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How Many People Are Named Jay?
Estimated people named Jay living in the U.S. today
143,804
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 197,300
- Peak year: 1960 (5,427 births)
- Estimated living today: 143,804
Jay by age group — who carries the name today?
Jay popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Jay
Jay has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 197,300 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 143,804 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 2,377 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Jays you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Jay in the US?
An estimated 143,804 people named Jay are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Jay uncommon — about 1 in 2,377 Americans.
Is Jay a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Jay is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Jay most popular?
Jay peaked in 1960, when 5,427 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Jay?
Jay ranks #369 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 40 out of 100 (higher means rarer).