Jaye first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Jaye

A unisex English name borrowed from the French word for joy.

Popularity of Jaye by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Jaye is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 59% of people named Jaye being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 10 female babies and 7 male babies born with the name Jaye.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 7 10
2022 5 15
2021 13 15
2020 9 0
2019 17 17
2018 9 11
2017 8 16
2016 9 23
2015 15 14
2014 10 13
2013 8 18
2012 12 12
2011 10 13
2010 15 19
2009 5 16
2008 9 12
2007 10 12
2006 12 15
2005 6 14
2004 14 10
2003 6 19
2002 5 14
2001 10 10
2000 12 15
1999 11 20
1998 10 19
1997 6 15
1996 10 18
1995 8 17
1994 10 21
1993 17 18
1992 11 11
1991 22 16
1990 17 7
1989 14 20
1988 20 19
1987 12 19
1986 10 12
1985 13 10
1984 15 20
1983 12 25
1982 12 20
1981 11 18
1980 15 16
1979 9 32
1978 16 24
1977 14 18
1976 20 15
1975 12 25
1974 7 21

The history of the first name Jaye

The given name Jaye has its origins in the Middle English language, emerging during the medieval period in England around the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French name "Jaye" or "Gai," which in turn comes from the Latin name "Gaius." The Latin name Gaius was a praenomen or personal name that was commonly used in ancient Rome.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Jaye can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in England from the year 1275, where a person named "Jaye de Cheltenham" is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

In terms of historical references, the name Jaye does not appear to have any direct connections to ancient texts, religious scriptures, or significant historical records. However, its Latin root, Gaius, was a popular Roman name borne by several notable figures in ancient history.

Among the famous individuals who have carried the first name Jaye throughout history, one can mention:

  1. Jaye Davidson (born 1968), a British actor and model best known for his role in the 1992 film "The Crying Game," for which he received an Academy Award nomination.

  2. Jaye P. Morgan (1931-2022), an American singer and actress who performed in various television shows and films during the 1950s and 1960s.

  3. Jaye Muller (born 1977), a South African professional golfer who has won multiple tournaments on the Sunshine Tour and participated in several major championships.

  4. Jaye Jacobs (born 1977), an American actress and model who has appeared in various television shows and films, including "The Parker Andersons" and "The Butterfly Effect."

  5. Jaye Bartell (born 1960), an American journalist and author who has written several books on topics ranging from true crime to religion and spirituality.

While the name Jaye has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including actors, musicians, athletes, and writers, among others. Despite its medieval origins, the name continues to be used in modern times, albeit with varying spellings and pronunciations.

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 Jaye was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Jaye first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/jaye-meaning-and-history/.

"Jaye first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/jaye-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Jaye first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/jaye-meaning-and-history/.

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