Jay vs Ray

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Jay

Boy #397 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"to rejoice, joyful"

Origin: Latin (Gaius)

American English South Asian Universal

✓ All Clear

Girl #4,924 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"beam of light"

Origin: Old French

English American French

✓ All Clear

Jay Rank #397

Ray Rank #4,924

Jay is more popular, ranked #397 vs #4924 for Ray.

Is Jay or Ray more popular?

Jay is more popular, ranked #397 compared to Ray at #4924 in the United States.

What do Jay and Ray mean?

Jay means "to rejoice, joyful" (Latin (Gaius) origin). Ray means "beam of light" (Old French origin).

Are Jay and Ray boy or girl names?

Jay is primarily a boy name. Ray is primarily a girl name.