Ray Unisex

Popularity: #614 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAY /reɪ/

Origin: English; Hebrew; French

Meaning: English: beam of light; Hebrew: God's gift; French: king

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ray has its roots in the Old French word "rai," which means "beam of light," derived from the Latin "radius," meaning "ray" or "spoke of a wheel." This Latin term itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European root "*reg-" which signifies "to rule" or "to direct." The transition of the name into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French terms were absorbed into the English language, enriching its vocabulary and introducing new names. Historically, the name Ray has been associated with various notable figures and cultural references.

In the context of Christianity, it can be linked to the concept of divine light, often symbolizing purity and guidance. The name has also appeared in literature and art, where light is a recurring theme, further cementing its positive connotations.

The diminutive form "Raymond," which means "wise protector," has been borne by several saints and historical figures, contributing to the name's enduring legacy. Throughout the centuries, the name Ray has been adopted in various cultures, often embodying the qualities of brightness and clarity.

Its usage can be traced back to medieval times, where it was sometimes used as a surname before becoming a popular given name. The name's association with light has made it a symbol of hope and enlightenment in various traditions.

As a result, Ray has maintained a significant presence in both historical and cultural contexts, reflecting the universal human fascination with light as a metaphor for knowledge and guidance.

Famous people named Ray

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

We also feature individuals named Ray 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.

Ray Charles is a singer and songwriter best known for Hit the Road Jack, Georgia on My Mind, and I Got a Woman.

Ray Bradbury is an author best known for Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, and Something Wicked This Way Comes.

Ray Liotta is an actor best known for Goodfellas, Field of Dreams, and Cop Land.

Ray Romano is a comedian and actor best known for Everybody Loves Raymond, The Irishman, and Men of a Certain Age.

Ray Allen is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, and Seattle SuperSonics.

Ray Stevens is a singer and songwriter best known for The Streak, Everything Is Beautiful, and Misty.

Ray Winstone is an actor best known for Sexy Beast, The Departed, and Beowulf.

Ray Parker Jr. is a musician best known for Ghostbusters, The Other Woman, and You Can't Change That.

Ray Davies is a musician best known as the lead singer and songwriter of The Kinks, known for songs like You Really Got Me and Waterloo Sunset.

Ray Mears is a television presenter and author best known for his survival skills programs and books.

Fictional characters named Ray

The following list of fictional characters named Ray 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.

Ray Stantz is a fictional character from the film franchise Ghostbusters. He is one of the original Ghostbusters and is known for his enthusiasm and expertise in paranormal research.

Ray Palmer is a fictional character from DC Comics. He is a superhero known as the Atom, who has the ability to shrink to subatomic sizes and manipulate his mass.

Sibling suggestions

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

JayKayMayTayZay

Similar names

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

RoyRaymondRexRileyReedReyRafeRylan

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Ray has ranked as high as #137 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in California, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, and Illinois.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ray 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 Ray was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Ray (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 61
24%
TX 35
14%
NY 26
10%
FL 17
7%
OH 13
5%
IL 11
4%
WA 10
4%
GA 9
4%
AZ 9
4%
UT 7
3%
NC 7
3%
PA 6
2%
AR 6
2%
MD 6
2%
MI 6
2%

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 Ray.

YearBirths
2024322
2023336
2022332
2021282
2020343
2019328
2018330
2017306
2016324
2015348
2014329
2013363
2012327
2011346
2010364
2009366
2008374
2007384
2006451
2005420
2004391
2003336
2002377
2001360
2000435
1999414
1998446
1997443
1996445
1995495
1994564
1993562
1992582
1991695
1990755
1989722
1988744
1987770
1986738
1985768
1984766
1983764
1982867
1981855
1980844
1979824
1978793
1977807
1976850
1975897
1974955
19731,046
19721,178
19711,267
19701,462
19691,522
19681,593
19671,616
19661,826
19652,092
19642,277
19632,584
19622,675
19612,920
19603,080
19593,221
19583,189
19573,409
19563,230
19553,069
19542,977
19532,815
19522,690
19512,678
19502,636
19492,710
19483,134
19473,378
19463,170
19452,740
19442,904
19433,063
19423,066
19412,695
19402,795
19392,709
19382,881
19372,725
19362,939
19353,070
19343,176
19333,033
19323,264
19313,161
19303,253
19293,174
19283,248
19273,253
19263,409
19253,219
19243,369
19233,161
19223,051
19213,075
19203,086
19192,722
19182,763
19172,426
19162,334
19152,365
19141,657
19131,328
19121,050
1911602
1910545
1909475
1908446
1907475
1906421
1905424
1904432
1903397
1902391
1901338
1900457
1899315
1898394
1897397
1896426
1895380
1894379
1893378
1892385
1891360
1890349
1889355
1888331
1887258
1886271
1885237
1884232
1883202
1882195
1881148
1880142