Total births
523
Unisex name · since 1987
Bay
Since 1987, U.S. Social Security records show 523 babies named Bay, peaking in 2014. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7041
- among girls today
- 523
- born since 1987
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 60%
- more common than other girls
Bay currently ranks #7041 among unisex names in America, with 523 babies recorded since 1987.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Bay has been recorded 523 times among girls since 1987, currently ranked #7041 nationally and more common than 60% of girls, with its heaviest use in the 2010s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1987 to 2025.
- #7041 among girls today
- 523 born since 1987
- 2010s peak decade
- 60% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Bay is currently the #7041 unisex name in America, more common than 60% of girls - 523 born since 1987, peaking in the 2010s.
- #7041
- among girls today
- 523
- born since 1987
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 60%
- more common than other girls
Bay vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#7041
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 60% of names given to girls today.
2010s
Peak decade
68% of everyone ever named Bay was born in this single decade.
2014
Single peak year
75 babies were named Bay in 2014 - its busiest year on record.
How Bay compares
523 Top 44% higher than 56% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Bay's all-time total is 37% above the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Bay | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 523 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 75 | 48 | 19,840 |
Bay's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Bay's SSA record in two at 2011 and the more recent half accounts for 79% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 21%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1987, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2014 peak of 75, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Bay at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2014
Current rank
#7,041
Active since
1987
Bay popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1987–2025
- Peak year (2014)
- 75
- Annual births at peak, across 39 years of records
Bay popularity over time - boys
204 total births recorded since 1916 (Bay as boys' name)
Bay by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Bay's strongest decade.
357 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 68% of all-time use.
Bay births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 1990s 34
1990s
34 births
- 2000s 62
2000s
62 births
- 2010s
2010s
357 births
- 2020s 65
2020s
65 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 357 births (68% of all-time use).
How Bay compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Bay's total volume
Bay vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Bay by state
Where Bay concentrates geographically, total births since 1987
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 32 | 6.1% |
| #2 | Texas | | 23 | 4.4% |
| #3 | New York | | 10 | 1.9% |
| #4 | Indiana | | 5 | 1.0% |
California share of Bay's total US births 6.1%
Even split
32 of 523 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Bay? ▼
Bay has been given to 523 babies in the U.S. since 1987, according to SSA data. Among girls, it ranks #7041 as of the latest data. 75 babies were born in 2014, its single highest year.
When was Bay most popular? ▼
Bay was most popular in the 2010s decade with 357 total births. The single peak year was 2014.
Where is Bay most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Bay are California (32 births), Texas (23 births), New York (10 births).
Is Bay a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Bay is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 523 births, and as a boy's name it has 204 births.
How long has the name Bay been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Bay since 1987 -- 39 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Bay? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Baylee, Bayleigh, Baylor, Baylie, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Bay's data
- Bay's decade-level peak was the 2010s (357 total births); usage has since declined to 65 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Bays (32 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Bay
Nearby Names Like Bay
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Bay
Baylee Girl
#1016 21,741 births
Bayleigh Girl
#2144 5,190 births
Baylor Girl
#809 3,721 births
Baylie Girl
#7400 3,472 births
Bayley Girl
#3998 2,221 births
Compare Bay side by side: Bay vs Baylee Bay vs Bayleigh Bay vs Baylor
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Bay
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1987–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Bay: #7041 Unisex Name - 523 Births, Peak 2014." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/bay. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Bay draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.