Jay
#10,107 for girls in 2025, 9 births · #392 for boys in 2025, 809 births
Given to boys 98.7% of the time
- Peak · boys
- 1960 · 5,385 births
- Debut · boys
- 103 births
- In top 100 · boys
- 16 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 195,548since 1880
Jay over time
Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.
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 | #10,107 | 9 | #392 | 809 |
| 2024 | #6,932 | 16 | #396 | 822 |
| 2023 | #8,989 | 11 | #381 | 837 |
| 2022 | #7,631 | 14 | #367 | 897 |
| 2021 | #8,024 | 13 | #377 | 864 |
| 2020 | #8,406 | 12 | #380 | 808 |
| 2019 | #8,597 | 12 | #373 | 848 |
| 2018 | — | #397 | 799 | |
| 2017 | #8,776 | 12 | #382 | 859 |
| 2016 | #14,331 | 6 | #392 | 818 |
| 2015 | #11,835 | 8 | #393 | 806 |
| 2014 | #6,987 | 17 | #370 | 850 |
| 2013 | #13,150 | 7 | #389 | 767 |
| 2012 | #16,869 | 5 | #386 | 772 |
| 2011 | — | #397 | 718 | |
| 2010 | #14,959 | 6 | #410 | 687 |
| 2009 | #9,975 | 11 | #408 | 719 |
| 2008 | — | #394 | 763 | |
| 2007 | #8,520 | 14 | #396 | 752 |
| 2006 | #13,606 | 7 | #350 | 867 |
| 2005 | #14,502 | 6 | #348 | 852 |
| 2004 | #12,761 | 7 | #347 | 822 |
| 2003 | #7,998 | 13 | #344 | 810 |
| 2002 | — | #334 | 825 | |
| 2001 | #8,196 | 12 | #313 | 888 |
| 2000 | #15,031 | 5 | #326 | 869 |
| 1999 | #9,479 | 9 | #325 | 855 |
| 1998 | #10,122 | 8 | #326 | 833 |
| 1997 | #10,836 | 7 | #292 | 946 |
| 1996 | #8,812 | 9 | #287 | 942 |
| 1995 | #7,514 | 11 | #275 | 1,011 |
| 1994 | #6,319 | 14 | #262 | 1,102 |
| 1993 | #4,998 | 19 | #260 | 1,106 |
| 1992 | #10,479 | 7 | #236 | 1,220 |
| 1991 | #7,987 | 10 | #234 | 1,268 |
| 1990 | #6,131 | 14 | #217 | 1,403 |
| 1989 | #6,531 | 12 | #203 | 1,444 |
| 1988 | #5,321 | 15 | #199 | 1,369 |
| 1987 | #5,312 | 14 | #185 | 1,487 |
| 1986 | #4,539 | 17 | #179 | 1,484 |
| 1985 | #3,983 | 20 | #175 | 1,524 |
| 1984 | #4,166 | 18 | #171 | 1,554 |
| 1983 | #3,806 | 20 | #170 | 1,541 |
| 1982 | #4,167 | 18 | #164 | 1,667 |
| 1981 | #4,344 | 17 | #153 | 1,787 |
| 1980 | #3,609 | 22 | #141 | 1,984 |
| 1979 | #3,541 | 22 | #126 | 2,145 |
| 1978 | #3,196 | 24 | #119 | 2,151 |
| 1977 | #3,612 | 20 | #130 | 2,097 |
| 1976 | #3,540 | 19 | #126 | 2,105 |
| 1975 | #2,232 | 37 | #117 | 2,174 |
| 1974 | #2,616 | 28 | #110 | 2,360 |
| 1973 | #2,267 | 34 | #118 | 2,215 |
| 1972 | #2,057 | 38 | #115 | 2,443 |
| 1971 | #3,062 | 22 | #114 | 2,866 |
| 1970 | #2,120 | 38 | #97 | 3,415 |
| 1969 | #2,350 | 30 | #95 | 3,181 |
| 1968 | #2,164 | 31 | #87 | 3,428 |
| 1967 | #1,848 | 40 | #87 | 3,612 |
| 1966 | #2,586 | 22 | #91 | 3,598 |
| 1965 | #2,064 | 32 | #90 | 3,944 |
| 1964 | #1,975 | 36 | #84 | 4,567 |
| 1963 | #1,815 | 41 | #85 | 4,720 |
| 1962 | #1,444 | 59 | #80 | 5,158 |
| 1961 | #1,697 | 45 | #81 | 5,119 |
| 1960 | #1,695 | 44 | #78 | 5,385 |
| 1959 | #1,552 | 49 | #88 | 4,940 |
| 1958 | #1,578 | 46 | #86 | 5,027 |
| 1957 | #1,507 | 50 | #88 | 4,630 |
| 1956 | #1,378 | 57 | #92 | 4,120 |
| 1955 | #1,480 | 47 | #103 | 3,396 |
| 1954 | #1,317 | 57 | #101 | 3,372 |
| 1953 | #1,424 | 47 | #99 | 3,235 |
