Jay
Meaning & Origin
Meaning: Jay; Keeper of the Keys
Background: The name Jay derives from the Latin word 'gaius,' meaning 'jay,' referencing the bird known for its vibrant colors. The name was adopted into Old French, where it took on additional meanings related to 'keeper of the keys.'
At a glance
Quick stats based on the history of this name.
Lifetime rank
#187
Total births
197,300
Most popular decade
1960s
(129,276 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-25 ranks)
Years in Top 100
16
First recorded year
1880
Gender usage
98.7% male
1.3% female
Stats by gender
Male
- First year
- 1880
- First year births
- 103
- First year rank
- #126
- Peak year
- 1960
- Peak year births
- 5,383
- Peak rank
- #78
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 819
- Recent rank
- #396
Female
- First year
- 1896
- First year births
- 5
- First year rank
- #1,583
- Peak year
- 1962
- Peak year births
- 59
- Peak rank
- #1,444
- Most recent year
- 2024
- Recent year births
- 16
- Recent rank
- #6,903
Births over time
Number of babies given this name each year.
Rank over time
Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).