Total births
375
Unisex name · since 1972
Chay
375 babies named Chay in U.S. Social Security records since 1972, with the highest year being 1992. Year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state-level rankings drawn from federal birth data.
- 375
- total births
- 1972–2016
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
375 boys have been named Chay since 1972, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Chay has been recorded 375 times among boys since 1972, though it is not among the currently most-used boys names, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1972 to 2016.
- 375 total births
- 1972–2016 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 29% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
375 boys have been named Chay since 1972, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2016.
- 375
- total births
- 1972–2016
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 29%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
29% of everyone ever named Chay was born in this single decade.
1992
Single peak year
17 babies were named Chay in 1992 - its busiest year on record.
Chay's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Chay's SSA record in two at 1991 and the more recent half accounts for 53% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 47%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1975, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1992 peak of 17, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Chay at a glance
Last recorded 2016Peak year
1992
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1972
Chay popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1972–2016
- Peak year (1992)
- 17
- Annual births at peak, across 45 years of records
Chay popularity over time - girls
54 total births recorded since 1972 (Chay as girls' name)
Chay by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Chay's strongest decade.
108 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 29% of all-time use.
Chay births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s
1970s
68 births
- 1980s
1980s
97 births
- 1990s
1990s
108 births
- 2000s
2000s
82 births
- 2010s 20
2010s
20 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 108 births (29% of all-time use).
Chay by state
Where Chay concentrates geographically, total births since 1972
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 5 | 1.3% |
California share of Chay's total US births 1.3%
5 of 375 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Chay? ▼
Since 1972, Social Security records show 375 babies named Chay. The most recent recorded year was 2016. Its busiest year on record was 1992, with 17 births.
When was Chay most popular? ▼
Chay was most popular in the 1990s decade with 108 total births. The single peak year was 1992.
Where is Chay most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Chay are California (5 births).
Is Chay a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Chay is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 375 births, and as a girl's name it has 54 births.
How long has the name Chay been used? ▼
Records for Chay go back to 1972, giving 45 years of history through 2016.
What names are similar to Chay? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Charles, Chad, Charlie, Chase, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Chay's data
- Chay's decade-level peak was the 1990s (108 total births); usage has since declined to 20 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Chays (5 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 Chay
Nearby Names Like Chay
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Chay
Charles Boy
#51 2,434,659 births
Chad Boy
#1814 240,728 births
Charlie Boy
#176 184,280 births
Chase Boy
#173 181,160 births
Chance Boy
#418 54,622 births
Compare Chay side by side: Chay vs Charles Chay vs Chad Chay vs Charlie
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 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, 1972–2016 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Chay: Baby Name Since 1972 - 375 Births, Peak 1992." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/chay. 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 Chay 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 July 2026.