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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201944peak #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 1944

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedAKMaine: #167 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,275 boysMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNHWashington: #87 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 437 boysWAIdaho: #59 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 242 boysIDMontana: #73 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 321 boysMTNorth Dakota: #126 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 714 boysNDMinnesota: #100 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 581 boysMNIllinois: #91 for boys · 125 births · 1 in 533 boysILWisconsin: #121 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 886 boysWIMichigan: #94 for boys · 93 births · 1 in 574 boysMINew York: #129 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 1,267 boysNYMassachusetts: #148 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 2,199 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedRIOregon: #63 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 300 boysORNevada: #33 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 121 boysNVWyoming: #38 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 154 boysWYSouth Dakota: #83 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 405 boysSDIowa: #103 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 569 boysIAIndiana: #96 for boys · 56 births · 1 in 592 boysINOhio: #75 for boys · 141 births · 1 in 443 boysOHPennsylvania: #85 for boys · 140 births · 1 in 598 boysPANew Jersey: #122 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,230 boysNJConnecticut: #155 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 1,938 boysCTCalifornia: #63 for boys · 259 births · 1 in 326 boysCAUtah: #53 for boys · 33 births · 1 in 217 boysUTColorado: #82 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 375 boysCONebraska: #107 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 586 boysNEMissouri: #76 for boys · 84 births · 1 in 386 boysMOKentucky: #60 for boys · 102 births · 1 in 282 boysKYWest Virginia: #59 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 309 boysWVVirginia: #71 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 347 boysVAMaryland: #102 for boys · 27 births · 1 in 677 boysMDDelaware: #77 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 407 boysDEArizona: #61 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 238 boysAZNew Mexico: #57 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 213 boysNMKansas: #84 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 383 boysKSArkansas: #73 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 346 boysARTennessee: #51 for boys · 131 births · 1 in 243 boysTNNorth Carolina: #59 for boys · 143 births · 1 in 293 boysNCSouth Carolina: #73 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 346 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #98 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 620 boysDCOklahoma: #50 for boys · 90 births · 1 in 239 boysOKLouisiana: #76 for boys · 81 births · 1 in 333 boysLAMississippi: #98 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 495 boysMSAlabama: #81 for boys · 75 births · 1 in 434 boysALGeorgia: #71 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 347 boysGAHawaii: #108 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 513 boysHITexas: #73 for boys · 217 births · 1 in 363 boysTXFlorida: #66 for boys · 68 births · 1 in 345 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Nevada#33 · 1 in 121
  2. Wyoming#38 · 1 in 154
  3. Oklahoma#50 · 1 in 239
  4. Tennessee#51 · 1 in 243
  5. Utah#53 · 1 in 217

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Nevada#3391 in 121
Wyoming#38141 in 154
Oklahoma#50901 in 239
Tennessee#511311 in 243
Utah#53331 in 217
New Mexico#57321 in 213
Idaho#59211 in 242
North Carolina#591431 in 293
West Virginia#59611 in 309
Kentucky#601021 in 282
Arizona#61291 in 238
California#632591 in 326
Oregon#63371 in 300
Florida#66681 in 345
Georgia#711051 in 347
Virginia#71851 in 347
Arkansas#73581 in 346
Montana#73141 in 321
South Carolina#73691 in 346
Texas#732171 in 363
Ohio#751411 in 443
Louisiana#76811 in 333
Missouri#76841 in 386
Delaware#7761 in 407
Alabama#81751 in 434
Colorado#82301 in 375
South Dakota#83131 in 405
Kansas#84411 in 383
Pennsylvania#851401 in 598
Washington#87461 in 437
Illinois#911251 in 533
Michigan#94931 in 574
Indiana#96561 in 592
District of Columbia#98161 in 620
Mississippi#98481 in 495
Minnesota#100441 in 581
Maryland#102271 in 677
Iowa#103381 in 569
Nebraska#107191 in 586
Hawaii#108101 in 513
Wisconsin#121321 in 886
New Jersey#122281 in 1,230
North Dakota#12681 in 714
New York#129871 in 1,267
Massachusetts#148171 in 2,199
Connecticut#15581 in 1,938
Maine#16761 in 1,275
Alaska———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
Vermont———

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 1944

girls
#1,153
46 births · 1 in 28,853 girls
boys
#86
2,904 births · 1 in 469 boys

Top girls' names in 1944

  1. #1Mary62,476
  2. #2Barbara39,196
  3. #3Linda38,415
  4. #4Patricia36,874
  5. #5Carol30,456
  6. #6Sandra26,024
  7. #7Nancy23,218
  8. #8Sharon22,433
  9. #9Judith22,431
  10. #10Betty19,761
  11. #1,153Ray46

Top boys' names in 1944

  1. #1James76,951
  2. #2Robert70,855
  3. #3John66,616
  4. #4William52,375
  5. #5Richard45,643
  6. #6David37,382
  7. #7Charles34,662
  8. #8Thomas31,604
  9. #9Michael26,717
  10. #10Ronald25,513
  11. #86Ray2,904
More about 1944

girls

1,327,223 girls got a published name in 1944; 1 in 28,853 of them was named Ray, which outranked 78.0% of the 5,243 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.2% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #1,140Kattie47
  2. #1,140Marylouise47
  3. #1,140Sherian47
  4. #1,153Ray46
  5. #1,153Antonette46
  6. #1,153Arthur46
  7. #1,153Delfina46
  8. #1,175Allison45
  9. #1,175Cristina45
  10. #1,175Eldora45

Tied with 21 names at #1,153; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1943
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,229Dorinda#1,834 → #605
  2. ↑ 611Deirdre#1,556 → #945
  3. ↑ 504Alana#1,251 → #747
  4. ↑ 460Elyse#1,327 → #867
  5. ↑ 407Joella#1,395 → #988
Fallers
  1. ↓ 613Michal#996 → #1,609
  2. ↓ 493Aloma#762 → #1,255
  3. ↓ 448Louvenia#916 → #1,364
  4. ↓ 347Norine#889 → #1,236
  5. ↓ 341Lyla#864 → #1,205

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

boys

1,362,875 boys got a published name in 1944; 1 in 469 of them was named Ray, which outranked 97.8% of the 3,909 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #83Phillip3,002
  2. #84Barry2,979
  3. #85Lee2,929
  4. #86Ray2,904
  5. #87Tom2,902
  6. #88Glenn2,849
  7. #89Steve2,836
Biggest movers since 1943
Risers
  1. ↑ 647Rickie#1,461 → #814
  2. ↑ 586Rusty#1,577 → #991
  3. ↑ 585Humberto#1,280 → #695
  4. ↑ 408Llewellyn#1,343 → #935
  5. ↑ 402Hilario#1,308 → #906
Fallers
  1. ↓ 359Elwyn#923 → #1,282
  2. ↓ 356Albin#856 → #1,212
  3. ↓ 348Prentiss#980 → #1,328
  4. ↓ 286Barrie#969 → #1,255
  5. ↓ 269Duke#986 → #1,255

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

See the top 100 for 1944 →