Total births
17,985
Unisex name · since 1886
Gay
Since 1886, U.S. Social Security records show 17,985 babies named Gay, peaking in 1959. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 17,985
- total births
- 1886–1982
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
Gay is not among the current top-ranked girls names; 17,985 have been recorded since 1886.
Gay has 17,985 recorded births among girls since 1886, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1950s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1886 to 1982.
- 17,985 total births
- 1886–1982 years on record
- 1950s peak decade
- 31% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
17,985 girls have been named Gay since 1886, peaking in the 1950s, last recorded in 1982.
- 17,985
- total births
- 1886–1982
- years on record
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 31%
- born in that decade
1950s
Peak decade
31% of everyone ever named Gay was born in this single decade.
1959
Single peak year
682 babies were named Gay in 1959 - its busiest year on record.
Gay's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Gay's SSA record in two at 1933 and the more recent half accounts for 88% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 12%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1886, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1959 peak of 682, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Gay at a glance
Last recorded 1982Peak year
1959
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1886
Gay popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1886–1982
- Peak year (1959)
- 682
- Annual births at peak, across 97 years of records
Gay popularity over time - boys
1,382 total births recorded since 1883 (Gay as boys' name)
Gay by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Gay's strongest decade.
5,654 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 31% of all-time use.
Gay births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 41
1880s
41 births
- 1890s 160
1890s
160 births
- 1900s 183
1900s
183 births
- 1910s 483
1910s
483 births
- 1920s 745
1920s
745 births
- 1930s
1930s
2,587 births
- 1940s
1940s
4,329 births
- 1950s
1950s
5,654 births
- 1960s
1960s
3,409 births
- 1970s 388
1970s
388 births
- 1980s 6
1980s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 5,654 births (31% of all-time use).
How Gay 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 Gay's total volume
Gay vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Gay by state
Where Gay concentrates geographically, total births since 1886
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 2,006 | 11.2% |
| #2 | California | | 1,342 | 7.5% |
| #3 | New York | | 830 | 4.6% |
| #4 | Illinois | | 793 | 4.4% |
| #5 | Michigan | | 760 | 4.2% |
| #6 | Ohio | | 728 | 4.0% |
| #7 | Pennsylvania | | 690 | 3.8% |
| #8 | Virginia | | 564 | 3.1% |
Texas share of Gay's total US births 11.2%
Even split
2,006 of 17,985 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 46 reporting states.
Gay appears in 46 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Gay? ▼
Since 1886, Social Security records show 17,985 babies named Gay. The most recent recorded year was 1982. Its busiest year on record was 1959, with 682 births.
When was Gay most popular? ▼
Gay was most popular in the 1950s decade with 5,654 total births. The single peak year was 1959.
Where is Gay most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Gay are Texas (2,006 births), California (1,342 births), New York (830 births).
Is Gay a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Gay is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 17,985 births, and as a boy's name it has 1,382 births.
How long has the name Gay been used? ▼
Records for Gay go back to 1886, giving 97 years of history through 1982.
What names are similar to Gay? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Gayle, Gayla, Gaye, Gaynell, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Gay's data
- Gay's decade-level peak was the 1950s (5,654 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Gays (2,006 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Gay
Nearby Names Like Gay
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Gay
Gayle Girl
#13518 61,357 births
Gayla Girl
10,838 births
Gaye Girl
5,746 births
Gaynell Girl
4,251 births
Gaylene Girl
2,570 births
Compare Gay side by side: Gay vs Gayle Gay vs Gayla Gay vs Gaye
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
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, 1886–1982 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Gay: Baby Name Since 1886 - 17,985 Births, Peak 1959." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/gay. 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 Gay 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.