Fay Unisex

Popularity: #909 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: Fay /feɪ/

Origin: English; French

Meaning: English: fairy; French: loyalty

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Fay has its roots in the Old French word "fae," which translates to "fairy" or "elf." This term itself derives from the Latin "fata," meaning "fate" or "destiny," which is linked to the mythological figures known as the Fates in Roman mythology. The transition of the name into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when Old French began to influence the English language significantly.

As a result, Fay emerged as a feminine given name in England, associated with the enchanting qualities of fairies and the supernatural. Historically, the name Fay has been associated with various literary and cultural references.

In the medieval period, fairy lore was prevalent in English literature, and the name became emblematic of the ethereal and magical qualities attributed to fairies. Notably, the name appears in works such as Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," where the character Titania, the queen of the fairies, embodies the enchanting spirit that the name Fay evokes.

The name's association with the supernatural continued through the Renaissance and into the Romantic period, where themes of nature and fantasy flourished. Culturally, Fay has been linked to notions of beauty, grace, and otherworldliness, resonating with the ideals of femininity in various artistic expressions.

The diminutive form "Faye" also emerged, further emphasizing the name's connection to fairy-like qualities. Over the centuries, Fay has maintained its charm and allure, remaining a symbol of enchantment and the mystical aspects of folklore.

Its enduring presence in literature and culture underscores its significance as a name that embodies the magical and the ethereal.

Famous people named Fay

In this section, you will find notable people named Fay. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Fay who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Fay who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Fay Wray is an actress best known for King Kong, The Wedding March, and The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Fay Dunaway is an actress best known for Bonnie and Clyde, Network, and Chinatown.

Fay Ripley is an actress best known for Cold Feet, The Good Life, and The Last Detective.

Fictional characters named Fay

The following list of fictional characters named Fay is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Fay is a fictional character from the video game series The Legend of Zelda. She is a fairy companion who guides the player character, Link, throughout their journey.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Fay, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MayRayKayJayTayZay

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Fay. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

FayeMaeLayBaySageClaireLilaNina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Fay was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Fay has ranked as high as #342 nationally, which occurred in 1915, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Michigan, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Fay has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Fay is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Fay was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Fay.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 39 0 39
2024 46 0 46
2023 34 0 34
2022 38 0 38
2021 43 0 43
2020 33 0 33
2019 38 0 38
2018 39 0 39
2017 26 0 26
2016 45 0 45
2015 25 0 25
2014 34 0 34
2013 26 0 26
2012 30 0 30
2011 26 0 26
2010 22 0 22
2009 26 0 26
2008 20 0 20
2007 26 0 26
2006 27 0 27
2005 16 0 16
2004 25 0 25
2003 25 0 25
2002 23 0 23
2001 17 0 17
2000 24 0 24
1999 13 0 13
1998 19 0 19
1997 17 0 17
1996 11 0 11
1995 15 0 15
1994 17 0 17
1993 16 0 16
1992 16 0 16
1991 20 0 20
1990 26 0 26
1989 29 0 29
1988 26 0 26
1987 27 0 27
1986 25 0 25
1985 32 0 32
1984 32 0 32
1983 35 0 35
1982 36 0 36
1981 32 0 32
1980 42 0 42
1979 31 0 31
1978 46 0 46
1977 52 0 52
1976 63 8 55
1975 50 0 50
1974 48 0 48
1973 54 0 54
1972 56 5 51
1971 75 6 69
1970 73 5 68
1969 92 10 82
1968 117 6 111
1967 120 9 111
1966 140 0 140
1965 160 5 155
1964 193 9 184
1963 219 9 210
1962 238 11 227
1961 262 16 246
1960 286 12 274
1959 272 12 260
1958 315 13 302
1957 281 16 265
1956 344 16 328
1955 284 21 263
1954 335 14 321
1953 320 18 302
1952 341 21 320
1951 413 20 393
1950 396 20 376
1949 434 33 401
1948 374 20 354
1947 453 33 420
1946 444 34 410
1945 367 32 335
1944 430 40 390
1943 509 38 471
1942 539 50 489
1941 473 43 430
1940 556 59 497
1939 544 42 502
1938 549 53 496
1937 597 47 550
1936 591 61 530
1935 614 71 543
1934 716 83 633
1933 687 79 608
1932 726 71 655
1931 714 82 632
1930 697 83 614
1929 734 80 654
1928 716 88 628
1927 762 97 665
1926 833 111 722
1925 726 119 607
1924 676 113 563
1923 717 122 595
1922 697 129 568
1921 740 128 612
1920 824 134 690
1919 808 148 660
1918 785 123 662
1917 832 142 690
1916 829 153 676
1915 842 141 701
1914 668 102 566
1913 510 83 427
1912 492 56 436
1911 366 27 339
1910 340 24 316
1909 274 28 246
1908 287 20 267
1907 272 15 257
1906 230 15 215
1905 243 28 215
1904 205 19 186
1903 226 36 190
1902 213 32 181
1901 177 26 151
1900 200 30 170
1899 162 23 139
1898 196 25 171
1897 154 13 141
1896 128 21 107
1895 144 23 121
1894 158 34 124
1893 124 35 89
1892 117 20 97
1891 113 21 92
1890 124 25 99
1889 103 19 84
1888 77 14 63
1887 64 17 47
1886 62 25 37
1885 66 18 48
1884 59 20 39
1883 43 15 28
1882 49 15 34
1881 33 15 18
1880 28 15 13

Top States for Fay (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 8
40%
NY 7
35%
TX 5
25%