How Many People Are Named Gay?
Complete statistics for the name Gay: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
The name Gay has origins in Old English, meaning happy or joyful. That's just 11,711 people in the US today, making up 1 in 28,179 Americans. It peaked in popularity back in 1959 with 692 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Traditionally, the life-path number 6 represents harmony, balance, and nurturing.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 79All 19,367 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1959Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Stable
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Gay Through the Generations
From its peak in 1959, Gay has seen a steady decline, with most of the 19,367 total births occurring before the turn of the millennium. Today, the majority of people named Gay are over 60, with only 1,153 aged between 30 and 60, and none under 30. This stark age distribution reflects how the name was predominantly used in earlier generations, and it's now considered a classic rather than a modern choice.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Gay
Gay is a male or female given name, the 795th ("Gay") and 1295th ("Gaye") most common female name in the United States, according to the 1990 U.S. census.…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Gay's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Gay
How Many People Have the Name Gay?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 29,878 people in the United States currently share the name Gay. That works out to roughly 1 in every 11,093 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.
Is Gay a Common or Rare Name?
Gay is classified as Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Gay Mean?
Gay means "happy, joyful" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 6.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Gay in SSA data, approximately 3% are male and 97% are female.
When Was Gay Most Popular?
The name Gay reached peak popularity in 1959, with 692 babies registered that year. Current trend: Stable.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Gay?
Approximately 29,878 people named Gay live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 29,878. That works out to roughly 1 in 11,093 Americans.
Is Gay a rare name?
Gay is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 11,093 Americans has this name.
What does the name Gay mean?
Gay means "happy, joyful" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Gay more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 3% of people named Gay are male and 97% are female.
When was Gay most popular?
Gay peaked in 1959 with 692 births that year. Current trend: Stable.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.