Declining since 1985, #3,903 for girls today.
Popularity of Kay since 1885
Babies named Kay per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 31 |
| 1890s | 122 |
| 1900s | 452 |
| 1910s | 2,173 |
| 1920s | 2,665 |
| 1930s | 17,301 |
| 1940s | 32,654 |
| 1950s | 24,645 |
| 1960s | 12,390 |
| 1970s | 2,517 |
| 1980s | 1,409 |
| 1990s | 869 |
| 2000s | 635 |
| 2010s | 504 |
| 2020s | 254 |
Meaning & origin
Kay has been a part of American naming since at least 1885, when it first appeared in Social Security records. Its peak year was 1939, when the name ranked among the top choices for girls. Since 1985, Kay has been steadily declining in use, and by 2025 it stands at rank 3903, with an estimated 1 in 43,440 girls receiving the name. The name has seen most of its historical usage in Texas, reflecting regional preferences during its mid-century heyday. Despite its current rarity, Kay retains a straightforward charm as a short, vowel-heavy name that pairs well with longer middle names.
Kay is predominantly used as a feminine given name in English-speaking countries. It likely originated as a diminutive of Katherine, itself from Greek Aikaterinē (of uncertain meaning), or as a feminine variant of the surname Kaye, which derived from the Old Norse personal name Káti (meaning 'joyful' or 'battle'). The name gained independent popularity in the early 20th century, particularly in the United States.
Where Kay 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.
“Kay” around the world
Where Kay lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Kaye
Sibling names for Kay
Names that share Kay's style, for a brother or sister.
