Jay Name Meaning
The meaning of the name Jay is “cheerful” or “joyful,” reflecting its origins as a nickname for John. The name Jay suggests happiness, positivity, and a zest for life, making it a great choice for parents who are looking for a name that reflects their son’s character.
Origins of the Name Jay
The name Jay is of Latin and French origin, and it’s derived from the Latin name “Gaius.” This charming name has a rich history, and it’s a great choice for parents who are looking for a name that’s classic and modern at the same time.
History of the Name Jay
The name Jay has been around for centuries, with roots in Latin and French. In the Middle Ages, Jay was used as a nickname for John, and it was also used as a given name in its own right. Over time, the name evolved into the modern spelling of Jay, and it’s now used as a given name in many different countries around the world.
Popularity of the Name Jay
The name Jay has been popular for many years, and it’s now a common name for boys in the United States. According to the Social Security Administration, the name Jay was the 329th most popular name for boys born in the United States in 2020. The popularity of the name Jay is likely due to its short and sweet sound, as well as its association with happiness, positivity, and a zest for life.
Jay is also the name of a bird, specifically the Blue Jay. This beautiful bird is known for its bright blue feathers, cheerful chirping, and energetic personality. So if you’re looking for a name for your little guy that’s as bright and cheerful as the bird it’s named after, Jay is a great choice!
Final Thoughts on the Name Jay
Jay is a name that’s got a lot of personality and a lot of style! With its roots in Latin and French, it’s a name that’s got a lot of history and a lot of meaning. Whether you’re looking for a name that’s classic and modern, or a name that’s got a lot of cheer, Jay is a great choice. So if you’re looking for a name for your little guy that’s as bright and cheerful as the bird it’s named after, consider the name Jay!
Infographic of Jay name meaning, which is A shortened form of Jason, Jay is an English name meaning to heal.
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Jay Name Popularity
How popular is the name Jay? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
223 |
72 |
0.0204% |
| 1911 |
237 |
75 |
0.0201% |
| 1912 |
176 |
293 |
0.0581% |
| 1913 |
189 |
323 |
0.057% |
| 1914 |
213 |
336 |
0.0482% |
| 1915 |
199 |
516 |
0.0568% |
| 1916 |
183 |
607 |
0.0628% |
| 1917 |
189 |
610 |
0.061% |
| 1918 |
184 |
686 |
0.0639% |
| 1919 |
195 |
617 |
0.0589% |
| 1920 |
198 |
640 |
0.0576% |
| 1921 |
175 |
801 |
0.07% |
| 1922 |
177 |
767 |
0.0688% |
| 1923 |
171 |
811 |
0.0724% |
| 1924 |
170 |
819 |
0.0705% |
| 1925 |
181 |
764 |
0.0676% |
| 1926 |
175 |
795 |
0.0723% |
| 1927 |
170 |
851 |
0.0769% |
| 1928 |
185 |
735 |
0.0687% |
| 1929 |
170 |
803 |
0.0775% |
| 1930 |
167 |
862 |
0.0825% |
| 1931 |
166 |
847 |
0.0858% |
| 1932 |
163 |
900 |
0.0911% |
| 1933 |
150 |
934 |
0.1003% |
| 1934 |
156 |
907 |
0.0938% |
| 1935 |
147 |
1,047 |
0.1077% |
| 1936 |
140 |
1,075 |
0.1116% |
| 1937 |
136 |
1,123 |
0.114% |
| 1938 |
139 |
1,159 |
0.1132% |
| 1939 |
141 |
1,129 |
0.111% |
| 1940 |
139 |
1,273 |
0.1198% |
| 1941 |
138 |
1,391 |
0.1236% |
| 1942 |
133 |
1,570 |
0.1243% |
| 1943 |
134 |
1,658 |
0.127% |
| 1944 |
135 |
1,541 |
0.1243% |
| 1945 |
125 |
1,741 |
0.1428% |
| 1946 |
115 |
2,186 |
0.1481% |
