Tools / Baby names / R
Ray
BoyMeaning of Ray: English: 'wise protector'
Ray is a boy's name most strongly associated with English naming. It has 3 letters and 1 syllable, and it is a timeless pick that has stayed popular for over a century — 772nd most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 613th in England & Wales.
US rank 2025
#772
338 babies in 2025
England & Wales 2024
#613
62 babies in 2024
US babies since 1880
210,307
First recorded 1880 · peak 1926
Trend
stable
Style: classic
Popularity over time
Gender split
97% boys · 3% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.
Origins & cultures
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Other names starting with R
Latin · 2 syllables
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German · 2 syllables
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Irish · 1 syllable
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Irish · 2 syllables
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Irish · 2 syllables
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Irish · 2 syllables
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German · 2 syllables
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Hebrew · 2 syllables
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Hebrew · 2 syllables
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French · 2 syllables
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English · 2 syllables
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