Faye
Girl name · #515 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Faye? In official American birth records, Faye has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Faye is currently the #515 girl name in the United States — 579 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #930, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,109 girls born in 2025 was named Faye.
Babies named Faye per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Faye first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 8 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1943, when 1,468 girls were named Faye — good for #163 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Faye against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Faye in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Faye is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Faye is most common
Geography matters for names, and Faye is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Faye is most common in KS (1.1 per 1,000), OR (1 per 1,000), UT (1 per 1,000), MA (0.9 per 1,000), CO (0.8 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Faye is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Faye
Statistically, parents drawn to Faye tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Frankie, Flora, Lana, Maxine, and Margo.
FrankieFloraLanaMaxineMargoRosieRuthieDottie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Faye | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 579 | #514 |
| 2024 | 563 | #539 |
| 2023 | 612 | #500 |
| 2022 | 537 | #564 |
| 2021 | 496 | #603 |
| 2020 | 414 | #687 |
| 2019 | 416 | #694 |
| 2018 | 415 | #700 |
| 2017 | 405 | #709 |
| 2016 | 349 | #822 |
| 2015 | 292 | #930 |
| 2014 | 297 | #911 |
| 2013 | 247 | #1008 |
| 2012 | 234 | #1069 |
| 2011 | 152 | #1469 |
| 2010 | 162 | #1414 |
| 2009 | 137 | #1629 |
| 2008 | 140 | #1620 |
| 2007 | 121 | #1770 |
| 2006 | 111 | #1833 |
| 2005 | 134 | #1533 |
| 2004 | 111 | #1734 |
| 2003 | 82 | #2125 |
| 2002 | 102 | #1771 |
| 2001 | 85 | #1995 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Faye?
In official American birth records, the name Faye first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Faye a popular girl name?
Faye ranked #515 among girls in 2025 with 579 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #930.
When was the name Faye most popular?
Faye peaked in 1943, when 1,468 American girls received the name (ranked #163 that year). Since 1943 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Faye?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,109 newborn American girls was named Faye. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.