Jaye Unisex

Popularity: #935 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JAY //dʒeɪ//

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: Jaybird; Hebrew: He will save

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Jaye has its roots in the English language, deriving from the Old French name "Jai" or "Jay," which itself comes from the Latin "gaius," meaning "to rejoice." This etymological journey reflects a transition from Latin to Old French and finally into English, where it evolved into various forms, including Jaye. The name is often associated with the jaybird, a symbol of joy and playfulness, which adds to its positive connotation in English-speaking cultures.

Historically, the name Jaye and its variants have been used since the medieval period, although it was not widely documented until the 20th century. The association with the jaybird, which has been a part of folklore and literature, contributed to its cultural significance.

The name has been embraced in various literary works and artistic expressions, often symbolizing freedom and cheerfulness. While not directly linked to any specific biblical figures or saints, the joyful connotation of the name aligns with themes found in religious texts, particularly in the context of celebration and happiness.

Culturally, Jaye resonates with themes of joy and light-heartedness, making it a fitting choice for those seeking a name that embodies positivity. The diminutive form "Jay" has also been used, reflecting a more casual or affectionate variant of the name.

Overall, Jaye represents a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural symbolism, embodying a sense of joy that has allowed it to endure through the centuries.

Famous people named Jaye

In this section, you will find notable people named Jaye. 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 Jaye who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Jaye 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.

Jaye Davidson is an actor best known for The Crying Game and Stargate.

Jaye P. Morgan is a singer and actress best known for The Gong Show and The Jaye P. Morgan Show.

Sibling suggestions

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

JadeJoyJasmineJunoJenna

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jaye. 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.

JaylaJadaJolieJasmineJennaJovey

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Jaye was first seen in the United States in 1920.

Jaye has ranked as high as #1221 nationally, which occurred in 1956, and has been most popular in California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Jaye has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Jaye 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 Jaye 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 Jaye.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 25 12 13
2024 17 6 11
2023 17 7 10
2022 20 5 15
2021 28 13 15
2020 9 9 0
2019 34 17 17
2018 20 9 11
2017 24 8 16
2016 32 9 23
2015 29 15 14
2014 23 10 13
2013 26 8 18
2012 24 12 12
2011 23 10 13
2010 34 15 19
2009 21 5 16
2008 21 9 12
2007 22 10 12
2006 27 12 15
2005 20 6 14
2004 24 14 10
2003 25 6 19
2002 19 5 14
2001 20 10 10
2000 27 12 15
1999 31 11 20
1998 29 10 19
1997 21 6 15
1996 28 10 18
1995 25 8 17
1994 31 10 21
1993 35 17 18
1992 22 11 11
1991 38 22 16
1990 24 17 7
1989 34 14 20
1988 39 20 19
1987 31 12 19
1986 22 10 12
1985 23 13 10
1984 35 15 20
1983 37 12 25
1982 32 12 20
1981 29 11 18
1980 31 15 16
1979 41 9 32
1978 40 16 24
1977 32 14 18
1976 35 20 15
1975 37 12 25
1974 28 7 21
1973 47 18 29
1972 33 11 22
1971 42 17 25
1970 31 11 20
1969 46 19 27
1968 50 19 31
1967 48 16 32
1966 51 19 32
1965 59 19 40
1964 66 21 45
1963 80 16 64
1962 95 19 76
1961 97 23 74
1960 109 18 91
1959 115 32 83
1958 110 20 90
1957 150 18 132
1956 190 17 173
1955 129 13 116
1954 105 26 79
1953 35 9 26
1952 43 9 34
1951 30 8 22
1950 40 11 29
1949 28 8 20
1948 40 6 34
1947 37 8 29
1946 28 8 20
1945 27 6 21
1944 17 0 17
1943 27 5 22
1942 25 7 18
1941 12 5 7
1940 7 0 7
1939 5 5 0
1938 14 7 7
1937 20 9 11
1935 5 0 5
1934 15 6 9
1933 5 5 0
1932 12 7 5
1931 6 6 0
1930 10 10 0
1929 5 0 5
1927 6 0 6
1923 8 8 0
1920 5 5 0

Top States for Jaye (2022)

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 5
100%