Ray

Ray - A very unique male name

Ray appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #66. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ray and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ray? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ray. The baby boy name Ray was given to 257 baby boys in 2025, ranking #818 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 5,705 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ray peaked in popularity 100 years ago in 1926 on position 57.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ray, 1-5?

Ray is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ray is currently topping the baby name charts in Utah at position #545 - and is the least popular in Tennessee at position #1,152.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ray is where you live.

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Ray origin and meaning

Germanic (short form)

Originally a short form of Raymond, from Germanic elements meaning 'counsel' and 'protection'; it also coincides with the English word ray, a beam of light

Ray has stood alone in US data since 1910, a top name in the early and middle 20th century that peaked in 1957. It has since settled into the low hundreds, a plain, warm one-syllable classic.

Attested etymology

Ray is a 3 letter name with 1 syllables.

To see famous people named Ray, pop culture references for the name Ray and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ray

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ray, sorted by popularity.

Roy / Rory / Rey / Rio / Ryu / Rui / Ryo / Rye / Rei / Rai /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ray

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ray a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ray?

1 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

RAY · /reɪ/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Rae — The spelling used more often for girls, a separate established name

Famous bearers

• Ray Charles — American singer and pianist who shaped soul music (1930–2004) Contemporary
• Ray Bradbury — American author of Fahrenheit 451 (1920–2012) Contemporary
• Ray Romano — American comedian and star of Everybody Loves Raymond (b. 1957) Contemporary

Style

ClassicShort form

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Ray for unpretentious warmth — a grandfather name with sunlight in it, short enough to feel modern again.

Worth knowing

• Ray Charles and the light-beam word are both strong associations; neither is a drawback for most families