Ray

#6,116 for girls in 2025, 19 births · #791 for boys in 2025, 319 births
Given to boys 97.3% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
#49
1891 · 360 births
Debut · boys
1880
142 births
In top 100 · boys
69 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
204,701
since 1880

Ray over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201959peak #49, 1891boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#6,11619#791319
2024#4,77228#777323
2023#4,99926#763338
2022#4,67129#760332
2021#4,83327#840283
2020#5,48722#724343
2019#6,69817#735328
2018#5,78521#726330
2017#5,82121#767306
2016#5,98521#750324
2015#10,14810#712349
2014#10,9559#728329
2013#9,61211#665363
2012#16,8695#719327
2011—#678347
2010—#659364
2009#17,2945#669366
2008#15,4056#651374
2007—#633384
2006—#556451
2005#11,8348#563420
2004—#577391
2003—#617336
2002#10,2469#578377
2001#13,5216#573360
2000#13,1546#516435
1999#7,71612#513414
1998—#489446
1997#9,8028#483443
1996—#483445
1995—#454495
1994#8,12210#405564
1993#9,5598#412562
1992#7,06712#394582
1991#13,1475#349695
1990#8,5019#328755
1989#7,44910#326722
1988#5,32115#305744
1987#5,07415#283769
1986#9,5456#284738
1985#6,45710#271768
1984#8,1537#273766
1983#5,14813#272764
1982#4,52716#254866
1981#6,32310#255855
1980#6,31910#261843
1979#4,05218#258824
1978#3,19624#255793
1977#3,91118#251807
1976#4,15415#238850
1975#3,25921#228895
1974#4,45913#220955
1973#3,12221#2071,046
1972#3,54317#1971,178
1971#2,66527#1961,267
1970#2,70526#1861,462
1969#2,70424#1821,522
1968#2,53824#1701,593
1967#2,96318#1651,616
1966#2,24928#1551,825
1965#2,46424#1472,092
1964#2,60023#1422,280
1963#1,73844#1312,581
1962#2,03133#1322,675
1961#2,07032#1262,920
1960#2,01332#1213,079
1959#1,59646#1213,219
1958#1,51250#1213,188
1957#1,65242#1113,410
1956#1,45353#1133,230
1955#1,69137#1133,070
1954#1,54043#1182,976
1953#1,38949#1152,815
1952#1,54039#1132,690
1951#1,45042#1142,678
1950#1,65332#1102,636
1949#1,45240#1092,710
1948#1,32748#1003,134
1947#1,54537#973,379
1946#1,23948#953,169
1945#1,26140#922,740
1944#1,15346#862,904
1943#1,22843#843,063
1942#1,13748#843,067
1941#1,31034#832,695
1940#1,04647#772,795
1939#1,06645#742,709
1938#1,07944#722,881
1937#1,00249#712,725
1936#84764#642,939
1935#78574#643,070
1934#81568#633,177
1933#80868#623,032
1932#80172#593,263
1931#74083#603,161
1930#679102#573,254
1929#648116#573,174
1928#72495#573,248
1927#702108#603,253
1926#660120#573,409
1925#75097#643,219
1924#673122#603,369
1923#678120#613,161
1922#74296#653,051
1921#643133#673,075
1920#605138#673,086
1919#624126#692,722
1918#556162#692,763
1917#592133#742,426
1916#584132#732,334
1915#576126#672,365
1914#536108#741,657
1913#62867#731,328
1912#63960#771,050
1911#52263#71602
1910#54356#67545
1909#53550#66475
1908#56743#67446
1907#60138#60475
1906#51544#60421
1905#51943#60424
1904#62930#55432
1903#55834#55397
1902#50240#57391
1901#79517#59338
1900#58935#55457
1899#51433#61315
1898#58131#56394
1897#44044#51397
1896#49935#50426
1895#56528#56380
1894#44240#57379
1893#44935#56378
1892#43438#57385
1891#41336#49360
1890#37844#56349
1889#43930#54355
1888#45829#63331
1887#47122#66258
1886#47621#67271
1885#41325#74237
1884#42522#77232
1883#61510#78202
1882#47515#82195
1881#50311#86148
1880#6288#95142
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Ray was already there! It came in at #95, and was given to 142 baby boys.

Quietest stretch: 1880–1883, when fewer than 210 boys a year got the name.

