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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201957peak #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 1957

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #79 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 313 boysAKMaine: #106 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 710 boysMEVermont: #127 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 806 boysVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNHWashington: #134 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 819 boysWAIdaho: #85 for boys · 20 births · 1 in 366 boysIDMontana: #94 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 471 boysMTNorth Dakota: #151 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 916 boysNDMinnesota: #169 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 1,583 boysMNIllinois: #136 for boys · 138 births · 1 in 842 boysILWisconsin: #147 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,336 boysWIMichigan: #136 for boys · 119 births · 1 in 853 boysMINew York: #182 for boys · 115 births · 1 in 1,575 boysNYMassachusetts: #179 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 3,027 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedRIOregon: #139 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 840 boysORNevada: #87 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 374 boysNVWyoming: #45 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 201 boysWYSouth Dakota: #189 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,335 boysSDIowa: #146 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 1,107 boysIAIndiana: #144 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 967 boysINOhio: #110 for boys · 178 births · 1 in 671 boysOHPennsylvania: #117 for boys · 138 births · 1 in 920 boysPANew Jersey: #180 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 1,757 boysNJConnecticut: #174 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 2,059 boysCTCalifornia: #105 for boys · 326 births · 1 in 540 boysCAUtah: #99 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 439 boysUTColorado: #101 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 494 boysCONebraska: #154 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 1,042 boysNEMissouri: #115 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 640 boysMOKentucky: #88 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 479 boysKYWest Virginia: #103 for boys · 39 births · 1 in 553 boysWVVirginia: #91 for boys · 103 births · 1 in 429 boysVAMaryland: #117 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 713 boysMDDelaware: #107 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 657 boysDEArizona: #66 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 293 boysAZNew Mexico: #66 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 267 boysNMKansas: #135 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 713 boysKSArkansas: #68 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 318 boysARTennessee: #76 for boys · 103 births · 1 in 397 boysTNNorth Carolina: #80 for boys · 145 births · 1 in 374 boysNCSouth Carolina: #105 for boys · 65 births · 1 in 469 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #154 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,066 boysDCOklahoma: #81 for boys · 63 births · 1 in 383 boysOKLouisiana: #74 for boys · 140 births · 1 in 310 boysLAMississippi: #60 for boys · 107 births · 1 in 264 boysMSAlabama: #73 for boys · 115 births · 1 in 343 boysALGeorgia: #92 for boys · 121 births · 1 in 412 boysGAHawaii: #145 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 608 boysHITexas: #73 for boys · 381 births · 1 in 328 boysTXFlorida: #97 for boys · 113 births · 1 in 443 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Wyoming#45 · 1 in 201
  2. Mississippi#60 · 1 in 264
  3. New Mexico#66 · 1 in 267
  4. Arizona#66 · 1 in 293
  5. Arkansas#68 · 1 in 318

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Wyoming#45171 in 201
Mississippi#601071 in 264
Arizona#66521 in 293
New Mexico#66471 in 267
Arkansas#68641 in 318
Alabama#731151 in 343
Texas#733811 in 328
Louisiana#741401 in 310
Tennessee#761031 in 397
Alaska#79111 in 313
North Carolina#801451 in 374
Oklahoma#81631 in 383
Idaho#85201 in 366
Nevada#8771 in 374
Kentucky#88761 in 479
Virginia#911031 in 429
Georgia#921211 in 412
Montana#94171 in 471
Florida#971131 in 443
Utah#99281 in 439
Colorado#101421 in 494
West Virginia#103391 in 553
California#1053261 in 540
South Carolina#105651 in 469
Maine#106151 in 710
Delaware#10781 in 657
Ohio#1101781 in 671
Missouri#115761 in 640
Maryland#117461 in 713
Pennsylvania#1171381 in 920
Vermont#12751 in 806
Washington#134391 in 819
Kansas#135341 in 713
Illinois#1361381 in 842
Michigan#1361191 in 853
Oregon#139211 in 840
Indiana#144581 in 967
Hawaii#145121 in 608
Iowa#146281 in 1,107
Wisconsin#147351 in 1,336
North Dakota#15181 in 916
District of Columbia#154141 in 1,066
Nebraska#154151 in 1,042
Minnesota#169261 in 1,583
Connecticut#174131 in 2,059
Massachusetts#179191 in 3,027
New Jersey#180351 in 1,757
New York#1821151 in 1,575
South Dakota#18961 in 1,335
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———

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 1957

girls
#1,652
42 births · 1 in 48,687 girls
boys
#111
3,410 births · 1 in 633 boys

Top girls' names in 1957

  1. #1Mary61,102
  2. #2Susan45,954
  3. #3Linda44,517
  4. #4Debra42,728
  5. #5Karen40,591
  6. #6Deborah40,096
  7. #7Cynthia39,340
  8. #8Patricia39,283
  9. #9Barbara29,692
  10. #10Donna28,042
  11. #1,652Ray42

Top boys' names in 1957

  1. #1Michael92,781
  2. #2James84,337
  3. #3David82,403
  4. #4Robert81,765
  5. #5John79,033
  6. #6William56,852
  7. #7Mark52,841
  8. #8Richard52,446
  9. #9Thomas44,625
  10. #10Steven36,842
  11. #111Ray3,410
More about 1957

girls

2,044,851 girls got a published name in 1957; 1 in 48,687 of them was named Ray, which outranked 76.5% of the 7,015 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 20.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #1,641Peg43
  2. #1,641Sibyl43
  3. #1,641Tressa43
  4. #1,652Ray42
  5. #1,652Brunilda42
  6. #1,652Camellia42
  7. #1,652Carlyn42
  8. #1,681Augusta41
  9. #1,681Belle41
  10. #1,681Birdie41

Tied with 28 names at #1,652; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1956
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,944Tammi#3,696 → #752
  2. ↑ 1,310Tamela#2,151 → #841
  3. ↑ 1,298Tammie#1,662 → #364
  4. ↑ 993Tia#1,968 → #975
  5. ↑ 676Tamera#1,287 → #611
Fallers
  1. ↓ 423Corliss#878 → #1,301
  2. ↓ 399Glynis#977 → #1,376
  3. ↓ 367Merrie#977 → #1,344
  4. ↓ 303Taryn#935 → #1,238
  5. ↓ 291Glendora#963 → #1,254

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

boys

2,157,236 boys got a published name in 1957; 1 in 633 of them was named Ray, which outranked 97.6% of the 4,552 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #108Rickey3,522
  2. #109Jose3,472
  3. #110Jon3,467
  4. #111Ray3,410
  5. #112Marvin3,408
  6. #113Melvin3,397
  7. #114Calvin3,395
Biggest movers since 1956
Risers
  1. ↑ 714Dion#1,642 → #928
  2. ↑ 404Wes#1,317 → #913
  3. ↑ 371Antoine#1,232 → #861
  4. ↑ 340Domenick#1,335 → #995
  5. ↑ 329Mitch#868 → #539
Fallers
  1. ↓ 458Lannie#999 → #1,457
  2. ↓ 402Desi#986 → #1,388
  3. ↓ 354Gavin#924 → #1,278
  4. ↓ 317Murphy#917 → #1,234
  5. ↓ 288Eliot#897 → #1,185

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

See the top 100 for 1957 →