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
- Peak · girls
- 1941 · 3,538 births
- Debut · girls
- 6 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 10 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 98,621since 1885
Kay over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
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
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #3,903 | 37 | #7,679 | 10 |
| 2024 | #3,892 | 38 | #6,199 | 14 |
| 2023 | #3,329 | 48 | #6,517 | 13 |
| 2022 | #3,365 | 47 | #7,768 | 10 |
| 2021 | #3,614 | 42 | #8,166 | 9 |
| 2020 | #3,546 | 42 | #7,502 | 10 |
| 2019 | #3,552 | 43 | #9,756 | 7 |
| 2018 | #2,711 | 63 | #10,760 | 6 |
| 2017 | #3,145 | 51 | #8,840 | 8 |
| 2016 | #3,379 | 47 | #12,185 | 5 |
| 2015 | #3,595 | 43 | #8,744 | 8 |
| 2014 | #2,843 | 60 | #10,717 | 6 |
| 2013 | #3,166 | 51 | — | |
| 2012 | #3,169 | 52 | — | |
| 2011 | #3,407 | 47 | — | |
| 2010 | #3,409 | 47 | — | |
| 2009 | #3,800 | 41 | — | |
| 2008 | #3,529 | 46 | — | |
| 2007 | #2,750 | 66 | — | |
| 2006 | #2,778 | 63 | — | |
| 2005 | #2,731 | 61 | #11,472 | 5 |
| 2004 | #2,503 | 67 | #8,927 | 7 |
| 2003 | #2,465 | 66 | #9,581 | 6 |
| 2002 | #2,126 | 79 | — | |
| 2001 | #2,236 | 72 | — | |
| 2000 | #2,158 | 74 | — | |
| 1999 | #2,258 | 66 | — | |
| 1998 | #2,083 | 70 | #9,631 | 5 |
| 1997 | #1,945 | 74 | — | |
| 1996 | #2,058 | 67 | #7,971 | 6 |
| 1995 | #1,761 | 82 | #8,868 | 5 |
| 1994 | #1,688 | 88 | #6,968 | 7 |
| 1993 | #1,554 | 100 | #7,638 | 6 |
| 1992 | #1,507 | 104 | #8,435 | 5 |
| 1991 | #1,502 | 104 | #5,942 | 8 |
| 1990 | #1,385 | 114 | #8,117 | 5 |
| 1989 | #1,326 | 117 | #7,905 | 5 |
| 1988 | #1,104 | 141 | #4,786 | 9 |
| 1987 | #1,216 | 118 | #5,459 | 7 |
| 1986 | #1,122 | 129 | #5,332 | 7 |
| 1985 | #1,060 | 139 | — | |
| 1984 | #979 | 147 | #5,561 | 6 |
| 1983 | #973 | 150 | — | |
| 1982 | #981 | 151 | #4,593 | 8 |
| 1981 | #912 | 164 | #4,509 | 8 |
| 1980 | #966 | 153 | #6,250 | 5 |
| 1979 | #942 | 156 | #4,403 | 8 |
| 1978 | #913 | 155 | #5,059 | 6 |
| 1977 | #774 | 195 | #4,582 | 7 |
| 1976 | #755 | 191 | #4,418 | 7 |
| 1975 | #717 | 206 | — | |
| 1974 | #639 | 239 | #3,558 | 9 |
| 1973 | #581 | 272 | #5,101 | 5 |
| 1972 | #619 | 251 | #4,441 | 6 |
| 1971 | #503 | 376 | #3,658 | 8 |
| 1970 | #455 | 476 | #3,521 | 8 |
| 1969 | #432 | 498 | #2,861 | 10 |
| 1968 | #353 | 637 | #2,735 | 10 |
| 1967 | #327 | 711 | #2,611 | 10 |
| 1966 | #295 | 856 | #2,784 | 9 |
| 1965 | #270 | 1,021 | #1,918 | 17 |
| 1964 | #243 | 1,301 | #1,900 | 18 |
| 1963 | #212 | 1,608 | #2,115 | 15 |
| 1962 | #197 | 1,878 | #1,805 | 20 |
| 1961 | #192 | 1,955 | #1,570 | 26 |
| 1960 | #192 | 1,925 | #1,486 | 29 |
| 1959 | #182 | 2,004 | #1,559 | 26 |
| 1958 | #169 | 2,238 | #1,557 | 25 |
| 1957 | #163 | 2,355 | #1,278 | 37 |
| 1956 | #154 | 2,394 | #1,511 | 27 |
| 1955 | #157 | 2,327 | #1,255 | 36 |