Where Ray is popular in 1959

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: #106 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 416 boysAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedMEVermont: #103 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 583 boysVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNHWashington: #134 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 787 boysWAIdaho: #114 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 506 boysIDMontana: #107 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 459 boysMTNorth Dakota: #188 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 1,261 boysNDMinnesota: #151 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 1,243 boysMNIllinois: #134 for boys · 143 births · 1 in 814 boysILWisconsin: #159 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,585 boysWIMichigan: #117 for boys · 130 births · 1 in 742 boysMINew York: #179 for boys · 129 births · 1 in 1,402 boysNYMassachusetts: #167 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 2,351 boysMARhode Island: #149 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,778 boysRIOregon: #116 for boys · 29 births · 1 in 591 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Ray, so not publishedNVWyoming: #133 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 665 boysWYSouth Dakota: #188 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 1,159 boysSDIowa: #143 for boys · 30 births · 1 in 1,034 boysIAIndiana: #123 for boys · 74 births · 1 in 741 boysINOhio: #122 for boys · 144 births · 1 in 787 boysOHPennsylvania: #137 for boys · 119 births · 1 in 1,023 boysPANew Jersey: #158 for boys · 45 births · 1 in 1,363 boysNJConnecticut: #141 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 1,268 boysCTCalifornia: #112 for boys · 323 births · 1 in 556 boysCAUtah: #129 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 625 boysUTColorado: #113 for boys · 40 births · 1 in 533 boysCONebraska: #169 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 1,243 boysNEMissouri: #135 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 746 boysMOKentucky: #115 for boys · 53 births · 1 in 683 boysKYWest Virginia: #108 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 574 boysWVVirginia: #103 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 502 boysVAMaryland: #134 for boys · 42 births · 1 in 782 boysMDDelaware: #152 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,039 boysDEArizona: #75 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 311 boysAZNew Mexico: #73 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 284 boysNMKansas: #124 for boys · 37 births · 1 in 643 boysKSArkansas: #88 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 426 boysARTennessee: #98 for boys · 76 births · 1 in 524 boysTNNorth Carolina: #86 for boys · 137 births · 1 in 384 boysNCSouth Carolina: #69 for boys · 99 births · 1 in 289 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #149 for boys · 18 births · 1 in 826 boysDCOklahoma: #89 for boys · 58 births · 1 in 414 boysOKLouisiana: #84 for boys · 124 births · 1 in 344 boysLAMississippi: #58 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 266 boysMSAlabama: #83 for boys · 99 births · 1 in 388 boysALGeorgia: #101 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 461 boysGAHawaii: #128 for boys · 15 births · 1 in 476 boysHITexas: #80 for boys · 342 births · 1 in 360 boysTXFlorida: #107 for boys · 109 births · 1 in 493 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#58 · 1 in 266
  2. South Carolina#69 · 1 in 289
  3. New Mexico#73 · 1 in 284
  4. Arizona#75 · 1 in 311
  5. Texas#80 · 1 in 360

