Fayt
A feminine name with roots in Arabic, signifying "good fortunate destiny".
Name Census estimates that about 14 living Americans carry the first name Fayt. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Fayt today is around 19 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Fayt births was 2005 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Fayt. 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 Fayt. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
14
~ 1 in 24,482,453 Americans
Peak year
2005
7 babies that year
Average age
19
years old
2009 SSA rank
#10,197
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Fayt: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Fayt 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 Fayt during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 14 | 0 | 14 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Fayt
The given name Fayt is believed to have originated from the Old French language, with roots tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Latin word "fatum," which means "fate" or "destiny." This connection suggests that the name Fayt might have been bestowed upon individuals with the notion of their lives being guided by a predetermined path or fate.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Fayt can be found in the annals of medieval France, where it appears in various historical documents and records from the 13th and 14th centuries. During this period, the name was primarily used by families of noble descent or those with close ties to the aristocracy.
In the realm of literature, the name Fayt made an appearance in the 15th-century French epic poem "La Chanson de Roland" (The Song of Roland), which recounts the battles and exploits of the legendary knight Roland. However, the name was not associated with any specific character in the poem but rather mentioned in passing.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Fayt. One such figure was Fayt de Bray (1290-1356), a renowned French knight and military commander who served under King Philip VI during the Hundred Years' War. His bravery and leadership on the battlefield earned him a place in the chronicles of the time.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Fayt de Monceau (1415-1487), a Flemish painter and illuminator who gained recognition for his intricate and vibrant illuminated manuscripts. His works were highly sought after by the nobility and clergy of the time, and several of his masterpieces can be found in prestigious collections around the world.
In the realm of literature, Fayt de Langres (1520-1598) was a French poet and playwright whose works reflected the cultural and intellectual currents of the Renaissance era. His plays, which often explored themes of love, honor, and virtue, were widely performed in his lifetime and contributed to the development of French theater.
Moving forward in time, Fayt de Villiers (1675-1745) was a French explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the exploration and colonization of the Indian Ocean region. He led several expeditions to the Mascarene Islands and contributed to the mapping and charting of these territories for the French empire.
Lastly, Fayt de Gournay (1810-1892) was a French philosopher and writer who advocated for women's rights and education. Her influential treatises and essays challenged the societal norms of her time and paved the way for future feminist movements and discussions on gender equality.
These are just a few examples of the individuals who have carried the name Fayt throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of cultural and historical narratives.
People
Fayt + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Fayt as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Fayt: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Fayt?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 14 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Fayt 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 24,482,453 US residents.
Is Fayt a common name?
We classify Fayt as "Very Rare". It ranks above 34% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 14 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Fayt most popular?
The single biggest year for Fayt was 2005, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Fayt is about 19 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 Fayt in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Fayt a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Fayt 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 Fayt still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Fayt 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 Fayt 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 many people have Fayt as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.