Boy · #10,726 in 2026

Pray

Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified ancestor.

Current Rank
#10,726
Peak Rank
#10,726 (2013)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
2013
First Year
2013
Last Year
2013
Peak Year
#10726
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Pray

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified ancestor.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The English term prayer is from Medieval Latin : precaria , lit. ' petition, prayer ' . The Vulgate Latin is oratio , which translates Greek προσευχή in turn the Septuagint translation of Biblical Hebrew תְּפִלָּה tĕphillah .

The Story of Pray

Pray first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 2013, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2013, when 6 Prays were born — ranking #10,726 that year. As of 2026, Pray ranks #10,726 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Prays have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
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AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
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Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Pray

Phonetically similar names — useful when Pray is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Prey
  • Pro
  • Peru
  • Pry
  • Pre
  • Prow
  • Prix
  • Pree
  • Prie
  • Pra
  • Pri
  • Pero

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pray

What does the name Pray mean?
Prayer is an invocation or act that seeks to activate a rapport with an object of worship through deliberate communication. In the narrow sense, the term refers to an act of supplication or intercession directed towards a deity or a deified ancestor.
How popular is Pray in 2026?
In 2026, Pray ranks #10,726 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Pray most popular?
Pray reached its peak popularity in 2013, ranking #10,726 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Pray a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Pray is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Pray?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Pray include Brann, Channen, Haben. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Brann
Peak #10726
👦
Channen
Peak #10726
👦
Haben
Peak #10726
👦
Demacio
Peak #10726
👦
Osagie
Peak #10726
👦
Khorey
Peak #10726
👦
Ajae
Peak #10726
👦
Jamyr
Peak #10726

About the name Pray

Pray is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2013 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Pray's peak popularity came in 2013 when it ranked #10,726. Use the chart and map above to compare Pray's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.