Ray
Boy name · #791 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
Ray is currently the #791 boy name in the United States — 319 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #712, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 5,643 boys born in 2025 was named Ray.
Babies named Ray per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Ray first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 142 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1957, when 3,410 boys were named Ray — good for #111 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 Ray against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ray in class?
Ray scores 62 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ray is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ray is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Rays were CA (48), TX (40), FL (28), NY (19), OH (14). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ray
Statistically, parents drawn to Ray tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ricky, Rudy, Randy, Jay, and Roy.
RickyRudyRandyJayRoyTonyRobinJoey
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ray | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 319 | #791 |
| 2024 | 323 | #777 |
| 2023 | 338 | #763 |
| 2022 | 332 | #760 |
| 2021 | 283 | #840 |
| 2020 | 343 | #724 |
| 2019 | 328 | #735 |
| 2018 | 330 | #726 |
| 2017 | 306 | #767 |
| 2016 | 324 | #750 |
| 2015 | 349 | #712 |
| 2014 | 329 | #728 |
| 2013 | 363 | #665 |
| 2012 | 327 | #719 |
| 2011 | 347 | #678 |
| 2010 | 364 | #659 |
| 2009 | 366 | #669 |
| 2008 | 374 | #651 |
| 2007 | 384 | #633 |
| 2006 | 451 | #556 |
| 2005 | 420 | #563 |
| 2004 | 391 | #577 |
| 2003 | 336 | #617 |
| 2002 | 377 | #578 |
| 2001 | 360 | #573 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ray a popular boy name?
Ray ranked #791 among boys in 2025 with 319 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #712.
When was the name Ray most popular?
Ray peaked in 1957, when 3,410 American boys received the name (ranked #111 that year). Since 1957 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ray?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 5,643 newborn American boys was named Ray. It scores 62/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.