| 1952 | #1,454 | 44 | #106 | 3,028 |
| 1951 | #1,555 | 37 | #116 | 2,637 |
| 1950 | #1,653 | 32 | #115 | 2,584 |
| 1949 | #1,469 | 39 | #118 | 2,457 |
| 1948 | #1,669 | 31 | #123 | 2,272 |
| 1947 | #1,576 | 36 | #119 | 2,438 |
| 1946 | #1,360 | 41 | #115 | 2,196 |
| 1945 | #1,261 | 40 | #125 | 1,760 |
| 1944 | #1,486 | 30 | #136 | 1,554 |
| 1943 | #1,625 | 27 | #134 | 1,673 |
| 1942 | #1,917 | 20 | #133 | 1,598 |
| 1941 | #1,569 | 25 | #137 | 1,416 |
| 1940 | #1,591 | 24 | #139 | 1,291 |
| 1939 | #2,038 | 16 | #142 | 1,146 |
| 1938 | #1,505 | 25 | #138 | 1,181 |
| 1937 | #1,416 | 27 | #136 | 1,147 |
| 1936 | #1,549 | 23 | #140 | 1,102 |
| 1935 | #1,550 | 23 | #147 | 1,067 |
| 1934 | #1,344 | 29 | #157 | 933 |
| 1933 | #1,658 | 21 | #151 | 949 |
| 1932 | #1,520 | 25 | #161 | 934 |
| 1931 | #1,941 | 17 | #166 | 867 |
| 1930 | #1,748 | 21 | #166 | 891 |
| 1929 | #1,447 | 28 | #168 | 842 |
| 1928 | #1,310 | 34 | #185 | 769 |
| 1927 | #1,303 | 37 | #171 | 870 |
| 1926 | #1,198 | 41 | #175 | 827 |
| 1925 | #1,946 | 20 | #182 | 789 |
| 1924 | #2,308 | 16 | #170 | 854 |
| 1923 | #2,264 | 16 | #172 | 829 |
| 1922 | #2,387 | 15 | #180 | 780 |
| 1921 | #2,195 | 17 | #174 | 828 |
| 1920 | #2,172 | 17 | #201 | 666 |
| 1919 | #2,813 | 11 | #197 | 637 |
| 1918 | #1,887 | 20 | #185 | 706 |
| 1917 | #1,431 | 27 | #188 | 643 |
| 1916 | #1,445 | 26 | #184 | 640 |
| 1915 | #1,964 | 16 | #200 | 537 |
| 1914 | #1,740 | 15 | #213 | 379 |
| 1913 | #1,528 | 15 | #192 | 349 |
| 1912 | #2,360 | 7 | #183 | 318 |
| 1911 | #2,463 | 5 | #229 | 126 |
| 1910 | #1,773 | 8 | #213 | 120 |
| 1909 | — | #217 | 98 | |
| 1908 | #1,439 | 9 | #218 | 89 |
| 1907 | — | #210 | 91 | |
| 1906 | — | #203 | 87 | |
| 1905 | #1,538 | 7 | #193 | 92 |
| 1904 | — | #189 | 95 | |
| 1903 | — | #193 | 82 | |
| 1902 | — | #188 | 89 | |
| 1901 | — | #160 | 96 | |
| 1900 | — | #189 | 107 | |
| 1899 | — | #208 | 63 | |
| 1898 | — | #184 | 85 | |
| 1897 | — | #186 | 82 | |
| 1896 | #1,583 | 5 | #202 | 78 |
| 1895 | — | #171 | 91 | |
| 1894 | — | #160 | 96 | |
| 1893 | — | #142 | 105 | |
| 1892 | — | #145 | 111 | |
| 1891 | — | #137 | 99 | |
| 1890 | — | #133 | 108 | |
| 1889 | — | #139 | 104 | |
| 1888 | — | #129 | 122 | |
| 1887 | — | #124 | 106 | |
| 1886 | — | #126 | 107 | |
| 1885 | — | #149 | 91 | |
| 1884 | — | #130 | 110 | |
| 1883 | — | #128 | 97 | |
| 1882 | — | #170 | 80 | |
| 1881 | — | #123 | 96 | |
| 1880 | — | #126 | 103 | |
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 1942
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Utah#27 · 1 in 116
- Nevada#35 · 1 in 106
- Idaho#67 · 1 in 285
- Pennsylvania#72 · 1 in 444
- Delaware#74 · 1 in 377
Best ever in a state: #19 in Utah, 1937.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | #27 | 60 | 1 in 116 |
| Nevada | #35 | 8 | 1 in 106 |
| Idaho | #67 | 17 | 1 in 285 |
| Pennsylvania | #72 | 210 | 1 in 444 |
| Delaware | #74 | 6 | 1 in 377 |
| Washington | #77 | 47 | 1 in 373 |
| District of Columbia | #84 | 19 | 1 in 483 |
| New York | #87 | 215 | 1 in 548 |
| Colorado | #89 | 27 | 1 in 394 |
