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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201958peak #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 1958

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #96 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 394 boysAKMaine: #138 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 977 boysMEVermont: #110 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 662 boysVTNew Hampshire: #115 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 778 boysNHWashington: #123 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 643 boysWAIdaho: #151 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 737 boysIDMontana: #141 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 697 boysMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #182 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 1,859 boysMNIllinois: #121 for boys · 152 births · 1 in 750 boysILWisconsin: #133 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 1,084 boysWIMichigan: #128 for boys · 125 births · 1 in 790 boysMINew York: #195 for boys · 114 births · 1 in 1,586 boysNYMassachusetts: #171 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 2,604 boysMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedRIOregon: #166 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,054 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #184 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,291 boysSDIowa: #160 for boys · 25 births · 1 in 1,217 boysIAIndiana: #110 for boys · 85 births · 1 in 644 boysINOhio: #118 for boys · 158 births · 1 in 724 boysOHPennsylvania: #131 for boys · 121 births · 1 in 1,019 boysPANew Jersey: #179 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 1,694 boysNJConnecticut: #155 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 1,559 boysCTCalifornia: #120 for boys · 295 births · 1 in 592 boysCAUtah: #108 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 488 boysUTColorado: #93 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 433 boysCONebraska: #122 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 715 boysNEMissouri: #128 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 759 boysMOKentucky: #94 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 520 boysKYWest Virginia: #105 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 566 boysWVVirginia: #109 for boys · 79 births · 1 in 550 boysVAMaryland: #156 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,071 boysMDDelaware: #129 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 863 boysDEArizona: #85 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 350 boysAZNew Mexico: #72 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 273 boysNMKansas: #123 for boys · 38 births · 1 in 616 boysKSArkansas: #68 for boys · 64 births · 1 in 309 boysARTennessee: #91 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 461 boysTNNorth Carolina: #91 for boys · 124 births · 1 in 423 boysNCSouth Carolina: #78 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 334 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #125 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 678 boysDCOklahoma: #105 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 526 boysOKLouisiana: #80 for boys · 132 births · 1 in 324 boysLAMississippi: #66 for boys · 91 births · 1 in 297 boysMSAlabama: #70 for boys · 118 births · 1 in 324 boysALGeorgia: #92 for boys · 110 births · 1 in 440 boysGAHawaii: #217 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,194 boysHITexas: #83 for boys · 336 births · 1 in 365 boysTXFlorida: #105 for boys · 103 births · 1 in 502 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#66 · 1 in 297
  2. Arkansas#68 · 1 in 309
  3. Alabama#70 · 1 in 324
  4. New Mexico#72 · 1 in 273
  5. South Carolina#78 · 1 in 334

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#66911 in 297
Arkansas#68641 in 309
Alabama#701181 in 324
New Mexico#72471 in 273
South Carolina#78871 in 334
Louisiana#801321 in 324
Texas#833361 in 365
Arizona#85441 in 350
North Carolina#911241 in 423
Tennessee#91871 in 461
Georgia#921101 in 440
Colorado#93481 in 433
Kentucky#94691 in 520
Alaska#9681 in 394
Florida#1051031 in 502
Oklahoma#105451 in 526
West Virginia#105381 in 566
Utah#108241 in 488
Virginia#109791 in 550
Indiana#110851 in 644
Vermont#11061 in 662
New Hampshire#11581 in 778
Ohio#1181581 in 724
California#1202951 in 592
Illinois#1211521 in 750
Nebraska#122221 in 715
Kansas#123381 in 616
Washington#123491 in 643
District of Columbia#125221 in 678
Michigan#1281251 in 790
Missouri#128641 in 759
Delaware#12961 in 863
Pennsylvania#1311211 in 1,019
Wisconsin#133431 in 1,084
Maine#138111 in 977
Montana#141111 in 697
Idaho#151101 in 737
Connecticut#155171 in 1,559
Maryland#156301 in 1,071
Iowa#160251 in 1,217
Oregon#166161 in 1,054
Massachusetts#171221 in 2,604
New Jersey#179361 in 1,694
Minnesota#182221 in 1,859
South Dakota#18461 in 1,291
New York#1951141 in 1,586
Hawaii#21761 in 1,194
Nevada———
North Dakota———
Rhode Island———
Wyoming———

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 1958

girls
#1,512
50 births · 1 in 40,232 girls
boys
#121
3,188 births · 1 in 666 boys

Top girls' names in 1958

  1. #1Mary55,848
  2. #2Susan45,175
  3. #3Linda41,904
  4. #4Karen38,487
  5. #5Patricia37,961
  6. #6Debra35,521
  7. #7Deborah32,943
  8. #8Cynthia31,014
  9. #9Barbara27,874
  10. #10Donna26,959
  11. #1,512Ray50

Top boys' names in 1958

  1. #1Michael90,604
  2. #2David82,681
  3. #3James78,774
  4. #4Robert77,338
  5. #5John76,057
  6. #6William54,254
  7. #7Mark52,698
  8. #8Richard50,007
  9. #9Thomas42,088
  10. #10Steven32,968
  11. #121Ray3,188
More about 1958

girls

2,011,619 girls got a published name in 1958; 1 in 40,232 of them was named Ray, which outranked 78.5% of the 7,030 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 18.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #1,498Ranae51
  2. #1,498Regena51
  3. #1,498Rosalia51
  4. #1,512Ray50
  5. #1,512Alida50
  6. #1,512Andree50
  7. #1,512Dessie50
  8. #1,527Cammie49
  9. #1,527Candyce49
  10. #1,527Carri49

Tied with 14 names at #1,512; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1957
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,133Brigitte#1,904 → #771
  2. ↑ 760Samantha#1,754 → #994
  3. ↑ 709Selena#1,388 → #679
  4. ↑ 672Tambra#1,588 → #916
  5. ↑ 570Bridgette#1,274 → #704
Fallers
  1. ↓ 312Sarita#970 → #1,282
  2. ↓ 311Beryl#910 → #1,221
  3. ↓ 309Sherree#827 → #1,136
  4. ↓ 275Winnie#965 → #1,240
  5. ↓ 236Jacalyn#975 → #1,211

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

boys

2,122,409 boys got a published name in 1958; 1 in 666 of them was named Ray, which outranked 97.3% of the 4,502 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #118Jose3,425
  2. #119Marvin3,302
  3. #120Joel3,224
  4. #121Ray3,188
  5. #122Melvin3,149
  6. #123Calvin3,119
  7. #124Jonathan3,084
Biggest movers since 1957
Risers
  1. ↑ 742Wayde#1,364 → #622
  2. ↑ 568Maverick#1,364 → #796
  3. ↑ 516Darren#897 → #381
  4. ↑ 435Tobin#1,250 → #815
  5. ↑ 406Dion#928 → #522
Fallers
  1. ↓ 388Claud#957 → #1,345
  2. ↓ 349Ritchie#823 → #1,172
  3. ↓ 333Levon#944 → #1,277
  4. ↓ 320Weston#957 → #1,277
  5. ↓ 297Parker#925 → #1,222

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

See the top 100 for 1958 →