Best ever in a state: #12 in Idaho, 1911.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#581041 in 266
South Carolina#69991 in 289
New Mexico#73471 in 284
Arizona#75521 in 311
Texas#803421 in 360
Alabama#83991 in 388
Louisiana#841241 in 344
North Carolina#861371 in 384
Arkansas#88461 in 426
Oklahoma#89581 in 414
Tennessee#98761 in 524
Georgia#1011041 in 461
Vermont#10371 in 583
Virginia#103861 in 502
Alaska#10671 in 416
Florida#1071091 in 493
Montana#107171 in 459
West Virginia#108351 in 574
California#1123231 in 556
Colorado#113401 in 533
Idaho#114151 in 506
Kentucky#115531 in 683
Oregon#116291 in 591
Michigan#1171301 in 742
Ohio#1221441 in 787
Indiana#123741 in 741
Kansas#124371 in 643
Hawaii#128151 in 476
Utah#129191 in 625
Wyoming#13351 in 665
Illinois#1341431 in 814
Maryland#134421 in 782
Washington#134401 in 787
Missouri#135661 in 746
Pennsylvania#1371191 in 1,023
Connecticut#141211 in 1,268
Iowa#143301 in 1,034
District of Columbia#149181 in 826
Rhode Island#14951 in 1,778
Minnesota#151341 in 1,243
Delaware#15251 in 1,039
New Jersey#158451 in 1,363
Wisconsin#159301 in 1,585
Massachusetts#167241 in 2,351
Nebraska#169131 in 1,243
New York#1791291 in 1,402
North Dakota#18861 in 1,261
South Dakota#18871 in 1,159
Maine———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Ray
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 14 spots since 2024 (#777 → #791)
  • 67 spots since 2020 (#724 → #791)
  • 79 spots since 2015 (#712 → #791)
  • Biggest jump: 80 spots in 2022 (#840 → #760)
  • Biggest drop: 116 spots in 2021 (#724 → #840)
Rise & fade · boys
11 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1891 at #49 (360 births)
  • Not yet halved from its peak
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 69 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 69 yrs · run 1880–1948
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 281
  • Highest: 1 in 281 boys born in 1896 were named Ray (0.36%)
  • Latest: 1 in 5,354 boys born in 2025 (0.02%)
  • Its best rank, #49 in 1891, was only 1 in 281 (0.36%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 15.7% of all boys named Ray (32,045) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s2,371#54 (1889)#74
1890s3,763#49 (1891)#55
1900s4,256#55 (1900)#59
1910s17,792#67 (1915)#71
1920s32,045#57 (1926)#62
1930s30,211#57 (1930)#65
1940s29,656#77 (1940)#91
1950s29,912#110 (1950)#115
1960s22,183#121 (1960)#147
1970s10,077#186 (1970)#224
1980s7,835#254 (1982)#278
1990s5,401#328 (1990)#431
2000s3,894#516 (2000)#593
2010s3,367#659 (2010)#714
2020s1,938#724 (2020)#776

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Ray in 1959

girls
#1,596
46 births · 1 in 43,988 girls
boys
#121
3,219 births · 1 in 663 boys

Top girls' names in 1959

  1. #1Mary54,502
  2. #2Susan41,617
  3. #3Linda40,410
  4. #4Karen36,784
  5. #5Donna36,468
  6. #6Patricia35,223
  7. #7Debra31,388
  8. #8Cynthia30,186
  9. #9Deborah29,546
  10. #10Lisa25,699
  11. #1,596Ray46

Top boys' names in 1959

  1. #1Michael85,294
  2. #2David83,977
  3. #3James78,648
  4. #4John76,446
  5. #5Robert74,542
  6. #6Mark56,945
  7. #7William51,386
  8. #8Richard47,202
  9. #9Thomas40,296
  10. #10Steven33,597
  11. #121Ray3,219
More about 1959

girls

2,023,462 girls got a published name in 1959; 1 in 43,988 of them was named Ray, which outranked 77.8% of the 7,202 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 17.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #1,585Sueann47
  2. #1,585Tanna47
  3. #1,585Teresita47
  4. #1,596Ray46
  5. #1,596Amie46
  6. #1,596Billy46
  7. #1,596Carletta46
  8. #1,617Alfredia45
  9. #1,617Alissa45
  10. #1,617Allie45

Tied with 20 names at #1,596; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1958
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,090Alesia#1,985 → #895
  2. ↑ 948Tori#1,791 → #843
  3. ↑ 440Taryn#1,211 → #771
  4. ↑ 437Venus#1,007 → #570
  5. ↑ 393Vilma#1,364 → #971
Fallers
  1. ↓ 283Dani#961 → #1,244
  2. ↓ 257Nicki#973 → #1,230
  3. ↓ 235Lanita#973 → #1,208
  4. ↓ 219Concetta#973 → #1,192
  5. ↓ 197Gisele#766 → #963

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

2,134,518 boys got a published name in 1959; 1 in 663 of them was named Ray, which outranked 97.4% of the 4,572 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.4% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Ray
  1. #118Ernest3,341
  2. #119Dave3,308
  3. #120Harry3,271
  4. #121Ray3,219
  5. #122Melvin3,170
  6. #123Marvin3,167
  7. #124Jonathan3,082
Biggest movers since 1958
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,208Efrem#3,033 → #825
  2. ↑ 901Darin#1,677 → #776
  3. ↑ 871Yancy#1,557 → #686
  4. ↑ 708Raynard#1,677 → #969
  5. ↑ 644Darrin#1,396 → #752
Fallers
  1. ↓ 307Jace#761 → #1,068
  2. ↓ 241Otha#915 → #1,156
  3. ↓ 234Cheryl#994 → #1,228
  4. ↓ 230Dann#969 → #1,199
  5. ↓ 227Carnell#777 → #1,004

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1959 →