Find out how popular the first name Jay has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Jay by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jay is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 99% of people named Jay being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 831 male babies and 11 female babies born with the name Jay.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 11 baby girls were named Jay in 2023, despite it being a predominantly male name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Jay

The name Jay has its origins in the Sanskrit word "जय" (jaya), meaning "victory" or "triumph." It has been a popular name in Indian culture for centuries, often given to boys as a symbol of success and achievement.

In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, there are references to characters with the name Jay or its variations. For example, in the Mahabharata, one of the Pandava brothers is named Jaydratha.

As the name spread beyond the Indian subcontinent, it evolved into various forms in different languages. In Persian, it became "Jai," while in Arabic, it took the form of "Jaye" or "Jaya."

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jay in Western literature can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Xenophon, who lived in the 4th century BCE. He mentions a Persian general named "Jayades."

In medieval Europe, the name Jay was sometimes used as a variant of the French name "Jacques," which itself was derived from the Hebrew name "Jacob." This may have contributed to the popularity of Jay as a given name in English-speaking countries.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the first name Jay. One of the earliest was Jay Pratap, an Indian ruler who reigned over the kingdom of Kalinjar in the 16th century.

Another famous Jay was the American founding father and first Chief Justice of the United States, John Jay (1745-1829). He was a prominent figure in the American Revolution and played a pivotal role in the drafting of the Constitution.

In the realm of literature, Jay Gatsby, the central character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby" (published in 1925), has become an iconic figure associated with the name.

Jay Cooke (1821-1905) was an American financier who played a significant role in financing the Union during the American Civil War, while Jay Wright (born 1961) is a successful college basketball coach who led Villanova University to two NCAA championships.

Other notable individuals with the first name Jay include Jay-Z (born 1969), one of the most influential and successful rappers of all time, and Jay Leno (born 1950), the former host of "The Tonight Show" on NBC.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Jay was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Jay, please contact us.

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