Ray

#6,116 for girls in 2025, 19 births · #791 for boys in 2025, 319 births
Given to boys 97.3% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
#49
1891 · 360 births
Debut · boys
1880
142 births
In top 100 · boys
69 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
204,701
since 1880

Ray over time

boys

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

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201940peak #49, 1891boys
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#6,11619#791319
2024#4,77228#777323
2023#4,99926#763338
2022#4,67129#760332
2021#4,83327#840283
2020#5,48722#724343
2019#6,69817#735328
2018#5,78521#726330
2017#5,82121#767306
2016#5,98521#750324
2015#10,14810#712349
2014#10,9559#728329
2013#9,61211#665363
2012#16,8695#719327
2011—#678347
2010—#659364
2009#17,2945#669366
2008#15,4056#651374
2007—#633384
2006—#556451
2005#11,8348#563420
2004—#577391
2003—#617336
2002#10,2469#578377
2001#13,5216#573360
2000#13,1546#516435
1999#7,71612#513414
1998—#489446
1997#9,8028#483443
1996—#483445
1995—#454495
1994#8,12210#405564
1993#9,5598#412562
1992#7,06712#394582
1991#13,1475#349695
1990#8,5019#328755
1989#7,44910#326722
1988#5,32115#305744
1987#5,07415#283769
1986#9,5456#284738
1985#6,45710#271768
1984#8,1537#273766
1983#5,14813#272764
1982#4,52716#254866
1981#6,32310#255855
1980#6,31910#261843
1979#4,05218#258824
1978#3,19624#255793
1977#3,91118#251807
1976#4,15415#238850
1975#3,25921#228895
1974#4,45913#220955
1973#3,12221#2071,046
1972#3,54317#1971,178
1971#2,66527#1961,267
1970#2,70526#1861,462
1969#2,70424#1821,522
1968#2,53824#1701,593
1967#2,96318#1651,616
1966#2,24928#1551,825
1965#2,46424#1472,092
1964#2,60023#1422,280
1963#1,73844#1312,581
1962#2,03133#1322,675
1961#2,07032#1262,920
1960#2,01332#1213,079
1959#1,59646#1213,219
1958#1,51250#1213,188
1957#1,65242#1113,410
1956#1,45353#1133,230
1955#1,69137#1133,070
1954#1,54043#1182,976
1953#1,38949#1152,815
1952#1,54039#1132,690
1951#1,45042#1142,678
1950#1,65332#1102,636
1949#1,45240#1092,710
1948#1,32748#1003,134
1947#1,54537#973,379
1946#1,23948#953,169
1945#1,26140#922,740
1944#1,15346#862,904
1943#1,22843#843,063
1942#1,13748#843,067
1941#1,31034#832,695
1940#1,04647#772,795
1939#1,06645#742,709
1938#1,07944#722,881
1937#1,00249#712,725
1936#84764#642,939
1935#78574#643,070
1934#81568#633,177
1933#80868#623,032
1932#80172#593,263
1931#74083#603,161
1930#679102#573,254
1929#648116#573,174
1928#72495#573,248
1927#702108#603,253
1926#660120#573,409
1925#75097#643,219
1924#673122#603,369
1923#678120#613,161
1922#74296#653,051
1921#643133#673,075
1920#605138#673,086
1919#624126#692,722
1918#556162#692,763
1917#592133#742,426
1916#584132#732,334
1915#576126#672,365
1914#536108#741,657
1913#62867#731,328
1912#63960#771,050
1911#52263#71602
1910#54356#67545
1909#53550#66475
1908#56743#67446
1907#60138#60475
1906#51544#60421
1905#51943#60424
1904#62930#55432
1903#55834#55397
1902#50240#57391
1901#79517#59338
1900#58935#55457
1899#51433#61315
1898#58131#56394
1897#44044#51397
1896#49935#50426
1895#56528#56380
1894#44240#57379
1893#44935#56378
1892#43438#57385
1891#41336#49360
1890#37844#56349
1889#43930#54355
1888#45829#63331
1887#47122#66258
1886#47621#67271
1885#41325#74237
1884#42522#77232
1883#61510#78202
1882#47515#82195
1881#50311#86148
1880#6288#95142
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Ray was already there! It came in at #95, and was given to 142 baby boys.

Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 210 boys a year got the name.

Where Ray is popular in 1940

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedAKMaine: #107 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 532 boysMEVermont: #81 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 425 boysVTNew Hampshire: #87 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 500 boysNHWashington: #75 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 339 boysWAIdaho: #43 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 180 boysIDMontana: #64 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 278 boysMTNorth Dakota: #64 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 279 boysNDMinnesota: #126 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 887 boysMNIllinois: #72 for boys · 150 births · 1 in 393 boysILWisconsin: #113 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 785 boysWIMichigan: #101 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 614 boysMINew York: #132 for boys · 73 births · 1 in 1,284 boysNYMassachusetts: #171 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 2,558 boysMARhode Island: #108 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 919 boysRIOregon: #81 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 376 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNVWyoming: #41 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 155 boysWYSouth Dakota: #108 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 505 boysSDIowa: #102 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 584 boysIAIndiana: #72 for boys · 71 births · 1 in 400 boysINOhio: #70 for boys · 135 births · 1 in 401 boysOHPennsylvania: #71 for boys · 173 births · 1 in 444 boysPANew Jersey: #132 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,294 boysNJConnecticut: #121 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 1,235 boysCTCalifornia: #68 for boys · 164 births · 1 in 321 boysCAUtah: #39 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 158 boysUTColorado: #65 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 298 boysCONebraska: #67 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 335 boysNEMissouri: #71 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 365 boysMOKentucky: #39 for boys · 134 births · 1 in 213 boysKYWest Virginia: #58 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 294 boysWVVirginia: #69 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 326 boysVAMaryland: #94 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 562 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedDEArizona: #59 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 228 boysAZNew Mexico: #51 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 192 boysNMKansas: #73 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 350 boysKSArkansas: #59 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 283 boysARTennessee: #41 for boys · 141 births · 1 in 198 boysTNNorth Carolina: #59 for boys · 128 births · 1 in 289 boysNCSouth Carolina: #92 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 461 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #118 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 792 boysDCOklahoma: #50 for boys · 91 births · 1 in 234 boysOKLouisiana: #73 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 302 boysLAMississippi: #92 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 495 boysMSAlabama: #57 for boys · 92 births · 1 in 313 boysALGeorgia: #59 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 299 boysGAHawaii: #98 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 514 boysHITexas: #54 for boys · 215 births · 1 in 289 boysTXFlorida: #71 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 316 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Utah#39 · 1 in 158
  2. Kentucky#39 · 1 in 213
  3. Wyoming#41 · 1 in 155
  4. Tennessee#41 · 1 in 198
  5. Idaho#43 · 1 in 180

Best ever in a state: #12 in Idaho, 1911.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Kentucky#391341 in 213
Utah#39351 in 158
Tennessee#411411 in 198
Wyoming#41121 in 155
Idaho#43271 in 180
Oklahoma#50911 in 234
New Mexico#51311 in 192
Texas#542151 in 289
Alabama#57921 in 313
West Virginia#58661 in 294
Arizona#59221 in 228
Arkansas#59681 in 283
Georgia#591041 in 299
North Carolina#591281 in 289
Montana#64171 in 278
North Dakota#64201 in 279
Colorado#65331 in 298
Nebraska#67291 in 335
California#681641 in 321
Virginia#69751 in 326
Ohio#701351 in 401
Florida#71491 in 316
Missouri#71801 in 365
Pennsylvania#711731 in 444
Illinois#721501 in 393
Indiana#72711 in 400
Kansas#73371 in 350
Louisiana#73751 in 302
Washington#75371 in 339
Oregon#81211 in 376
Vermont#8161 in 425
New Hampshire#8771 in 500
Mississippi#92441 in 495
South Carolina#92461 in 461
Maryland#94241 in 562
Hawaii#9871 in 514
Michigan#101751 in 614
Iowa#102361 in 584
Maine#107121 in 532
Rhode Island#10851 in 919
South Dakota#108101 in 505
Wisconsin#113321 in 785
District of Columbia#11881 in 792
Connecticut#12191 in 1,235
Minnesota#126271 in 887
New Jersey#132211 in 1,294
New York#132731 in 1,284
Massachusetts#171121 in 2,558
Alaska———
Delaware———
Nevada———

