Meaning not established in our sources
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A name. A world of connections.
A name with a story to discover
/ˈkeɪ/ · English
01 / Meaning & origin
Kay is a unisex given name documented in English, French, Spanish and 7 other languages.
No etymology is recorded in our sources for this spelling yet. The record exists because the name is documented in use; a meaning will be shown only once a cited source supports it.
02 / Across borders
Explore official naming statistics and documented language connections around the world.
The name atlas
24
countries in our sources
Select a country to follow Kay’s connections around the world.
14 countries with official statistics. Language records show cultural connections; they do not measure how common a name is.
Selected country
Statistics + language records
United States, 2025: 37 girls (rank 3903). Documented as a given name in English.
Explore United States4 of 24 countries
03 / By the numbers
Follow the spelling through the years, one published dataset at a time.
1880–2025 Spelling: Kay
Hover to explore a year. Use arrow keys when a chart point has focus.
Source: US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
Integer application counts retained without rounding.
Per million is unavailable: this source has no matching published total.
| Year | Applications | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1881 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1882 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1883 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1884 | no value | no value | not covered |
| 1885 | 6 | 921 | observed |
| 1886 | 6 | 993 | observed |
| 1887 | 6 | 1,036 | observed |
| 1888 | 6 | 1,136 | observed |
| 1889 | 7 | 1,025 | observed |
| 1890 | 5 | 1,338 | observed |
| 1891 | 5 | 1,332 | observed |
| 1892 | 7 | 1,171 | observed |
| 1893 | 16 | 739 | observed |
| 1894 | 14 | 812 | observed |
| 1895 | 10 | 1,053 | observed |
| 1896 | 13 | 903 | observed |
| 1897 | 15 | 826 | observed |
| 1898 | 14 | 920 | observed |
| 1899 | 23 | 644 | observed |
| 1900 | 26 | 705 | observed |
| 1901 | 22 | 684 | observed |
| 1902 | 26 | 648 | observed |
| 1903 | 37 | 527 | observed |
| 1904 | 39 | 529 | observed |
| 1905 | 49 | 485 | observed |
| 1906 | 42 | 541 | observed |
| 1907 | 53 | 489 | observed |
| 1908 | 75 | 417 | observed |
| 1909 | 83 | 401 | observed |
| 1910 | 106 | 381 | observed |
| 1911 | 111 | 382 | observed |
| 1912 | 143 | 384 | observed |
| 1913 | 159 | 381 | observed |
| 1914 | 215 | 361 | observed |
| 1915 | 243 | 386 | observed |
| 1916 | 272 | 380 | observed |
| 1917 | 283 | 376 | observed |
| 1918 | 311 | 368 | observed |
| 1919 | 330 | 354 | observed |
| 1920 | 313 | 370 | observed |
| 1921 | 304 | 383 | observed |
| 1922 | 281 | 390 | observed |
| 1923 | 285 | 396 | observed |
| 1924 | 302 | 395 | observed |
| 1925 | 248 | 439 | observed |
| 1926 | 224 | 457 | observed |
| 1927 | 267 | 419 | observed |
| 1928 | 223 | 462 | observed |
| 1929 | 218 | 447 | observed |
| 1930 | 351 | 358 | observed |
| 1931 | 558 | 259 | observed |
| 1932 | 658 | 238 | observed |
| 1933 | 864 | 200 | observed |
| 1934 | 1,430 | 143 | observed |
| 1935 | 1,648 | 134 | observed |
| 1936 | 2,408 | 98 | observed |
| 1937 | 3,010 | 79 | observed |
| 1938 | 3,114 | 81 | observed |
| 1939 | 3,260 | 76 | observed |
