Ray

Meaning: Advice and protection
Origin: Variant of Raymond (from Germanic)

Boy's name · #792 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Ray holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#792 in 2025). About 205,000 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Ray is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 26 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Ray ranks in other countries and regions.

#605 in England & Wales (2025) · #628 in Scotland (2025) · #707 in Netherlands (2025) · #724 in Belgium (2025) · #794 in Ireland (2025) · #1,094 in Switzerland (2025) · #1,143 in Sweden (2025) · #1,584 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,064 in Canada (2024).

Famous Rays

Ray Bradbury — American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
Ray Charles — American singer, pianist and songwriter (1930–2004)
Ray Liotta — American actor (1954–2022)
Ray Milland — British actor (1907–1986)
Ray Kroc — American businessman

In stories & tradition

Ray (Atom) — Legends of Tomorrow (TV series)
Ray Stantz — Ghostbusters (film)
Ray — DC Comics

What Rays become

Among 3,193 notable people named Ray:

Sports figures appear 2.32× more often than among typical names — e.g. Ray Allen, American basketball player.

Similar names: Raymond · Byron · Ralph · Jay · Hugh · Eddie

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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