Jayd

Meaning & origin

Jayd is a modern respelling of Jade, a name that entered the mainstream in the 1970s. First recorded in U.S. data in 1990, Jayd peaked in popularity in 2001 and has since maintained a stable presence. Its most recent data from 2025 shows it ranked 13,208, with a 1-in-267,878 incidence that underscores its rarity. As a unisex name, Jayd appeals to parents seeking a contemporary feel while retaining the gemstone's timeless elegance.

Jayd is a contemporary respelling of Jade, a name derived from the Spanish piedra de la ijada (stone of the flank), referencing the stone's traditional use for healing flank pain. Jade was first used as a given name in the late 19th century but gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 1970s. Jayd, along with similar spellings like Jaid and Jayde, emerged as a fashionable variant in the late 20th century.