| 1940 | 3,200 | 77 | observed |
| 1941 | 3,538 | 70 | observed |
| 1942 | 3,622 | 75 | observed |
| 1943 | 3,494 | 81 | observed |
| 1944 | 3,170 | 88 | observed |
| 1945 | 3,058 | 91 | observed |
| 1946 | 3,358 | 101 | observed |
| 1947 | 3,520 | 104 | observed |
| 1948 | 2,943 | 113 | observed |
| 1949 | 2,751 | 119 | observed |
| 1950 | 2,628 | 123 | observed |
| 1951 | 2,963 | 120 | observed |
| 1952 | 2,768 | 133 | observed |
| 1953 | 2,462 | 146 | observed |
| 1954 | 2,506 | 146 | observed |
| 1955 | 2,327 | 157 | observed |
| 1956 | 2,394 | 154 | observed |
| 1957 | 2,355 | 163 | observed |
| 1958 | 2,238 | 169 | observed |
| 1959 | 2,004 | 182 | observed |
| 1960 | 1,925 | 192 | observed |
| 1961 | 1,955 | 192 | observed |
| 1962 | 1,878 | 197 | observed |
| 1963 | 1,608 | 212 | observed |
| 1964 | 1,301 | 243 | observed |
| 1965 | 1,021 | 270 | observed |
| 1966 | 856 | 295 | observed |
| 1967 | 711 | 327 | observed |
| 1968 | 637 | 353 | observed |
| 1969 | 498 | 432 | observed |
| 1970 | 476 | 455 | observed |
| 1971 | 376 | 503 | observed |
| 1972 | 251 | 619 | observed |
| 1973 | 272 | 581 | observed |
| 1974 | 239 | 639 | observed |
| 1975 | 206 | 717 | observed |
| 1976 | 191 | 755 | observed |
| 1977 | 195 | 774 | observed |
| 1978 | 155 | 913 | observed |
| 1979 | 156 | 942 | observed |
| 1980 | 153 | 966 | observed |
| 1981 | 164 | 912 | observed |
| 1982 | 151 | 981 | observed |
| 1983 | 150 | 973 | observed |
| 1984 | 147 | 979 | observed |
| 1985 | 139 | 1,060 | observed |
| 1986 | 129 | 1,122 | observed |
| 1987 | 118 | 1,216 | observed |
| 1988 | 141 | 1,104 | observed |
| 1989 | 117 | 1,326 | observed |
| 1990 | 114 | 1,385 | observed |
| 1991 | 104 | 1,502 | observed |
| 1992 | 104 | 1,507 | observed |
| 1993 | 100 | 1,554 | observed |
| 1994 | 88 | 1,688 | observed |
| 1995 | 82 | 1,761 | observed |
| 1996 | 67 | 2,058 | observed |
| 1997 | 74 | 1,945 | observed |
| 1998 | 70 | 2,083 | observed |
| 1999 | 66 | 2,258 | observed |
| 2000 | 74 | 2,158 | observed |
| 2001 | 72 | 2,236 | observed |
| 2002 | 79 | 2,126 | observed |
| 2003 | 66 | 2,465 | observed |
| 2004 | 67 | 2,503 | observed |
| 2005 | 61 | 2,731 | observed |
| 2006 | 63 | 2,778 | observed |
| 2007 | 66 | 2,750 | observed |
| 2008 | 46 | 3,529 | observed |
| 2009 | 41 | 3,800 | observed |
| 2010 | 47 | 3,409 | observed |
| 2011 | 47 | 3,407 | observed |
| 2012 | 52 | 3,169 | observed |
| 2013 | 51 | 3,166 | observed |
| 2014 | 60 | 2,843 | observed |
| 2015 | 43 | 3,595 | observed |
| 2016 | 47 | 3,379 | observed |
| 2017 | 51 | 3,145 | observed |
| 2018 | 63 | 2,711 | observed |
| 2019 | 43 | 3,552 | observed |
| 2020 | 42 | 3,546 | observed |
| 2021 | 42 | 3,614 | observed |
| 2022 | 47 | 3,365 | observed |
| 2023 | 48 | 3,329 | observed |
| 2024 | 38 | 3,892 | observed |
| 2025 | 37 | 3,903 | observed |
Statistics count the spelling “Kay” as recorded by the publisher. When a spelling has several independent origins, the counts are not split between them. Counts measure applications. Gaps are years without a published value, not zeros.
Rates per million are unavailable for this series because no compatible denominator has been imported.
Retrieved 2026-10-15 · CC0-1.0
Read our methodology04 / Through time
Passages quoted verbatim from public-domain reference works. They reflect the scholarship of their time, not current consensus, and may use obsolete spellings.
