Fey
A girl's name of Middle English origin with 135 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Fey is a girl's baby name of Middle English origin, from the Middle English feie meaning 'fated,' 'enchanted,' or 'fairy-like.' It also connects to the Old French fée (fairy). Actress Tina Fey gave the name a modern comedy association — sharp wit delivered with supernatural ease.
Brief and magical, Fey is a name for a daughter who seems to operate on a different frequency than everyone else — seeing things others miss, moving through the world with an otherworldly ease.
EtymologyShow more
Fey appeared in SSA records in 1997, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Middle English roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 135 recorded births, Fey has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Fey was #11980 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #13988, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 23 | — |
| 2010s | 25 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 56 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 31 | — |
The Story of Fey
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1999, Fey is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Fey are most likely born between 1997 and 2009.
How rare is Fey?
Only about 1 in every 600,000 babies born in 2024 was named Fey — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1997, peaked in the 2000s with 56 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Fey by the numbers
- Would fill 3 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(18 years, 1997–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 | #13988 |
| 2023 | 6 | #13988 |
| 2022 | 6 | #14140 |
| 2021 | 5 | #16040 |
| 2019 | 6 | #14365 |
| 2018 | 6 | #14387 |
| 2012 | 5 | #17744 |
| 2011 | 8 | #12553 |
| 2009 | 5 | #18223 |
| 2006 | 7 | #14059 |
| 2005 | 12 | #9074 |
| 2004 | 8 | #11980 |
| 2002 | 8 | #11464 |
| 2001 | 5 | #16164 |
| 2000 | 11 | #8764 |
| 1999 | 12 | #7882 |
| 1998 | 10 | #8807 |
| 1997 | 9 | #9278 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When was Fey most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1997–2024