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 Ray
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 14 spots since 2024 (#777 → #791)
  • 67 spots since 2020 (#724 → #791)
  • 79 spots since 2015 (#712 → #791)
  • Biggest jump: 80 spots in 2022 (#840 → #760)
  • Biggest drop: 116 spots in 2021 (#724 → #840)
Rise & fade · boys
11 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1891 at #49 (360 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 69 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 69 yrs · run 1880–1948
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 281
  • Highest: 1 in 281 boys born in 1896 were named Ray (0.36%)
  • Latest: 1 in 5,354 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
  • Its best rank, #49 in 1891, was only 1 in 281 (0.36%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 15.7% of all boys named Ray (32,045) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s2,371#54 (1889)#74
1890s3,763#49 (1891)#55
1900s4,256#55 (1900)#59
1910s17,792#67 (1915)#71
1920s32,045#57 (1926)#62
1930s30,211#57 (1930)#65
1940s29,656#77 (1940)#91
1950s29,912#110 (1950)#115
1960s22,183#121 (1960)#147
1970s10,077#186 (1970)#224
1980s7,835#254 (1982)#278
1990s5,401#328 (1990)#431
2000s3,894#516 (2000)#593
2010s3,367#659 (2010)#714
2020s1,938#724 (2020)#776

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.

Ray in 1940

girls
#1,046
47 births · 1 in 24,330 girls
boys
#77
2,795 births · 1 in 415 boys

Top girls' names in 1940

  1. #1Mary56,216
  2. #2Barbara36,736
  3. #3Patricia32,665
  4. #4Judith22,385
  5. #5Betty22,077
  6. #6Carol21,759
  7. #7Nancy19,737
  8. #8Linda18,370
  9. #9Shirley17,881
  10. #10Sandra16,153
  11. #1,046Ray47

Top boys' names in 1940

  1. #1James62,481
  2. #2Robert61,198
  3. #3John54,786
  4. #4William44,779
  5. #5Richard37,425
  6. #6Charles31,689
  7. #7David27,690
  8. #8Thomas23,991
  9. #9Donald23,115
  10. #10Ronald20,741
  11. #77Ray2,795
More about 1940

girls

1,143,528 girls got a published name in 1940; 1 in 24,330 of them was named Ray, which outranked 79.2% of the 5,028 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #1,035Pearlene48
  2. #1,035Sibyl48
  3. #1,035Silvia48
  4. #1,046Ray47
  5. #1,046Arletta47
  6. #1,046Dean47
  7. #1,046Dotty47
  8. #1,062Armida46
  9. #1,062Deloise46
  10. #1,062Harlene46

Tied with 15 names at #1,046; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,494Scarlett#3,429 → #935
  2. ↑ 1,465Lonna#2,206 → #741
  3. ↑ 834Pam#1,797 → #963
  4. ↑ 659Jody#1,638 → #979
  5. ↑ 633Laraine#1,474 → #841
Fallers
  1. ↓ 481Fredia#996 → #1,477
  2. ↓ 430Eleanora#974 → #1,404
  3. ↓ 375Danielle#811 → #1,186
  4. ↓ 342Eloisa#930 → #1,272
  5. ↓ 298Coral#996 → #1,294

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

boys

1,159,172 boys got a published name in 1940; 1 in 415 of them was named Ray, which outranked 98.0% of the 3,937 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #74Patrick2,883
  2. #75Herbert2,875
  3. #76Tommy2,827
  4. #77Ray2,795
  5. #78Jim2,715
  6. #79Phillip2,628
  7. #80Lee2,624
Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 565Whitney#1,458 → #893
  2. ↑ 447Gonzalo#1,297 → #850
  3. ↑ 419Weston#1,323 → #904
  4. ↑ 368Ashley#1,272 → #904
  5. ↑ 366Agustin#1,238 → #872
Fallers
  1. ↓ 886Montie#916 → #1,802
  2. ↓ 446Verlon#888 → #1,334
  3. ↓ 394Issac#857 → #1,251
  4. ↓ 392Otho#942 → #1,334
  5. ↓ 384Pearl#867 → #1,251

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

See the top 100 for 1940 →