Jay is a distinctive choice, ranked #500 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Jay in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#500
US Rank #396
About the Name Jay
Jay has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 119 places in five years. It was most popular in 2009 at #102 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Jay is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #396, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Jay
Unlikely. With around 78 UK babies named Jay per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Jay in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Jay has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 119 places in the last five years. Its peak was #102 in 2009. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Jay is more popular in the US (#396) than in the UK (#500). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Jay include: Jay Rock — Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr.; Jay Shah — Jay Amitbhai Shah is an Indian cricket administrator and businessman, and the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since December 2024.; Jay Cutler (bodybuilder) — Jason Isaac Cutler is a former American professional bodybuilder..
Jay appears in the US top 500 at #396 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
78
UK babies named Jay (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 119 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Jay
Likely around 1 other Jay in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Jay
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr., better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Southern California, Rock signed with the Carson-based independent label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005.
Jay Amitbhai Shah is an Indian cricket administrator and businessman, and the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since December 2024. He was the President of the Asian Cricket Council, establishing himself as one of the most influential figures in global cricket governance.
Jay-Jay Feeney is a New Zealand podcast co-host of How To Have Sex, media personality, podcast studio director and former radio host. She previously was a co-host for More FM's drive show, Jay-Jay & Flynny Driving You Home, with Paul Flynn.
Shawn Corey Carter, known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, businessman, and record executive. He was named the greatest rapper of all time by Billboard and Vibe in 2023.
Norman Bernard Joseph MBE, known by his stage name Norman Jay is a British club, radio and sound system DJ. He first came to prominence playing unlicensed "warehouse" parties in the early 1980s, and through his involvement with the then-pirate radio station Kiss FM.