Holding steady.
Popularity of Gaye since 1909
Babies named Gaye per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 69 |
| 1920s | 106 |
| 1930s | 599 |
| 1940s | 1,333 |
| 1950s | 2,043 |
| 1960s | 1,449 |
| 1970s | 142 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Gaye is a spelling variant of Gay, derived from the Old French 'gai' meaning 'joyful'. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1909 and experienced a notable peak in popularity during the 1960s, reaching its highest rank in 1960. However, as the word 'gay' became associated with homosexuality in the late 20th century, the name declined sharply in usage. By 2025, it is no longer tracked in the Social Security Administration's data, with a one-in-N ratio effectively zero and no births recorded in recent years. Its trajectory has been stable at near-zero levels since the 1980s. Though it never had a strong regional concentration, it was most common in states like California and New York during its peak.
Gaye is a spelling variant of Gay, which derives from the Old French word 'gai' meaning 'joyful' or 'merry'. It was used as a medieval nickname and later as a given name. Its popularity peaked in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1960s, before the word 'gay' acquired its modern primary meaning related to sexual orientation, which led to a steep decline in usage for female children.
Where Gaye 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.
“Gaye” around the world
Where Gaye lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Gay
Sibling names for Gaye
Names that share Gaye's style, for a brother or sister.
