Meaning, origin, history
Jay is a short form of the given name Jason or Jacqueline. It originates from the Greek language and means "healer" for boys and "God will hear" for girls.
The name Jay was popularized in the mid-20th century, especially among African Americans. It gained further popularity after being used by several notable figures such as jazz musician Jay McShann and baseball player James "Jay" Hanna "Dizzy" Dean.
Today, Jay is a unisex given name that continues to be widely used around the world. Despite its popularity, it remains a timeless classic with a strong meaning behind it.
In numbers
Popularity of the name Jay since 1880
Total births
2,559
Total since 1880
Peak year
1962
59 births
in 2023
11
Recent births (5 years)
5-year trend
+22%
↗
vs previous 5 years