Ray vs Jay

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ray

Girl #4,924 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"beam of light"

Origin: Old French

English American French

✓ All Clear

Boy #397 Most Popular 1 Syllable

"to rejoice, joyful"

Origin: Latin (Gaius)

American English South Asian Universal

✓ All Clear

Ray Rank #4,924

Jay Rank #397

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

Is Ray or Jay more popular?

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

What do Ray and Jay mean?

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

Are Ray and Jay boy or girl names?

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