Total births
280
Unisex name · since 1973
Ly
Ly has 280 recorded births since 1973 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1984 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- 280
- total births
- 1973–2008
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 53%
- born in that decade
280 girls have been named Ly since 1973, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Ly has been recorded 280 times among girls since 1973, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1980s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1973 to 2008.
- 280 total births
- 1973–2008 years on record
- 1980s peak decade
- 53% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
280 girls have been named Ly since 1973, peaking in the 1980s, last recorded in 2008.
- 280
- total births
- 1973–2008
- years on record
- 1980s
- peak decade
- 53%
- born in that decade
1980s
Peak decade
53% of everyone ever named Ly was born in this single decade.
1984
Single peak year
24 babies were named Ly in 1984 - its busiest year on record.
Ly's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Ly's SSA record in two at 1990 and the more recent half accounts for 38% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 62%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1973, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1984 peak of 24, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Ly at a glance
Last recorded 2008Peak year
1984
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1973
Ly popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1973–2008
- Peak year (1984)
- 24
- Annual births at peak, across 36 years of records
Ly popularity over time - boys
119 total births recorded since 1978 (Ly as boys' name)
Ly by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1980s was Ly's strongest decade.
147 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 53% of all-time use.
Ly births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 28
1970s
28 births
- 1980s
1980s
147 births
- 1990s
1990s
79 births
- 2000s 26
2000s
26 births
What this shows Peak: 1980s at 147 births (53% of all-time use).
Ly by state
Where Ly concentrates geographically, total births since 1973
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 44 | 15.7% |
California share of Ly's total US births 15.7%
44 of 280 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ly? ▼
Since 1973, Social Security records show 280 babies named Ly. The most recent recorded year was 2008. Its busiest year on record was 1984, with 24 births.
When was Ly most popular? ▼
Ly was most popular in the 1980s decade with 147 total births. The single peak year was 1984.
Where is Ly most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ly are California (44 births).
Is Ly a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Ly is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 280 births, and as a boy's name it has 119 births.
How long has the name Ly been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Ly since 1973 -- 36 years through the most recent 2008 data.
What names are similar to Ly? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Lydia, Lynn, Lynda, Lynne, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Ly's data
- Ly's decade-level peak was the 1980s (147 total births); usage has since declined to 26 in the 2000s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Lys (44 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 Ly
Nearby Names Like Ly
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ly
Lydia Girl
#97 187,039 births
Lynn Girl
#2798 182,387 births
Lynda Girl
#9565 77,979 births
Lynne Girl
#13549 61,957 births
Lyla Girl
#83 49,294 births
Compare Ly side by side: Ly vs Lydia Ly vs Lynn Ly vs Lynda
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, 1973–2008 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ly: Baby Name Since 1973 - 280 Births, Peak 1984." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ly. 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 Ly 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.