Gay vs Gaye
Side-by-side comparison of Gay and Gaye — popularity rank, total births, peak decade, and historical trends from Social Security Administration data.
Which name is more popular?
| Metric | Gay | Gaye |
|---|---|---|
| Current Rank | Unranked | Unranked |
| Total Births (all years) | 17,985 | 5,747 |
| Peak Year | 1959 | 1960 |
| Peak Year Births | 682 | 268 |
| Peak Decade | 1950ss | 1950ss |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| First Recorded Year | 1886 | 1909 |
Births by Decade
| Decade | Gay | Gaye |
|---|---|---|
| 1880ss | 41 | — |
| 1890ss | 160 | — |
| 1900ss | 183 | 5 |
| 1910ss | 483 | 69 |
| 1920ss | 745 | 106 |
| 1930ss | 2,587 | 599 |
| 1940ss | 4,329 | 1,333 |
| 1950ss | 5,654 | 2,044 |
| 1960ss | 3,409 | 1,449 |
| 1970ss | 388 | 142 |
| 1980ss | 6 | — |
Data Sources
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications — National Data, ssa.gov/oact/babynames.
Source: SSA Annual Name Rankings, 1886–1982.