Gray
Boy name · #1418 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Gray? In official American birth records, Gray has been tracked continuously since 1885, giving it 140 years of documented American history.
Gray ranks #1418 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 128 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1271, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 14,063 boys born in 2025 was named Gray.
The 140-year story
Gray first appears in the Social Security records in 1885, when 5 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2023, with 175 babies and a rank of #1172. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. 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.
Babies named Gray per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Gray against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Gray in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Gray is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Gray will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Gray is most common
State-level data for Gray is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Gray
Statistically, parents drawn to Gray tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Bray, Grey, Klay, Gentry, and Levy.
BrayGreyKlayGentryLevyConwayGianIlan
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Gray | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 128 | #1418 |
| 2024 | 142 | #1344 |
| 2023 | 175 | #1172 |
| 2022 | 164 | #1209 |
| 2021 | 167 | #1179 |
| 2020 | 151 | #1237 |
| 2019 | 156 | #1218 |
| 2018 | 148 | #1244 |
| 2017 | 145 | #1256 |
| 2016 | 144 | #1266 |
| 2015 | 141 | #1271 |
| 2014 | 127 | #1348 |
| 2013 | 121 | #1387 |
| 2012 | 120 | #1391 |
| 2011 | 97 | #1587 |
| 2010 | 97 | #1612 |
| 2009 | 89 | #1731 |
| 2008 | 77 | #1874 |
| 2007 | 81 | #1795 |
| 2006 | 70 | #1919 |
| 2005 | 54 | #2206 |
| 2004 | 54 | #2164 |
| 2003 | 57 | #2006 |
| 2002 | 46 | #2249 |
| 2001 | 51 | #2050 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Gray?
In official American birth records, the name Gray first appeared in 1885 (over 140 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Gray a popular boy name?
Gray ranked #1418 among boys in 2025 with 128 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1271.
When was the name Gray most popular?
Gray peaked in 2023, when 175 American boys received the name (ranked #1172 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Gray?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 14,063 newborn American boys was named Gray. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.