Holding steady, #14,942 for girls today.
Popularity of Day since 1915
Babies named Day per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 0 | 17 |
| 1920s | 0 | 19 |
| 1930s | 0 | 12 |
| 1940s | 6 | 20 |
| 1950s | 10 | 6 |
| 1960s | 5 | 11 |
| 1970s | 74 | 19 |
| 1980s | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5 | 6 |
| 2000s | 17 | 5 |
| 2010s | 31 | 5 |
| 2020s | 18 | 12 |
Meaning & origin
The name Day first appeared in U.S. records in 1942, but it was never common, reaching its peak popularity in 1973 at rank well outside the top 5000. As of 2025, it ranks 14,942 with a 1-in-321,453 frequency, indicating steady but extremely low use. Day is a classic example of a surname adopted as a given name, joining the ranks of other word names like Dawn and Skye. Its meaning, tied to dairy work or a geographical feature, gives it a grounded, pastoral feel.
Day derives from the Middle English 'daye,' meaning 'dairymaid' or 'servant,' or from Old English 'dæg' (day), though its use as a given name likely arose from the surname. As a first name, it gained modest use in the 20th century, possibly influenced by word name trends or as a short form of names like Dayton.
Sibling names for Day
Names that share Day's style, for a brother or sister.
