Jay vs Emerson

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Jay

Boy #397 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"to rejoice, joyful"

Origin: Latin (Gaius)

American English South Asian Universal

✓ All Clear

Boy #270 Most Popular 3 Syllables

"son of Emery"

Origin: English surname

English American

✓ All Clear

Jay Rank #397

Emerson Rank #270

Emerson is more popular, ranked #270 vs #397 for Jay.

Is Jay or Emerson more popular?

Emerson is more popular, ranked #270 compared to Jay at #397 in the United States.

What do Jay and Emerson mean?

Jay means "to rejoice, joyful" (Latin (Gaius) origin). Emerson means "son of Emery" (English surname origin).

Are Jay and Emerson boy or girl names?

Jay is primarily a boy name. Emerson is primarily a boy name.