Given name & surname
Day
“a father's hope for tomor- TOW”·“born during the daylight”
Day is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “a father's hope for tomor- TOW” (American) and “born during the daylight” (American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “a father's hope for tomor- TOW” (American) and “born during the daylight” (American). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is American.
How it developed
In English usage, Day as a surname has a patronymic derivation linked to David.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Day through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 308
- 142 boys · 166 girls
- Most popular year
- 1975
- 15 babies
- 2025
- 11
- #10,966 for boys · #15,481 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +100%
- Rising fast
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 6 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 10,966 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. It also appeared in 5 birth records for girls in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,441 as a first name in 2020; 102,775 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Day’s family of names
In English usage, Day as a surname has a patronymic derivation linked to David. Day has a related form in Dae. Day has a related form in Dai.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Day has relatives in 3 languages.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Day
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Day, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Charis
“having grace and kindness”
3% boys · 97% girls
Shawntay
“filled with hope”
5% boys · 95% girls
Canika
“a woman shining with grace”
23% boys · 77% girls
Nai
“his grace”
10% boys · 90% girls
Tabby
“doe” · “resembling a gazelle; known for beauty and grace”
3% boys · 97% girls
Happy
“a joyful woman” · “filled with joy”
45% boys · 55% girls
Chaniel
“the grace of God”
37% boys · 63% girls
Toki
“one who grasps opportunity; hopeful” · “resembling a rabbit”
48% boys · 52% girls