Tay
Tay is a name used as a surname and a given name. Tay is also a nickname and sometimes a short form (hypocorism) of the given name Taylor. Tay is also an alternative form for Zheng (surname). Notable people with the name include:
Meaning & Origin of Tay
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Tay is a name used as a surname and a given name. Tay is also a nickname and sometimes a short form (hypocorism) of the given name Taylor. Tay is also an alternative form for Zheng (surname). Notable people with the name include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Tay
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Tay as a girl name dates back to 1956, when 5 babies received it. 1964 was its biggest year on record, with 10 newborns named Tay — #4,355 in the national rankings. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 29% of all recorded Tays. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2018 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 55 Tays have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Tay first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1939, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2001: 13 births, good for #5,390 nationwide. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 32% of all recorded Tays. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (9 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 195 Tays have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Tay
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Tay Gowan (born 1998), American football player
- Tay Za (born 1964), Burmese businessman
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Tay
Phonetically similar names — useful when Tay 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 Tay
What does the name Tay mean?
How popular is Tay in 2026?
When was Tay most popular?
Is Tay a unisex name?
What names go well with Tay?
About the name Tay
Tay is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1939 and has accumulated 195 births in the dataset. Tay's peak popularity came in 2001 when it ranked #5,390. Use the chart and map above to compare Tay's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2001 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "T" →
- Browse all boy 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.