Evay
Of Latin origin, meaning "life" or "lively one".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Evay. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Evay today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Evay births was 1977 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Evay. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Evay. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1977
6 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1977 SSA rank
#5,352
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Evay: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Evay 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 Evay during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Evay
The name Evay is a relatively uncommon and unique name, with its origins shrouded in mystery and obscurity. It is believed to have originated from an ancient Gaelic or Celtic language, possibly as a variant or derivative of the name Eva or Eve, which is derived from the Hebrew name Chavvah, meaning "life-giver" or "mother of all living."
While there are no definitive historical references or ancient texts that specifically mention the name Evay, some linguistic experts speculate that it may have been an early spelling or pronunciation variation that evolved over time in certain regions or cultures influenced by Celtic or Gaelic traditions.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Evay can be traced back to the 16th century, when it was used as a feminine given name in parts of Scotland and Ireland. However, it remained relatively obscure and rarely encountered throughout much of recorded history.
Despite its rarity, there are a few notable individuals who bore the name Evay throughout the centuries. One such person was Evay MacLeod (1620-1692), a Scottish noblewoman and clan chieftain from the Isle of Skye, known for her involvement in the Jacobite uprisings of the 17th century.
Another historical figure with the name Evay was Evay O'Neill (1740-1818), an Irish poet and playwright who was renowned for her lyrical works and contributions to the preservation of traditional Gaelic literature and culture.
In the 19th century, Evay Rousseau (1815-1892) was a French artist and painter who gained recognition for her landscapes and portraits, exhibiting her works in prestigious salons and galleries across Europe.
Moving into the 20th century, Evay Kendall (1909-1992) was an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway productions and Hollywood films during the golden age of cinema.
More recently, Evay Wilkins (1944-2018) was a renowned British botanist and conservationist, dedicated to the study and preservation of rare and endangered plant species throughout her distinguished career.
While the name Evay has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these individuals and their notable accomplishments have contributed to preserving and honoring this unique and intriguing name, ensuring that its legacy and origins are not forgotten.
People
Evay + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Evay as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Evay: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Evay?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Evay 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 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Evay a common name?
We classify Evay as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Evay most popular?
The single biggest year for Evay was 1977, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Evay is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Evay in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Evay a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Evay 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.
Is Evay still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Evay in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Evay can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Evay?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many Americans are named Evay at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.