| New Jersey | #98 | 47 | 1 in 797 |
| Indiana | #100 | 55 | 1 in 623 |
| Illinois | #107 | 106 | 1 in 697 |
| Connecticut | #109 | 18 | 1 in 928 |
| Montana | #109 | 8 | 1 in 609 |
| Ohio | #111 | 90 | 1 in 759 |
| California | #116 | 105 | 1 in 696 |
| Massachusetts | #118 | 33 | 1 in 1,201 |
| Wisconsin | #120 | 33 | 1 in 897 |
| Maryland | #125 | 22 | 1 in 834 |
| Oregon | #126 | 15 | 1 in 681 |
| Minnesota | #131 | 31 | 1 in 863 |
| Michigan | #133 | 56 | 1 in 1,034 |
| Iowa | #136 | 25 | 1 in 915 |
| Missouri | #142 | 33 | 1 in 1,022 |
| Kansas | #143 | 20 | 1 in 764 |
| Nebraska | #155 | 11 | 1 in 975 |
| North Dakota | #169 | 5 | 1 in 1,139 |
| West Virginia | #169 | 18 | 1 in 1,159 |
| Oklahoma | #171 | 20 | 1 in 1,074 |
| Virginia | #171 | 26 | 1 in 1,136 |
| Arizona | #181 | 6 | 1 in 1,005 |
| Arkansas | #183 | 17 | 1 in 1,233 |
| Texas | #208 | 59 | 1 in 1,194 |
| Kentucky | #213 | 17 | 1 in 1,764 |
| Tennessee | #213 | 17 | 1 in 1,878 |
| North Carolina | #215 | 25 | 1 in 1,666 |
| Florida | #231 | 10 | 1 in 1,860 |
| South Carolina | #264 | 10 | 1 in 2,378 |
| Mississippi | #355 | 6 | 1 in 3,953 |
| Alabama | #359 | 8 | 1 in 4,086 |
| Louisiana | #384 | 7 | 1 in 3,740 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Georgia | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| 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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1960 at #78 (5,385 births)
- Births halved by 1972, 12 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 16 yrs · run 1956–1970
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 396 boys born in 1960 were named Jay (0.25%)
- Latest: 1 in 2,111 boys born in 2025 (0.05%)
- 21.8% of all boys named Jay (42,712) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,016 | #123 (1881) | #134 |
| 1890s | 918 | #133 (1890) | #167 |
| 1900s | 926 | #160 (1901) | #196 |
| 1910s | 4,455 | #183 (1912) | #198 |
| 1920s | 8,054 | #168 (1929) | #178 |
| 1930s | 10,217 | #136 (1937) | #150 |
| 1940s | 18,655 | #115 (1946) | #128 |
| 1950s | 36,969 | #86 (1958) | #99 |
| 1960s | 42,712 | #78 (1960) | #86 |
| 1970s | 23,971 | #97 (1970) | #117 |
| 1980s | 15,841 | #141 (1980) | #174 |
| 1990s | 10,686 | #217 (1990) | #271 |
| 2000s | 8,167 | #313 (2001) | #356 |
| 2010s | 7,924 | #370 (2014) | #389 |
| 2020s | 5,037 | #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 1942
Top girls' names in 1942
Top boys' names in 1942
More about 1942
girls
1,350,719 girls got a published name in 1942; 1 in 67,536 of them was named Jay, which outranked 64.4% of the 5,378 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #1,860Vonna21
- #1,860Wayne21
- #1,860Wylene21
- #1,917Jay20
- #1,917Aimee20
- #1,917Alethea20
- #1,917Ardyth20
- #1,981Alverta19
- #1,981Amber19
- #1,981Ardeth19
Tied with 63 names at #1,917; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,381,161 boys got a published name in 1942; 1 in 864 of them was named Jay, which outranked 96.7% of the 4,044 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.