Johnnyray
A combination name of English origin, blending John and Ray.
Name Census estimates that about 41 living Americans carry the first name Johnnyray. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Johnnyray today is around 20 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Johnnyray births was 2011 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Johnnyray. 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 Johnnyray. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
41
~ 1 in 8,359,862 Americans
Peak year
2011
7 babies that year
Average age
20
years old
2013 SSA rank
#10,161
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Johnnyray: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Johnnyray from the 1990s through to the 2010s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 20 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Johnnyray 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 Johnnyray during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Johnnyray
The name Johnnyray is a relatively modern English name that appears to have originated in the 20th century. It is a combination of the traditional English name John and the word "ray," which can refer to a beam of light or a type of fish.
One possible origin of the name Johnnyray is as a nickname or diminutive form of the name John, with the addition of the word "ray" as a playful or affectionate suffix. This practice of adding quirky or whimsical suffixes to traditional names became more common in the mid-20th century as parents sought to give their children unique and individualized names.
Another potential origin of the name Johnnyray is as a portmanteau or blend of two existing names, such as John and Raymond. This type of name creation, where parts of two or more names are combined, also gained popularity in the 20th century as a way to create novel and distinctive names.
While the name Johnnyray does not appear to have any direct historical or religious significance, it does reflect the broader trend of name creativity and individualization that emerged in the 20th century. This trend was driven by a variety of cultural factors, including greater social mobility, the rise of popular culture, and a general desire for names that were unique and stood out from traditional choices.
In terms of notable individuals with the name Johnnyray, there are a few examples, although the name remains relatively uncommon. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name is Johnnyray Rousseau, an American professional wrestler who was active in the 1950s and 1960s.
Another notable Johnnyray is Johnnyray Sanchez, a Mexican-American singer and songwriter who rose to prominence in the 1990s as part of the Tejano music scene. He was born in 1962 and continues to perform and record music today.
In the literary world, there is Johnnyray Smith, an American poet and author born in 1957. He has published several collections of poetry and has been recognized with awards and fellowships for his work.
Johnnyray Billington was an American actor and stuntman who appeared in numerous films and television shows in the 1970s and 1980s. He was born in 1947 and passed away in 2008.
Finally, Johnnyray Moore is a contemporary American artist and illustrator known for his colorful and whimsical works. He was born in 1981 and continues to exhibit his art in galleries and exhibitions across the United States.
While the name Johnnyray may be relatively modern and unconventional, it reflects the broader cultural trends and values of the 20th century, where individuality and creativity in naming practices became increasingly celebrated.
People
Johnnyray + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Johnnyray as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Johnnyray: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Johnnyray?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 41 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Johnnyray 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 8,359,862 US residents.
Is Johnnyray a common name?
We classify Johnnyray as "Very Rare". It ranks above 51.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 42 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Johnnyray most popular?
The single biggest year for Johnnyray was 2011, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Johnnyray is about 20 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 Johnnyray in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Johnnyray a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Johnnyray 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 Johnnyray still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Johnnyray 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 Johnnyray 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 Johnnyray as a first name?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.