Kay

#3,903 for girls in 2025, 37 births · #7,679 for boys in 2025, 10 births
Given to girls 96.2% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1941 · 3,538 births
Debut · girls
6 births
In top 100 · girls
10 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
98,621
since 1885

Kay over time

girls

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

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201914peak #70, 1941girls
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#3,90337#7,67910
2024#3,89238#6,19914
2023#3,32948#6,51713
2022#3,36547#7,76810
2021#3,61442#8,1669
2020#3,54642#7,50210
2019#3,55243#9,7567
2018#2,71163#10,7606
2017#3,14551#8,8408
2016#3,37947#12,1855
2015#3,59543#8,7448
2014#2,84360#10,7176
2013#3,16651—
2012#3,16952—
2011#3,40747—
2010#3,40947—
2009#3,80041—
2008#3,52946—
2007#2,75066—
2006#2,77863—
2005#2,73161#11,4725
2004#2,50367#8,9277
2003#2,46566#9,5816
2002#2,12679—
2001#2,23672—
2000#2,15874—
1999#2,25866—
1998#2,08370#9,6315
1997#1,94574—
1996#2,05867#7,9716
1995#1,76182#8,8685
1994#1,68888#6,9687
1993#1,554100#7,6386
1992#1,507104#8,4355
1991#1,502104#5,9428
1990#1,385114#8,1175
1989#1,326117#7,9055
1988#1,104141#4,7869
1987#1,216118#5,4597
1986#1,122129#5,3327
1985#1,060139—
1984#979147#5,5616
1983#973150—
1982#981151#4,5938
1981#912164#4,5098
1980#966153#6,2505
1979#942156#4,4038
1978#913155#5,0596
1977#774195#4,5827
1976#755191#4,4187
1975#717206—
1974#639239#3,5589
1973#581272#5,1015
1972#619251#4,4416
1971#503376#3,6588
1970#455476#3,5218
1969#432498#2,86110
1968#353637#2,73510
1967#327711#2,61110
1966#295856#2,7849
1965#2701,021#1,91817
1964#2431,301#1,90018
1963#2121,608#2,11515
1962#1971,878#1,80520
1961#1921,955#1,57026
1960#1921,925#1,48629
1959#1822,004#1,55926
1958#1692,238#1,55725
1957#1632,355#1,27837
1956#1542,394#1,51127
1955#1572,327#1,25536
1954#1462,506#1,24236
1953#1462,462#1,30433
1952#1332,768#1,24535
1951#1202,963#1,26134
1950#1232,628#1,27232
1949#1192,751#1,02946
1948#1132,943#1,09142
1947#1043,520#90659
1946#1013,358#1,03144
1945#913,058#88451
1944#883,170#74569
1943#813,494#64398
1942#753,622#65296
1941#703,538#61396
1940#773,200#521124
1939#763,260#511123
1938#813,114#532120
1937#793,010#506129
1936#982,408#482137
1935#1341,648#464150
1934#1431,430#447159
1933#200864#483135
1932#238658#521124
1931#259558#518124
1930#358351#584105
1929#447218#68980
1928#462223#69084
1927#419267#619102
1926#457224#72677
1925#439248#80967
1924#395302#75977
1923#396285#70185
1922#390281#86363
1921#383304#90160
1920#370313#83565
1919#354330#1,08240
1918#368311#86958
1917#376283#1,03340
1916#380272#93946
1915#386243#1,15931
1914#361215#1,15325
1913#381159#1,14620
1912#384143#1,13717
1911#382111#1,1909
1910#381106#1,4216
1909#40183—
1908#41775#1,2176
1907#48953#1,2006
1906#54142#1,2535
1905#48549#1,2335
1904#52939—
1903#52737#1,1305
1902#64826#1,1375
1901#68422—
1900#70526#1,0507
1899#64423#1,0515
1898#92014—
1897#82615#1,0575
1896#90313—
1895#1,05310—
1894#81214#9546
1893#73916—
1892#1,1717—
1891#1,3325—
1890#1,3385—
1889#1,0257—
1888#1,1366#9176
1887#1,0366—
1886#9936—
1885#9216—
1884——
1883——
1882—#9435
1881——
1880——
First appearance
1885

The first year at least five girls were named Kay! It came in at #921, and was given to 6 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1885–1892, when fewer than 8 girls a year got the name.

Where Kay is popular in 1914

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #247 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,886 girlsMNIllinois: #215 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 1,700 girlsILWisconsin: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedWIMichigan: #259 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,295 girlsMINew York: #261 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 2,716 girlsNYMassachusetts: #359 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 5,550 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedRIOregon: #112 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 483 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedIAIndiana: #248 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,975 girlsINOhio: #339 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 4,133 girlsOHPennsylvania: #283 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 3,668 girlsPANew Jersey: #234 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,508 girlsNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #324 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 2,763 girlsCAUtah: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedNEMissouri: #367 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 3,205 girlsMOKentucky: #373 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 3,453 girlsKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedWVVirginia: #266 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 2,286 girlsVAMaryland: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedNMKansas: #267 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,846 girlsKSArkansas: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedARTennessee: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedTNNorth Carolina: #440 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 4,726 girlsNCSouth Carolina: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #301 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,914 girlsOKLouisiana: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedLAMississippi: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedMSAlabama: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedALGeorgia: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedHITexas: #454 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 3,215 girlsTXFlorida: fewer than 5 girls named Kay, so not publishedFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Oregon#112 · 1 in 483
  2. Illinois#215 · 1 in 1,700
  3. New Jersey#234 · 1 in 2,508
  4. Minnesota#247 · 1 in 1,886
  5. Indiana#248 · 1 in 1,975

