Ray Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Ray is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Ray?
Ray is spelled R-A-Y. The name has 3 letters.
Ray at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- A beam of light.
- Origin
- The name Ray may derive from the Old French word “rai” meaning “beam of light” or from the Old Germanic name “Ragin”, which is associated with counsel or…
- Pronunciation
- ray · 1 syllable
Ray Popularity in 2025
Rank#6,116
Recorded Births19
Rank#791
Recorded Births319
- Girls usage fell 1,344 places to #6,116 and recorded 9 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 14 places to #791 and recorded 4 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Ray Mean?
A beam of light.
Origin: The name Ray may derive from the Old French word “rai” meaning “beam of light” or from the Old Germanic name “Ragin”, which is associated with counsel or advice.
How Do You Pronounce Ray?
Pronunciationray
Syllables1
What Is the History of the Name Ray?
- History
- Ray has been used as both a given name and a surname in English-speaking countries for several centuries, appearing in varied historical records without a singular point of origin.
Ray Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 19 | #6,116 |
| 2025 | Boys | 319 | #791 |
| 2024 | Girls | 28 | #4,772 |
| 2024 | Boys | 323 | #777 |
| 2023 | Girls | 26 | #4,999 |
| 2023 | Boys | 338 | #763 |
| 2022 | Girls | 29 | #4,671 |
| 2022 | Boys | 332 | #760 |
| 2021 | Girls | 27 | #4,833 |
| 2021 | Boys | 283 | #840 |
| 2020 | Girls | 22 | #5,487 |
| 2020 | Boys | 343 | #724 |
| 2019 | Girls | 17 | #6,698 |
| 2019 | Boys | 328 | #735 |
| 2018 | Girls | 21 | #5,785 |
| 2018 | Boys | 330 | #726 |
| 2017 | Girls | 21 | #5,821 |
| 2017 | Boys | 306 | #767 |
| 2016 | Girls | 21 | #5,985 |
| 2016 | Boys | 324 | #750 |
| 2015 | Girls | 10 | #10,148 |
| 2015 | Boys | 349 | #712 |
| 2014 | Girls | 9 | #10,955 |
| 2014 | Boys | 329 | #728 |
When Was Ray Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1957 · Boys
3,410 recorded births
National rank #111
1926 · Boys
3,409 recorded births
National rank #57
1947 · Boys
3,379 recorded births
National rank #97
1924 · Boys
3,369 recorded births
National rank #60
Where Ray Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| UT | #515 | 8 |
| FL | #602 | 28 |
| CA | #607 | 48 |
| WI | #618 | 7 |
| IN | #621 | 10 |
| KY | #625 | 6 |
| CO | #626 | 8 |
| OH | #650 | 14 |