Jay
Say it: JAY/d͡ʒeɪ/
BoyMeans a short form of names beginning with J, or from the jay bird3 letters1 syllable
#309
in Ireland (2025)
#298 with spellings combined
14
babies in 2025
#133
best rank (2009)
789
babies since 1988
Down 153
10-year rank change
Jay through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14 | #298 |
| 2024 | 14 | #279 |
| 2023 | 18 | #237 |
| 2022 | 19 | #242 |
| 2021 | 18 | #249 |
| 2020 | 19 | #245 |
| 2019 | 15 | #287 |
| 2018 | 20 | #245 |
| 2017 | 28 | #203 |
| 2016 | 21 | #237 |
| 2015 | 44 | #145 |
| 2014 | 35 | #175 |
| 2013 | 42 | #152 |
| 2012 | 47 | #148 |
| 2011 | 47 | #149 |
| 2010 | 45 | #156 |
| 2009 | 53 | #133 |
| 2008 | 56 | #134 |
| 2007 | 40 | #152 |
| 2006 | 27 | #173 |
| 2005 | 18 | #203 |
| 2004 | 24 | #163 |
| 2003 | 24 | #162 |
| 2002 | 24 | #159 |
| 2001 | 19 | #165 |
| 2000 | 19 | #168 |
| 1999 | 9 | #214 |
| 1998 | 6 | #242 |
| 1997 | 4 | #337 |
| 1996 | 4 | #336 |
| 1995 | 3 | #334 |
| 1994 | 3 | #342 |
| 1993 | 4 | #302 |
| 1989 | 3 | #307 |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Jay mean?
A short form of names beginning with J, or from the jay bird
English, a pet form of James, Jack, John and other J names, and a surname from the jay bird.
Say it right
JAY
The story of Jay
Jay has more than one source. It is a pet form of names that begin with J, such as James, Jack, John, Jacob and Jason, taken from the sound of the letter itself. It is also an old English surname that came from the jay, a noisy and colourful bird, and was probably first a nickname for a chatty or showy person.
Today it is used as a full name in its own right, mostly for boys.
In Ireland, Jay first reached the CSO list in 1988. It was most popular in the late 2000s, with 56 boys in 2008 and a best rank of number 133 in 2009. It has been far more popular in Northern Ireland, where it reached number 33 in 2009. In 2025, 14 boys in Ireland were named Jay.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Jay (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Jay (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Jay | 14 | 789 |
In Northern Ireland
#253 in 2025 with 7 babies. Best rank #33 (2009); 1,099 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.