Jaye

Primarily a girl's name of Old French origin with 2,455 recorded births. Also given to 1,106 boys.

Girl's nameAlso boy's#9170 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

A unisex given name.

Jaye is a baby name of Old French origin, a variant of Jay — derived from the Old French jai, itself from the Latin Gaius meaning 'to rejoice.' Gender-neutral and upbeat, Jaye carries the breezy confidence of a single-syllable name that sounds equally at home on anyone who wears it.

EtymologyShow more

Jaye first shows up in U.S. Social Security records in 1927. Its appearance in the 1920s coincides with waves of immigration, cultural exchange, and the early decades of American popular culture — all of which introduced and popularized new names.

Its Old French classification suggests a path from old french linguistic traditions into American usage, though the specific route — whether through immigration, literature, or cultural exchange — would require deeper historical research.

At a Glance

2,455

Total births

Since 1927

1956

Peak

173 births

1927

First recorded

98 years of data

Compare Jaye with another name

Popularity Over Time

Jaye climbed 1068 spots in the last 20 years — from #10238 to #9170.

First appeared: 1927Peak: 1956 (173 births)Current: #9170

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Jaye
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	51	#8476	▼
2010s	156	#7788	▲
2000s	137	#8414	▼
1990s	162	#6219	—
1980s	179	#4597	▼
1970s	231	#3192	▼
1960s	512	#1754	▼
1950s	784	#1360	▲
1940s	195	#2310	▲
1930s	37	#3706	▲
1920s	11	#4726	—

The Story of Jaye

A Baby Boomer name

Peaking in 1956, Jaye is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Jaye are most likely born between 1946 and 1966.

How rare is Jaye?

Only about 1 in every 327,273 babies born in 2024 was named Jaye — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1927, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 784 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Jaye by the numbers

Would fill 51 school buses
Meeting one Jaye per day would take 6.7 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(91 years, 1927–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Jaye
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	11	#9170	+1 (10.0%)
2023	10	#9891	-5 (-33.3%)
2022	15	#7427	0
2021	15	#7414	-2 (-11.8%)
2019	17	#6848	+6 (54.5%)
2018	11	#9427	-5 (-31.3%)
2017	16	#7230	-7 (-30.4%)
2016	23	#5704	+9 (64.3%)
2015	14	#8185	+1 (7.7%)
2014	13	#8684	-5 (-27.8%)
2013	18	#6857	+6 (50.0%)
2012	12	#9339	-1 (-7.7%)
2011	13	#8848	-6 (-31.6%)
2010	19	#6759	+3 (18.8%)
2009	16	#7841	+4 (33.3%)
2008	12	#9739	0
2007	12	#9803	-3 (-20.0%)
2006	15	#8031	+1 (7.1%)
2005	14	#8079	+4 (40.0%)
2004	10	#10238	-9 (-47.4%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Jaye as a Boy's Name

Though more common for girls, Jaye has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 1,106 births since 1920.

#11499

Current rank

1,106

Total births

1959

Peak year

Compare Jaye as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Jaye a boy's or girl's name?

Jaye is primarily a girl's name. It is also used as a boy's name, with 1,106 recorded births.

When was Jaye most popular?

Jaye reached its peak popularity in 1956 with 173 births that year. It is currently ranked #9170 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Jaye?

Jaye is currently ranked #9170 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 2,455 babies since 1927.

Can Jaye be used for both boys and girls?

Yes, Jaye is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #9170. As a boy's name, it ranks #11499.

Explore More

By Length4-letter names By OriginOld French names By EndingNames in -e TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1927–2024