Gay
Gay: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Gay
- A unisex given name from English.
- A female given name from English, from the word gay (“joyful”); rare today.
- A male given name from English.
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
How popular is Gay?
Since 1880, 17,985 girls and 1,382 boys in the U.S. have been named Gay (93% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #315 in 1943. Its highest rank for boys was #773 in 1890. Fewer than 5 babies per sex were given the name in 2025, so it does not appear in that year's SSA data.
Names similar to Gay
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English girl names
Sibling name ideas for Gay
Sister and brother names that share Gay's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Gay FAQ
What does the name Gay mean?
A unisex given name from English. A female given name from English, from the word gay (“joyful”); rare today. A male given name from English. A male given name transferred from the surname.
What is the origin of the name Gay?
Gay is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Gay?
Since 1880, 17,985 girls and 1,382 boys in the U.S. have been named Gay (93% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #315 in 1943. Its highest rank for boys was #773 in 1890. Fewer than 5 babies per sex were given the name in 2025, so it does not appear in that year's SSA data.
Is Gay a boy or girl name?
Gay is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 17,985 girls and 1,382 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.