| 1947 |
118 |
2,431 |
0.1456% |
| 1948 |
123 |
2,267 |
0.142% |
| 1949 |
118 |
2,456 |
0.1527% |
| 1950 |
115 |
2,572 |
0.1597% |
| 1951 |
116 |
2,634 |
0.1554% |
| 1952 |
106 |
3,023 |
0.1732% |
| 1953 |
99 |
3,237 |
0.1829% |
| 1954 |
101 |
3,368 |
0.1842% |
| 1955 |
103 |
3,397 |
0.1847% |
| 1956 |
92 |
4,117 |
0.218% |
| 1957 |
88 |
4,629 |
0.2406% |
| 1958 |
86 |
5,021 |
0.2657% |
| 1959 |
87 |
4,938 |
0.2599% |
| 1960 |
78 |
5,384 |
0.2842% |
| 1961 |
81 |
5,120 |
0.2712% |
| 1962 |
80 |
5,156 |
0.2808% |
| 1963 |
85 |
4,720 |
0.2629% |
| 1964 |
84 |
4,571 |
0.2597% |
| 1965 |
89 |
3,945 |
0.2412% |
| 1966 |
91 |
3,598 |
0.2304% |
| 1967 |
87 |
3,614 |
0.2381% |
| 1968 |
87 |
3,428 |
0.2283% |
| 1969 |
94 |
3,182 |
0.2065% |
| 1970 |
97 |
3,417 |
0.2147% |
| 1971 |
114 |
2,861 |
0.1904% |
| 1972 |
115 |
2,446 |
0.1796% |
| 1973 |
118 |
2,217 |
0.171% |
| 1974 |
109 |
2,363 |
0.1818% |
| 1975 |
117 |
2,172 |
0.169% |
| 1976 |
127 |
2,091 |
0.1622% |
| 1977 |
130 |
2,091 |
0.1551% |
| 1978 |
120 |
2,142 |
0.1593% |
| 1979 |
125 |
2,146 |
0.1522% |
| 1980 |
139 |
1,983 |
0.1356% |
| 1981 |
153 |
1,782 |
0.1212% |
| 1982 |
164 |
1,661 |
0.1112% |
| 1983 |
169 |
1,532 |
0.1038% |
| 1984 |
171 |
1,543 |
0.1037% |
| 1985 |
174 |
1,511 |
0.0996% |
| 1986 |
179 |
1,466 |
0.0971% |
| 1987 |
182 |
1,468 |
0.0962% |
| 1988 |
199 |
1,342 |
0.0861% |
| 1989 |
203 |
1,415 |
0.0877% |
| 1990 |
217 |
1,395 |
0.0842% |
| 1991 |
234 |
1,246 |
0.0764% |
| 1992 |
237 |
1,184 |
0.0742% |
| 1993 |
258 |
1,087 |
0.0697% |
| 1994 |
262 |
1,084 |
0.0706% |
| 1995 |
277 |
982 |
0.0652% |
| 1996 |
289 |
903 |
0.0603% |
| 1997 |
296 |
912 |
0.0617% |
| 1998 |
327 |
803 |
0.0537% |
| 1999 |
326 |
818 |
0.0546% |
| 2000 |
326 |
844 |
0.0552% |
| 2001 |
310 |
872 |
0.0579% |
| 2002 |
333 |
792 |
0.0529% |
| 2003 |
346 |
773 |
0.0508% |
| 2004 |
350 |
778 |
0.051% |
| 2005 |
346 |
826 |
0.054% |
| 2006 |
348 |
846 |
0.054% |
| 2007 |
397 |
715 |
0.0453% |
| 2008 |
395 |
729 |
0.0472% |
| 2009 |
408 |
680 |
0.0455% |
| 2010 |
405 |
655 |
0.0455% |
| 2011 |
398 |
678 |
0.0476% |
| 2012 |
384 |
737 |
0.0517% |
| 2013 |
389 |
733 |
0.0515% |
| 2014 |
367 |
817 |
0.0561% |
| 2015 |
388 |
777 |
0.0534% |
| 2016 |
389 |
775 |
0.0538% |
| 2017 |
377 |
818 |
0.0586% |
| 2018 |
392 |
760 |
0.0553% |
| 2019 |
371 |
802 |
0.0592% |
| 2020 |
382 |
758 |
0.0596% |
| 2021 |
380 |
815 |
0.0667% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Jay
If you like Jay, you’ll love these other names like Jay.
What names are variants of Jay?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Jay.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Jae
|
Blue crested bird; talent; riches
|
American, Asian, Latin
|
|
|
|
Jai
|
Blue crested bird
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Jaye
|
Blue crested bird
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Jayron
|
Blue crested bird
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Jayronn
|
Blue crested bird
|
Latin
|
|
|
|
Jeh
|
Blue crested bird
|
Latin
|
|
|
What names sound like Jay?
If you like how Jay sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Jay.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Way
|
Land by the road
|
English
|
|
|
What names are similar to Jay?
Find a name that’s like Jay, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Jadrian
|
|
American
|
|
|
|
Jaylen
|
Created name
|
American
|
|
|
Lists With Jay
Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Jay.