Kay— “rejoicing”
…From this rite all brides were called Caiæ. It is said that it was in honour of Tanaquil, whose Roman name was Caia Cæcilia, and who was supposed to be the model Roman woman, fulfilling the epitome of duties expressed in the pithy saying, _Domum mansit, lanam fecit_ (she staid at home and spun wool), and was therefore worshipped by Roman maids and matrons. The Romans introduced Caius into Britain, and the Sir Kay, seneschal of Arthur’s court, who appears in the romances of…
…From this rite all brides were called Caiæ. It is said that it was in honour of Tanaquil, whose Roman name was Caia Cæcilia, and who was supposed to be the model Roman woman, fulfilling the epitome of duties expressed in the pithy saying, _Domum mansit, lanam fecit_ (she staid at home and spun wool), and was therefore worshipped by Roman maids and matrons. The Romans introduced Caius into Britain, and the Sir Kay, seneschal of Arthur’s court, who appears in the romances of the Round Table, was probably taken from a British Caius; but the Highland clan, Mackay, are not sons of Caius, but of Ey.
Yonge, History of Christian Names (1884), Part IV, Chapter II (Latin Prænomina), Section I (Aulus, Caius, Cnæus, Cæso) · Public domain (Project Gutenberg)
A little story to keep
Take the story of Kay with you. Create a personal name passport with its meaning, roots and connections.
06 / Behind the facts
Review status: Source-reported — no editorial review recorded yet. Last data change 2026-10-15.
SSA national baby names, 1880–2025 (CC0 redistribution)
US Social Security Administration; redistributed by nkrishnaswami · CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Norway — published individual first-name birth counts, 1945–2025
Statistics Norway (SSB) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
South Australia — Popular Baby Names, per-year lists including names given once, 1944-2017
Attorney-General's Department, South Australia (via data.sa.gov.au) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Statistik Austria — Vornamen (OGDEXT_VORNAMEN_1): first names of live births, Austria, 1984-2025 (national counts from district rows)
Statistik Austria (Bundesanstalt Statistik Österreich) · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
National Records of Scotland — Babies' First Names: all first forenames given to 3 or more babies, Scotland, 1974-2025
National Records of Scotland (NRS) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ontario top baby names, historical archive 1917–2013
Government of Ontario (Office of the Registrar General) · OGL-ON-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Ontario first baby names, 1913–2023 (verified redistribution)
Government of Ontario; redistributed by helloharun · OGL-ON-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Switzerland — published first names of newborns, 2000–2025
Federal Statistical Office (FSO), Switzerland · opendata.swiss OPEN-BY (commercial and non-commercial reuse with source attribution) · retrieved 2026-10-15
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages — Popular Baby Names (annual top 100 per gender), 1952-2025
NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages (via data.nsw.gov.au) · CC-BY (Creative Commons Attribution; version not stated on the record) · retrieved 2026-10-15
New Zealand — DIA published top 100 baby first names per sex, 1954–2025
Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), New Zealand · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Fichier des prénoms — édition 2026 (naissances 1900 à 2025), fichier national
Insee (Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques) · LO-2.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
Ireland — babies' first names with three or more occurrences, 1964–2025
Central Statistics Office (CSO), Ireland · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
British Columbia — 100 Years of Popular Baby Names (first names used 5 or more times), 1926-2025
Government of British Columbia, Vital Statistics Agency · OGL-BC (Open Government License - British Columbia; version not stated on the page) · retrieved 2026-10-15
Imiona nadawane dzieciom w Polsce — first given names of children, PESEL register, 2000-2025 (national)
Ministerstwo Cyfryzacji (Ministry of Digital Affairs), Poland — PESEL register; published on dane.gov.pl · CC0-1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Spain — first names of residents, census snapshot 2025-01-01
Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), Spain · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Finland — first given names of living Finnish citizens in Finland or abroad, 2026-08-03
Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland · CC-BY-4.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Baby names in England and Wales: 2025 (boys and girls workbooks, Table 6: all published names)
Office for National Statistics (ONS) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-14
Berlin — published first-given-name registration counts, 2017–2023
BerlinOnline GmbH, based on Berlin LABO civil-registry data · CC-BY-3.0-DE · retrieved 2026-10-15
NISRA — First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland, 1997-2025 (full list)
Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) · OGL-UK-3.0 · retrieved 2026-10-15
Wiktionary text: CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikidata: CC0. Commons recordings retain their individual file licences. Complete attribution is available in each group above and alongside each chart.