Holding steady.
Popularity of Gay since 1883
Babies named Gay per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1959, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gay's real moment was 1943.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 41 | 19 |
| 1890s | 160 | 46 |
| 1900s | 183 | 16 |
| 1910s | 483 | 164 |
| 1920s | 745 | 258 |
| 1930s | 2,587 | 300 |
| 1940s | 4,329 | 276 |
| 1950s | 5,654 | 206 |
| 1960s | 3,409 | 73 |
| 1970s | 388 | 24 |
| 1980s | 6 | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
The name Gay was most popular in the United States during the 1940s, peaking in 1943 when it was the number one name (rank 1). However, by the 1960s, the name fell out of favor due to the word's evolving association with homosexuality. According to the data, the name was first recorded in 1886 and has seen steady decline since its peak. In the 1940s decade, it was still common, but today it is rarely used. The trajectory is stable yet near zero, with no top states recorded and a one-in-N ratio that is not available, indicating extremely low frequency. This name serves as a historical example of how cultural shifts can impact name popularity.
Gay derives from the Old French 'gai' meaning 'joyful, merry', which entered English in the 13th century. Originally used as a nickname or descriptive name, it became a given name in the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly for girls. Its usage declined sharply after the mid-20th century due to the word's shift in meaning as a term for homosexuality.
Where Gay is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Sibling names for Gay
Names that share Gay's style, for a brother or sister.
