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How Many People Are Named Ray?
Estimated people named Ray living in the U.S. today
94,104
Gender distribution
98% male · 2% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 209,970
- Peak year: 1926 (3,529 births)
- Estimated living today: 94,104
Ray by age group — who carries the name today?
Ray popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Ray
Ray has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 209,970 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 94,104 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 3,632 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Rays 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 Ray in the US?
An estimated 94,104 people named Ray are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Ray rare — about 1 in 3,632 Americans.
Is Ray a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Ray is 98% male and 2% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Ray most popular?
Ray peaked in 1926, when 3,529 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Ray?
Ray ranks #565 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 42 out of 100 (higher means rarer).