Fay
Fay is a unisex English given name meaning fairy. Alternately, it is a diminutive of Faith. It has been in use in English-speaking countries since the 1800s.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Fay
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Fay is a unisex English given name meaning fairy. Alternately, it is a diminutive of Faith. It has been in use in English-speaking countries since the 1800s.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Fay
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Fay as a girl name dates back to 1880, when 13 babies received it. 1926 was its biggest year on record, with 722 newborns named Fay — #243 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 20% of all recorded Fays. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #3,506 among girl names with 44 births, rising sharply (+15% over the past five years). In total, more than 32K Fays have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Fay as a boy name dates back to 1880, when 15 babies received it. 1916 was its biggest year on record, with 153 newborns named Fay — #455 in the national rankings. The 1920s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 27% of all recorded Fays. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1976 (8 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 4K Fays have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Fay
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Fay. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Fay
Phonetically similar names — useful when Fay is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fay
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Is Fay a unisex name?
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About the name Fay
Fay is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 32K births in the dataset. Fay's peak popularity came in 1926 when it ranked #202. Use the chart and map above to compare Fay's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1926 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "F" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.