Best ever in a state: #22 in Wyoming, 1938.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Oregon#11271 in 483
Illinois#215231 in 1,700
New Jersey#23481 in 2,508
Minnesota#24771 in 1,886
Indiana#24881 in 1,975
Michigan#25981 in 2,295
New York#261271 in 2,716
Virginia#26681 in 2,286
Kansas#26751 in 1,846
Pennsylvania#283181 in 3,668
Oklahoma#30171 in 1,914
California#32451 in 2,763
Ohio#33981 in 4,133
Massachusetts#35951 in 5,550
Missouri#36761 in 3,205
Kentucky#37351 in 3,453
North Carolina#44051 in 4,726
Texas#454111 in 3,215
Alabama———
Alaska———
Arizona———
Arkansas———
Colorado———
Connecticut———
Delaware———
District of Columbia———
Florida———
Georgia———
Hawaii———
Idaho———
Iowa———
Louisiana———
Maine———
Maryland———
Mississippi———
Montana———
Nebraska———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
New Mexico———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
South Carolina———
South Dakota———
Tennessee———
Utah———
Vermont———
Washington———
West Virginia———
Wisconsin———
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 Kay
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
  • 11 spots since 2024 (#3,892 → #3,903)
  • 357 spots since 2020 (#3,546 → #3,903)
  • 308 spots since 2015 (#3,595 → #3,903)
  • Biggest jump: 432 spots in 1893 (#1,171 → #739)
  • Biggest drop: 241 spots in 1895 (#812 → #1,053)
Rise & fade · girls
56 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1885
  • Peaked 1941 at #70 (3,538 births)
  • Births halved by 1963, 22 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 10 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 10 yrs · run 1936–1945
  • Top 1,000: 93 yrs · run 1896–1984
Share of babies · girls
1 in 336
  • Highest: 1 in 336 girls born in 1939 were named Kay (0.30%)
  • Latest: 1 in 43,440 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #70 in 1941, was only 1 in 341 (0.29%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1940s
  • 33.1% of all girls named Kay (32,654) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s31#921 (1885)#1,022
1890s122#644 (1899)#974
1900s452#401 (1909)#543
1910s2,173#354 (1919)#375
1920s2,665#370 (1920)#416
1930s17,301#76 (1939)#167
1940s32,654#70 (1941)#92
1950s24,645#120 (1951)#149
1960s12,390#192 (1961)#271
1970s2,517#455 (1970)#690
1980s1,409#912 (1981)#1,064
1990s869#1,385 (1990)#1,774
2000s635#2,126 (2002)#2,708
2010s504#2,711 (2018)#3,238
2020s254#3,329 (2023)#3,608

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.

Kay in 1914

girls
#361
215 births · 1 in 3,542 girls
boys
#1,153
25 births · 1 in 26,190 boys

Top girls' names in 1914

  1. #1Mary45,346
  2. #2Helen23,221
  3. #3Dorothy18,782
  4. #4Margaret17,763
  5. #5Ruth15,839
  6. #6Anna11,865
  7. #7Mildred11,649
  8. #8Elizabeth11,367
  9. #9Frances9,677
  10. #10Marie8,829
  11. #361Kay215

Top boys' names in 1914

  1. #1John37,947
  2. #2William29,753
  3. #3James26,262
  4. #4Robert21,188
  5. #5Joseph18,829
  6. #6George17,602
  7. #7Charles16,937
  8. #8Edward12,319
  9. #9Frank12,002
  10. #10Walter8,962
  11. #1,153Kay25
More about 1914

girls

761,581 girls got a published name in 1914; 1 in 3,542 of them was named Kay, which outranked 91.4% of the 4,206 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Kay
  1. #358Linda219
  2. #359Elisabeth217
  3. #360Wilhelmina216
  4. #361Kay215
  5. #362Mona212
  6. #363Birdie211
  7. #364Eddie210
Biggest movers since 1913
Risers
  1. ↑ 589Rilla#1,358 → #769
  2. ↑ 587Venita#1,465 → #878
  3. ↑ 509Orene#1,465 → #956
  4. ↑ 486Vonnie#1,405 → #919
  5. ↑ 463Kathlyn#1,020 → #557
Fallers
  1. ↓ 837Christena#981 → #1,818
  2. ↓ 642Tiny#961 → #1,603
  3. ↓ 504Dominga#881 → #1,385
  4. ↓ 504Florrie#881 → #1,385
  5. ↓ 419Veola#925 → #1,344

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

boys

654,762 boys got a published name in 1914; 1 in 26,190 of them was named Kay, which outranked 69.3% of the 3,759 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Kay
  1. #1,127Robin26
  2. #1,127Virgel26
  3. #1,127Wilhelm26
  4. #1,153Kay25
  5. #1,153Adolfo25
  6. #1,153Aleck25
  7. #1,153Algie25
  8. #1,188Alwin24
  9. #1,188Arlington24
  10. #1,188Aurelio24

Tied with 34 names at #1,153; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1913
Risers
  1. ↑ 817Gilmore#1,803 → #986
  2. ↑ 647Santos#1,580 → #933
  3. ↑ 546Lorenza#1,365 → #819
  4. ↑ 534Bobby#1,441 → #907
  5. ↑ 534Gino#1,441 → #907
Fallers
  1. ↓ 918Bernardo#950 → #1,868
  2. ↓ 692Eston#995 → #1,687
  3. ↓ 692Rolf#995 → #1,687
  4. ↓ 613Orson#995 → #1,608
  5. ↓ 458West#930 → #1,388

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

See the top 100 for 1914 →