Gay Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Gay originates from Old French, meaning joyful or happy. It has evolved through historical forms such as Gaius and Gai. The name is associated with cheerful traits and has seen varied usage throughout history. It does not have significant biblical relevance.
The name Gay is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Gay has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Gay' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1522nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1275th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1821st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 5344th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 885th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 404th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 402nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1281st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 25632nd out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Gay' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Gay"
Pronunciation
/ɡeɪ/
Origin
Old French
Etymology
The name Gay derives from the Old French word 'gai' meaning 'joyful' or 'happy'. It has roots in the Latin word 'gaius', which also pertains to being cheerful.
Meaning
joyful, happy
Language Evolution
Gaius, Gai, Gay
Historical Usage
The name Gay was used as a given name in the Middle Ages and saw a resurgence in the 19th century. It was originally more commonly used for males before becoming more gender-neutral.
Variants & Derivatives
Gaye, Gai, Gaius
Modern Popularity & Image
In contemporary society, the name Gay has gained a different connotation, often associated with LGBTQ+ identity, which has changed its perception from a simple name to a cultural identifier.
Famous People
Gay Talese, American author and journalist, Gayle King, American television personality and journalist
Explore More Gay Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Gay"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Gay"
"Gay" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1522nd of 7545 | 378 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1275th of 6773 | 530 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1821st of 7552 | 352 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 5344th of 10718 | 57 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 885th of 9107 | 1,188 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 404th of 9204 | 5,134 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 402nd of 12526 | 10,039 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1281st of 19264 | 1,399 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 25632nd of 27321 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Gay" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
72.10% 1706th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
64.56% 1519th/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Gay" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
100.00% 1416th/1416 |
74.62% 1029th/1379 |
31.45% 744th/2366 |
85.11% 972nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
27.49% 425th/1546 |
25.58% 398th/1556 |
16.74% 394th/2353 |
19.65% 304th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
16.57% 369th/2227 |
19.38% 471st/2430 |
13.25% 378th/2853 |
13.87% 385th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
37.56% 1103rd/2937 |
47.34% 1649th/3483 |
28.65% 1008th/3518 |
40.90% 1654th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Gay"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Gay" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.