| 1954 | #146 | 2,506 | #1,242 | 36 |
| 1953 | #146 | 2,462 | #1,304 | 33 |
| 1952 | #133 | 2,768 | #1,245 | 35 |
| 1951 | #120 | 2,963 | #1,261 | 34 |
| 1950 | #123 | 2,628 | #1,272 | 32 |
| 1949 | #119 | 2,751 | #1,029 | 46 |
| 1948 | #113 | 2,943 | #1,091 | 42 |
| 1947 | #104 | 3,520 | #906 | 59 |
| 1946 | #101 | 3,358 | #1,031 | 44 |
| 1945 | #91 | 3,058 | #884 | 51 |
| 1944 | #88 | 3,170 | #745 | 69 |
| 1943 | #81 | 3,494 | #643 | 98 |
| 1942 | #75 | 3,622 | #652 | 96 |
| 1941 | #70 | 3,538 | #613 | 96 |
| 1940 | #77 | 3,200 | #521 | 124 |
| 1939 | #76 | 3,260 | #511 | 123 |
| 1938 | #81 | 3,114 | #532 | 120 |
| 1937 | #79 | 3,010 | #506 | 129 |
| 1936 | #98 | 2,408 | #482 | 137 |
| 1935 | #134 | 1,648 | #464 | 150 |
| 1934 | #143 | 1,430 | #447 | 159 |
| 1933 | #200 | 864 | #483 | 135 |
| 1932 | #238 | 658 | #521 | 124 |
| 1931 | #259 | 558 | #518 | 124 |
| 1930 | #358 | 351 | #584 | 105 |
| 1929 | #447 | 218 | #689 | 80 |
| 1928 | #462 | 223 | #690 | 84 |
| 1927 | #419 | 267 | #619 | 102 |
| 1926 | #457 | 224 | #726 | 77 |
| 1925 | #439 | 248 | #809 | 67 |
| 1924 | #395 | 302 | #759 | 77 |
| 1923 | #396 | 285 | #701 | 85 |
| 1922 | #390 | 281 | #863 | 63 |
| 1921 | #383 | 304 | #901 | 60 |
| 1920 | #370 | 313 | #835 | 65 |
| 1919 | #354 | 330 | #1,082 | 40 |
| 1918 | #368 | 311 | #869 | 58 |
| 1917 | #376 | 283 | #1,033 | 40 |
| 1916 | #380 | 272 | #939 | 46 |
| 1915 | #386 | 243 | #1,159 | 31 |
| 1914 | #361 | 215 | #1,153 | 25 |
| 1913 | #381 | 159 | #1,146 | 20 |
| 1912 | #384 | 143 | #1,137 | 17 |
| 1911 | #382 | 111 | #1,190 | 9 |
| 1910 | #381 | 106 | #1,421 | 6 |
| 1909 | #401 | 83 | — | |
| 1908 | #417 | 75 | #1,217 | 6 |
| 1907 | #489 | 53 | #1,200 | 6 |
| 1906 | #541 | 42 | #1,253 | 5 |
| 1905 | #485 | 49 | #1,233 | 5 |
| 1904 | #529 | 39 | — | |
| 1903 | #527 | 37 | #1,130 | 5 |
| 1902 | #648 | 26 | #1,137 | 5 |
| 1901 | #684 | 22 | — | |
| 1900 | #705 | 26 | #1,050 | 7 |
| 1899 | #644 | 23 | #1,051 | 5 |
| 1898 | #920 | 14 | — | |
| 1897 | #826 | 15 | #1,057 | 5 |
| 1896 | #903 | 13 | — | |
| 1895 | #1,053 | 10 | — | |
| 1894 | #812 | 14 | #954 | 6 |
| 1893 | #739 | 16 | — | |
| 1892 | #1,171 | 7 | — | |
| 1891 | #1,332 | 5 | — | |
| 1890 | #1,338 | 5 | — | |
| 1889 | #1,025 | 7 | — | |
| 1888 | #1,136 | 6 | #917 | 6 |
| 1887 | #1,036 | 6 | — | |
| 1886 | #993 | 6 | — | |
| 1885 | #921 | 6 | — | |
| 1884 | — | — | ||
| 1883 | — | — | ||
| 1882 | — | #943 | 5 | |
| 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 1942
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Nevada#29 · 1 in 92
- Nebraska#30 · 1 in 115
- Idaho#30 · 1 in 128
- Oregon#30 · 1 in 139
- Kansas#31 · 1 in 152
Best ever in a state: #22 in Wyoming, 1938.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | #29 | 8 | 1 in 92 |
| Idaho | #30 | 34 | 1 in 128 |
| Nebraska | #30 | 86 | 1 in 115 |
| Oregon | #30 | 65 | 1 in 139 |
