Ray
How to say it: RAY · /ˈreɪ/
From Old French 'rei' (king); also a short form of Raymond meaning 'wise protector'.
Ray was the 511th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 319 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are steady over ten years, and it is projected to slip to #516 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #511 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 319 |
| Share of births | 1 in 5,706 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | −2% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #516 |
| In France, 2025 | #2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Long past its 1890s height, Ray continues in steady if quieter use. Far below its former standing, it will likely slip further.
What goes with it
A single bright syllable with soft resonance, it feels strong and touched by light. Rex offers a similarly brief counterpart.
Honouring a Ray in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Ray is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.
Famous people named Ray
- Ray Bradbury (1920–2012)American author and screenwriter
- Ray Winstone (born 1957)English actor
- Ray William Johnson (born 1981)American YouTuber
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Keep exploring
About as popular as Ray
In the same lists
Find names you'll both love, starting with Ray
The one-minute style quiz.