Gay
Gay was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1943, when it ranked 315th; the most babies were born in 1959 (682). More babies were named Gay in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- No babies recorded in the last five years2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1959682 babies
- Total since 1880
- 19,367babies recorded
Gay popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 1,382 since 1883.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | — | — |
| 1990 | — | — |
| 1980 | — | — |
| 1970 | #1,019 | 122 |
| 1960 | #381 | 626 |
| 1950 | #359 | 481 |
| 1940 | #378 | 308 |
| 1930 | #548 | 155 |
| 1920 | #971 | 57 |
| 1910 | #849 | 26 |
| 1900 | #894 | 18 |
| 1890 | #677 | 16 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Gay, counting every spelling?
Gay has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How old are people named Gay?
About 10,900 people born in the US named Gay are alive today, with a median age of 71; half are between 65 and 78. That makes Gay a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Gay by state
How common Gay was among girls born in each state in 1957–1961, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (4.4×), Utah (3.4×), Oklahoma (2.6×), Texas (2.5×), Idaho (2.4×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in West Virginia, Connecticut, District of Columbia.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Gay: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Gay, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Gay
How popular is the name Gay?
Gay was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1943, when it ranked 315th; the most babies were born in 1959 (682). More babies were named Gay in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Gay a boy or girl name?
No babies were given the name in 2021–2025. Historically it was given to 17,985 girls and 1,382 boys.
Where was Gay most popular?
In 1957–1961, Gay was most common in Hawaii (1.29 per 1,000 girls), followed by Utah and Oklahoma.