| Kansas | #31 | 92 | 1 in 152 |
| South Dakota | #33 | 35 | 1 in 134 |
| Iowa | #35 | 137 | 1 in 154 |
| Utah | #37 | 38 | 1 in 158 |
| Washington | #38 | 85 | 1 in 191 |
| Michigan | #44 | 260 | 1 in 214 |
| Minnesota | #44 | 136 | 1 in 187 |
| Montana | #44 | 25 | 1 in 174 |
| Wyoming | #44 | 11 | 1 in 159 |
| Wisconsin | #46 | 129 | 1 in 219 |
| Ohio | #48 | 296 | 1 in 223 |
| Oklahoma | #48 | 96 | 1 in 212 |
| Illinois | #58 | 256 | 1 in 275 |
| Texas | #58 | 223 | 1 in 300 |
| Indiana | #59 | 116 | 1 in 276 |
| North Dakota | #62 | 23 | 1 in 233 |
| Missouri | #64 | 100 | 1 in 324 |
| West Virginia | #66 | 66 | 1 in 311 |
| Delaware | #69 | 9 | 1 in 234 |
| North Carolina | #69 | 130 | 1 in 322 |
| Colorado | #82 | 29 | 1 in 342 |
| California | #84 | 177 | 1 in 390 |
| Pennsylvania | #84 | 245 | 1 in 368 |
| District of Columbia | #88 | 25 | 1 in 344 |
| Tennessee | #89 | 74 | 1 in 423 |
| Arkansas | #92 | 50 | 1 in 407 |
| New Mexico | #117 | 14 | 1 in 417 |
| Arizona | #122 | 14 | 1 in 417 |
| Maryland | #123 | 30 | 1 in 590 |
| Hawaii | #124 | 9 | 1 in 414 |
| Florida | #125 | 35 | 1 in 508 |
| Louisiana | #134 | 48 | 1 in 547 |
| New Hampshire | #139 | 5 | 1 in 779 |
| Georgia | #145 | 56 | 1 in 628 |
| Kentucky | #146 | 38 | 1 in 772 |
| South Carolina | #146 | 37 | 1 in 643 |
| Virginia | #155 | 38 | 1 in 768 |
| New York | #156 | 120 | 1 in 942 |
| New Jersey | #174 | 28 | 1 in 1,274 |
| Alabama | #175 | 40 | 1 in 827 |
| Mississippi | #203 | 26 | 1 in 936 |
| Connecticut | #246 | 7 | 1 in 2,234 |
| Massachusetts | #259 | 12 | 1 in 3,156 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
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
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 31 | #921 (1885) | #1,022 |
| 1890s | 122 | #644 (1899) | #974 |
| 1900s | 452 | #401 (1909) | #543 |
| 1910s | 2,173 | #354 (1919) | #375 |
| 1920s | 2,665 | #370 (1920) | #416 |
| 1930s | 17,301 | #76 (1939) | #167 |
| 1940s | 32,654 | #70 (1941) | #92 |
| 1950s | 24,645 | #120 (1951) | #149 |
| 1960s | 12,390 | #192 (1961) | #271 |
| 1970s | 2,517 | #455 (1970) | #690 |
| 1980s | 1,409 | #912 (1981) | #1,064 |
| 1990s | 869 | #1,385 (1990) | #1,774 |
| 2000s | 635 | #2,126 (2002) | #2,708 |
| 2010s | 504 | #2,711 (2018) | #3,238 |
| 2020s | 254 | #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 1942
girls
#75
3,622 births · 1 in 373 girls
boys
#652
96 births · 1 in 14,387 boys
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 373 of them was named Kay, which outranked 98.6% 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).
Ranked beside Kay
Biggest movers since 1941
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,381,161 boys got a published name in 1942; 1 in 14,387 of them was named Kay, which outranked 83.9% 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).