How Many People Are Named Jay?

Complete statistics for the name Jay: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Jay
Rare
Hebrew

Jay means 'supplanter' in Hebrew and it's rare, with just 1 in 2,350 Americans having this name. That's around 140,405 people today, making it a unique choice. Interestingly, over half of those named Jay are over 60, giving it an older feel.

~10,302
Living in US
1 in 32,173
Americans
1960
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Supplanter
🌐
Origin
Hebrew
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 9
Personality Traits
Determined Dynamic
9
Life Path Number

Life-path number 9 symbolizes compassion, understanding, and humanitarianism.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

140,405
Worldwide Bearers
#687
Global Rank
🇸🇩 Sudan
2,776
🇳🇿 New Zealand
2,763
🇧🇩 Bangladesh
2,108
🇲🇾 Malaysia
1,949
🇿🇦 South Africa
1,932
🇨🇳 China
1,927
🇦🇴 Angola
1,889
🇵🇱 Poland
1,555
🇹🇭 Thailand
1,403
🇰🇷 South Korea
1,364

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
138,679 (99%)
♀ Female
1,725 (1%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 61
23,177
Would be under 30 (12%)
62,345
Would be 30–60 (32%)
111,675
Would be over 60 (57%)

All 197,197 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: 1960

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Slowly rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
73
Modern Appeal
27
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Jay Through the Generations

Jay has seen its popularity ebb and flow over the decades. It peaked in 1960 when 5,427 babies were given this name, marking a high point in its history. Today, the name Jay is slowly rising again, with a significant portion of its bearers being older adults. The age distribution shows that 23,177 are under 30, 62,345 are between 30 and 60, and 111,675 are over 60, indicating a strong presence among the older generation.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 15,981
New York 15,744
Pennsylvania 13,699
Texas 12,659
Ohio 9,957
Illinois 9,376
Michigan 7,339
Indiana 6,018
Minnesota 5,802
Wisconsin 5,718

⭐ Famous People Named Jay

Jay is a predominantly male given name. 'Jaya' is a female variation or female given name with same meaning and origin from Sanskrit.…

Full list on Wikipedia →

✨ Similar Names to Jay

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Jay's Hebrew roots

📄 About the Name Jay

How Many People Have the Name Jay?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,302 people in the United States currently share the name Jay. That works out to roughly 1 in every 32,173 Americans, placing it in the Rare category.

Is Jay a Common or Rare Name?

Jay 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 Jay Mean?

Jay means "supplanter" and comes from Hebrew origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 9.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Jay in SSA data, approximately 99% are male and 1% are female.

When Was Jay Most Popular?

The name Jay reached peak popularity in 1960, with 5,427 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.

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 Jay?

Approximately 10,302 people named Jay live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 10,302. That works out to roughly 1 in 32,173 Americans.

Is Jay a rare name?

Jay is classified as Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 32,173 Americans has this name.

What does the name Jay mean?

Jay means "supplanter" and comes from Hebrew origins.

Is Jay more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 99% of people named Jay are male and 1% are female.

When was Jay most popular?

Jay peaked in 1960 with 5,427 births that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.

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.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US10,302
All-Time Births10,302
1 in X1 in 32,173
RarityRare
GenderMale
Avg Age61
Peak Year1960
World Rank#687
Male %99%
Female %1%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.