gender neutral
Kay
rejoice
About Kay
Crisp and confident, this three-letter name delivers maximum impact with minimal fuss. It has a bright, open sound that feels inherently optimistic and clear. The name's brevity doesn't diminish its strength; rather, it concentrates power into a tight, memorable package. It crosses generational lines comfortably, feeling neither old-fashioned nor aggressively modern, simply timeless in its straightforward approach. The single syllable makes it exceptionally practical—easy for toddlers to pronounce, simple to spell, quick to write. Yet this efficiency doesn't translate to plainness; the name possesses distinctive character that prevents it from disappearing among longer, more elaborate choices. It's ideal for parents who value substance over embellishment, who understand that true elegance often lies in restraint and clarity.
Popularity of the Name Kay
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1885 | #987 | ||||
| 1893 | #751 | ||||
| 1894 | #826 | ||||
| 1896 | #927 | ||||
| 1897 | #846 | ||||
| 1898 | #942 | ||||
| 1899 | #654 | ||||
| 1900 | #714 | ||||
| 1901 | #694 | ||||
| 1902 | #659 | ||||
| 1903 | #535 | ||||
| 1904 | #532 | ||||
| 1905 | #485 | ||||
| 1906 | #547 | ||||
| 1907 | #493 | ||||
| 1908 | #418 | ||||
| 1909 | #402 | ||||
| 1910 | #382 | ||||
| 1911 | #382 | ||||
| 1912 | #386 | ||||
| 1913 | #381 | ||||
| 1914 | #361 | ||||
| 1915 | #386 | ||||
| 1916 | #380 | ||||
| 1917 | #377 | ||||
| 1918 | #368 | ||||
| 1919 | #355 | ||||
| 1920 | #370 | ||||
| 1921 | #383 | ||||
| 1922 | #391 | ||||
| 1923 | #396 | ||||
| 1924 | #395 | ||||
| 1925 | #439 | ||||
| 1926 | #457 | ||||
| 1927 | #419 | ||||
| 1928 | #463 | ||||
| 1929 | #448 | ||||
| 1930 | #358 | ||||
| 1931 | #259 | ||||
| 1932 | #238 | ||||
| 1933 | #200 | ||||
| 1934 | #143 | ||||
| 1935 | #134 | #152 | |||
| 1936 | #98 | #156 | |||
| 1937 | #79 | #112 | |||
| 1938 | #81 | #75 | |||
| 1939 | #76 | #92 | |||
| 1940 | #77 | #69 | |||
| 1941 | #70 | #51 | |||
| 1942 | #75 | #71 | |||
| 1943 | #81 | #36 | |||
| 1944 | #88 | #67 | |||
| 1945 | #91 | #48 | |||
| 1946 | #101 | #56 | |||
| 1947 | #104 | #49 | |||
| 1948 | #113 | #59 | |||
| 1949 | #119 | #51 | |||
| 1950 | #123 | #60 | |||
| 1951 | #120 | #50 | |||
| 1952 | #133 | #52 | |||
| 1953 | #146 | #43 | |||
| 1954 | #146 | #54 | |||
| 1955 | #157 | #55 | |||
| 1956 | #154 | #61 | |||
| 1957 | #163 | #68 | |||
| 1958 | #169 | #63 | |||
| 1959 | #182 | #75 | |||
| 1960 | #192 | #66 | |||
| 1961 | #192 | #64 | |||
| 1962 | #197 | #74 | |||
| 1963 | #212 | #88 | |||
| 1964 | #243 | #100 | |||
| 1965 | #270 | #98 | |||
| 1966 | #295 | #108 | |||
| 1967 | #327 | #151 | |||
| 1968 | #353 | #150 | |||
| 1969 | #433 | #171 | |||
| 1970 | #455 | #210 | |||
| 1971 | #504 | #257 | |||
| 1972 | #620 | #302 | |||
| 1973 | #581 | #272 | |||
| 1974 | #640 | #293 | |||
| 1975 | #720 | #328 | |||
| 1976 | #758 | ||||
| 1977 | #775 | #349 | |||
| 1978 | #916 | #578 | |||
| 1979 | #944 | ||||
| 1980 | #969 | ||||
| 1981 | #916 | ||||
| 1982 | #982 | ||||
| 1983 | #975 | ||||
| 1984 | #983 | ||||
| 1997 | #570 | ||||
| 1998 | #527 | ||||
| 1999 | #698 | ||||
| 2000 | #704 | ||||
| 2001 | #663 | #554 | |||
| 2003 | #954 | #608 | |||
| 1986 | #573 | ||||
| 1989 | #545 | ||||
| 1994 | #552 | ||||
| 2015 | #990 | ||||
| 1991 | #966 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Kay
Names Similar to Kay
Nicknames for Kay
- Kayla
- Kiki
- Kaysie
Famous People Named Kay
| Kay Bailey Hutchison | American politician |
| Kay Panabaker | American actress |
| Kay Kendall | British actress |
| Kay Starr | American singer |
| Kay Francis | American actress |
| Kay Cannon | American director and screenwriter |
| Kay Boyle | American writer |
| Kay Lenz | American actress |
| Kay Redfield Jamison | American clinical psychologist and author |
| Kay Linaker | American actress and screenwriter |
| Kay Aldridge | American actress and model |
| Kay Swift | American composer |
| Kay Walsh | British actress and dancer |
| Kay Mellor | English actress and screenwriter |
| Kay Thompson | singer - American singer and vocal arranger |
| Kay Medford | American actress |
| Kay Parker | British actress |
| Kay Armen | American singer and actress |
| Kay Thomas | American author |
Characters Named Kay
| Kay Adams Corleone | "The Godfather" series |
| Kaylee Frye | "Firefly" TV series |
| Kay Harker | "The Box of Delights" novel |
| Kay Faraday | "Ace Attorney" video game series |
| Kay Scarpetta | Patricia Cornwell's crime novel series |
| Kay Challis | Jane Doe - DC Comics character |
| Kay Daniels | "Men in Black - International" movie |
| Kay Forman | "The Pursuit of Happyness" movie |
| Kay Paladino | "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" TV series |
| Kay, the Fairy Queen | Arthurian legends |
| Kaye Galfridian | "Star Wars" Expanded Universe |
| Kayla Silverfox | "X-Men" comics and movie |
| Kaywinnet Lee "Kaylee" Frye | "Firefly" TV series |
| Kay Adams | "The Godfather" novel and film |
| Kay MacLeod | "Kay MacLeod" book series by Michelle Paver |
| Kay, Princess of Ka'a'wa | Hawaiian legends |
| Kay, the Water Woman | Inuit mythology |
| Kay Belden | "Betsy-Tacy" book series by Maud Hart Lovelace |
| Kayla Morton | "The Westing Game" novel |
| Kay, the Sword-Bearer | Arthurian legends |