Jay

Latin

"jaybird"

Jay Origin and Meaning

The name Jay is a boy's name of Latin origin meaning "jaybird".

Though this feels like a modern invention, Jay has been in use for centuries. Early Jays often were named in honor of founding father John Jay, whose surname derived from the jaybird. A popular mid-century choice, Jay was in the Top 100 from 1956 to 1970. In the last couple of decades he was replaced by such more elaborate forms as Jayden, Jaylen, and Jayce. But Jay could make a comeback in tandem with cousins May, Kay, Fay, and Ray.

In literature, the most prominent Jay wasn't a Jay at all—Gatsby's birth name was James Gatz. In real life, the honor goes to Jay Leno, also born James.

In India, Jay is used as a modern variant of the Hindi Jaya, which means "victory."

Jay Rank in US Top 1000

# 382 in the US

Jay Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 430 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Jay

• 382 US 2023
• 430 Nameberry 2025
• 336 Future 2028
• 495 England 2023
• 194 Scotland 2022
• 131 Netherlands 2015

20 Names Similar to Jay

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Jay.

• Drake
• Ronnie
• Ray
• Jamie
• Harley
• Dakota
• Zack
• Dustin
• Andy
• Duke
• Joey
• Noel
• Zeke
• Clay
• Bailey
• Lance
• Nick
• Chance
• Gunner
• Dallas

Famous People Named Jay

• James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno American talk show host and comedian
• Finley Jay Lanning son of Youtubers Bryan & Missy Lanning
• Jonathan Adam Saunders "Jay" Baruchel Canadian actor
• Jay Sean (born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti) British singer/rapper
• Jay Livingston (born Jacob Harold Levison) American songwriter
• Jay Asher American novelist
• Javier Manuel "Jay" Hernandez American actor
• Jay Christopher Cutler American NFL player
• Jay Z stage name of Shawn Corey Carter, American rapper
• Jay Pharaoh stage name of Jared Antonio Farrow, American actor/comedian
• James S. "Jay" Huguley American actor
• Jay McGuiness British singer and dancer
• Jay Chou Taiwanese singer,songwriter, actor
• Jay Park Korean,American singer, rapper, entrepreneur
• Jay Nicky Byrne twin son of Westlife singer Nicky Byrne
• Aaron Jay Hanley son of Michelle Heaton & Hugh Hanley
• Jay Farrar (b. 1966) musician and founder of alternative country bands Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo
• John Jay American revolutionary
• Jay B aka PhineasBg (b. 1971) American Star Trek fan in the State of Georgia, creator of The Captain Kirk Page website, www.thecaptainkirkpage.com
• Jay Adams American skateboarder
• Jay Manuel Canadian TV host, creative director, make-up artist, and author
• Jay Chandrasekhar American comedian, film director, screenwriter, actor and editor
• Jay Hayden American actor

The name Jay in Pop Culture

• Jay Gatsby (born James Gatz) main character in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"
• Jay Pritchett character on TV's "Modern Family"
• Jason "Jay" Walker aka Blue Ninja character in animated series "Lego Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu"
• Jay "Chef" Hicks character in the movie "Apocalypse Now"
• Jay Clemens character in TV series "Rita Rocks"
• Jay character in movie "Knocked Up," played by Jay Baruchel
• Jay Kepler character in TV movie "16 Wishes"
• Jay Smouse character in Adventures in Odyssey
• Jay Halstead character in TV's "Chicago P.D."
• Jay son of Jafar in Disney's Descendants
• Jay Garrick aka The Flash character on TV's "The Flash"
• Jayfeather "Jay" character in Erin Hunter's book series "Warriors"
• Jay Merrick main character in the webseries "Marble Hornets"
• Homer Jay Simpson main character on animated series "The Simpsons"
• Also Jayan.
• Jay character played by Jason Mewes in the "Jay and Silent Bob" Movies
• Jay Riva character in Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Malibu Rising"
• Jay Cartwright character in the British comedy series "The Inbetweeners"