Ray

Meaning: Counsel and protection
Origin: Germanic — Short form of Raymond

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.

#560 in Scotland (2025) · #602 in England & Wales (2025) · #676 in Ireland (2025) · #696 in Belgium (2025) · #707 in Netherlands (2025) · #885 in Canada (2025) · #1,094 in Switzerland (2025) · #1,143 in Sweden (2025) · #1,584 in Ecuador (2025) · #2,725 in Italy (2024) · #3,177 in Austria (2025) · #5,930 in France (2025) and 5 more.

Famous Rays

Ray Bradbury — American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
Ray Charles — American singer, songwriter and pianist (1930–2004)
Ray Liotta — American actor (1954–2022)
Ray Milland — British actor (1907–1986)
Ray Kroc — American businessman (1902–1984)
Ray Romano — American stand-up comedian (born 1957)
Ray Stevenson — British actor (1964–2023)
Ray Winstone — English actor (born 1957)
Ray Allen — American basketball player (born 1975)
Ray Manzarek — American keyboardist (1939–2013)

In stories & tradition

Ray (Atom) — Fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by DC Comics
Ray Stantz — Fictional character from Ghostbusters
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 (born 1975).

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

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

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