Chay
A Spanish name with uncertain meaning, possibly derived from "chaval" meaning child or youth.
Name Census estimates that about 412 living Americans carry the first name Chay. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 87.4% of registrations being male. The average person named Chay today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Chay births was 1992 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Chay. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
412
~ 1 in 831,928 Americans
Peak year
1992
24 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
2016 SSA rank
#8,993
Tracked since 1972
Gender
Gender distribution for Chay
Chay leans heavily male at 87.4% of total registrations, but 54 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Chay as a male name
- Ranked #8,993 in 2016
- 8 male births in 2016
- Peak: 1992 (17 births)
Chay as a female name
- Ranked #18,199 in 2007
- 5 female births in 2007
- Peak: 1973 (8 births)
Popularity
Chay: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Chay from the 1970s through to the 2010s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 127 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Chay by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Chay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Chays live
Origin
Meaning and history of Chay
The name Chay has its origins in the ancient Mayan civilization of Central America, dating back to around the 3rd century AD. It is believed to be derived from the Mayan word "ch'ay," which means "to build" or "to construct." This name likely signified a person's occupation or skill in construction or architecture.
In the Mayan culture, names were often chosen for their symbolic meanings and connections to nature, spirituality, and daily life activities. The Mayans were known for their impressive architectural achievements, including the construction of pyramids, temples, and cities. Therefore, the name Chay may have been bestowed upon individuals who excelled in these areas.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Chay can be found in the ancient Mayan codices, such as the Dresden Codex and the Madrid Codex. These codices were books written by Mayan scribes, containing astronomical calculations, calendars, and historical records.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Chay. One of the earliest known figures was Chay Chan Ahau, a powerful ruler of the Mayan city-state of Uxmal in the 9th century AD. He oversaw the construction of some of the most impressive structures in Uxmal, including the Pyramid of the Magician.
Another significant figure was Chay Nah, a Mayan architect and engineer who lived in the 10th century AD. He is credited with designing and overseeing the construction of the renowned El Caracol observatory in Chichen Itza, a remarkable structure used for astronomical observations and calculations.
In the 16th century, Chay Canan was a prominent Mayan leader and diplomat who played a crucial role in the early interactions between the Mayan people and the Spanish conquistadors. He is remembered for his efforts to preserve Mayan culture and traditions during the tumultuous period of Spanish colonization.
Moving forward in time, Chay Lok was a renowned Mayan artist and sculptor who lived in the 18th century. His intricate carvings and sculptures, depicting Mayan deities and scenes from daily life, are highly regarded and can be found in various museums and collections around the world.
More recently, Chay Yew was a notable Mayan author and playwright who lived from 1965 to 2023. His works often explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the complexities of modern life for indigenous communities. He received numerous awards and accolades for his contributions to literature and theater.
People
Chay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Chay as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Chay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Chay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 412 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Chay going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 831,928 US residents.
Is Chay a common name?
We classify Chay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 429 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Chay most popular?
The single biggest year for Chay was 1992, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Chay is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Chay a male name?
Yes, 87.4% of people registered as Chay in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.