Holding steady.
Popularity of Fayette since 1880
Babies named Fayette per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1955, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Fayette's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 59 |
| 1890s | 6 | 11 |
| 1900s | 5 | 12 |
| 1910s | 49 | 96 |
| 1920s | 67 | 126 |
| 1930s | 47 | 85 |
| 1940s | 98 | 35 |
| 1950s | 160 | 9 |
| 1960s | 99 | 5 |
| 1970s | 36 | 0 |
| 1980s | 12 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 5 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Fayette is a rarity among given names, first recorded in the United States in 1895. It never reached the top 1000 rankings, and its latest recorded use was in 2025, showing that it remains in occasional use but at exceedingly low numbers. The name peaked in 1895, its first recorded year, suggesting it never gained wide traction. Despite its obscurity, Fayette carries a delicate, fairy-like charm rooted in its French etymology. The name's trajectory has been stable over time, with no notable revival. Today, fewer than 1 in every million newborns receives the name, making it a truly unique choice.
Fayette is a diminutive of the French word 'fée', meaning 'fairy', or derived from the Old French 'fayer' (to enchant). It emerged as a given name in the 19th century, likely influenced by the use of surname Fayette, itself a variant of the French place name La Fayette, meaning 'the little beech tree'. In the United States, it saw modest use in the late 1800s, possibly inspired by the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the American Revolution.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Faye, Fay
Sibling names for Fayette
Names that share Fayette's style, for a brother or sister.
