Ray: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “counsel”
- Origin
- English
- Say it
- RAY · 1 syllable
- Used for
- Boys (97% of all uses)
Usually a short form of Raymond, from Germanic elements ragin 'counsel' and mund 'protection'. It can also derive from the English word ray in some modern uses.
How popular is Ray?
Babies named Ray in 2024349
2024 rank#777 boys
Peak year1932
Total US babies since 1880209,970
Ray is steady now but far below its 1932 peak.
Names like Ray
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Ray questions
What does the name Ray mean?
Ray means "counsel". It comes from English. Usually a short form of Raymond, from Germanic elements ragin 'counsel' and mund 'protection'. It can also derive from the English word ray in some modern uses.
Is Ray a boy or girl name?
Ray is mainly a boy's name in US records (97% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Ray?
349 US babies were named Ray in 2024. Its peak year was 1932.
How do you pronounce Ray?
Ray is usually pronounced RAY.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.