2John53,760
  3. #3James52,752
  4. #4William49,118
  5. #5Charles31,243
  6. #6Richard28,793
  7. #7Donald25,704
  8. #8George24,391
  9. #9Joseph22,322
  10. #10Edward18,492
  11. #185Jay769
More about 1928

girls

1,153,318 girls got a published name in 1928; 1 in 33,921 of them was named Jay, which outranked 75.9% of the 5,440 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Jay
  1. #1,290Onalee35
  2. #1,290Otilia35
  3. #1,290Silvia35
  4. #1,310Jay34
  5. #1,310Adaline34
  6. #1,310Amie34
  7. #1,310Archie34
  8. #1,338Albertine33
  9. #1,338Alean33
  10. #1,338Aloha33

Tied with 27 names at #1,310; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1927
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,165Jeanine#3,053 → #888
  2. ↑ 1,368Joline#2,256 → #888
  3. ↑ 1,101Lorelei#2,095 → #994
  4. ↑ 1,063Jeannine#1,384 → #321
  5. ↑ 859Romona#1,456 → #597
Fallers
  1. ↓ 860Valencia#924 → #1,784
  2. ↓ 547Kazuko#955 → #1,502
  3. ↓ 386Matilde#924 → #1,310
  4. ↓ 368Glendora#747 → #1,115
  5. ↓ 366Hilma#924 → #1,290

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

boys

1,107,613 boys got a published name in 1928; 1 in 1,440 of them was named Jay, which outranked 96.1% of the 4,723 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.2% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Jay
  1. #182Matthew784
  2. #183Clifton781
  3. #184Jesus775
  4. #185Jay769
  5. #186Merle764
  6. #187Mike761
  7. #188Lowell758
Biggest movers since 1927
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,009Fidencio#1,959 → #950
  2. ↑ 766Hoover#1,128 → #362
  3. ↑ 700Reyes#1,692 → #992
  4. ↑ 441Arlen#1,227 → #786
  5. ↑ 392Arland#1,372 → #980
Fallers
  1. ↓ 2,975Shoji#722 → #3,697
  2. ↓ 529Alvan#951 → #1,480
  3. ↓ 418Watson#964 → #1,382
  4. ↓ 412Judge#911 → #1,323
  5. ↓ 363Donato#990 → #1,353

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

See the top 100 for 1928 →