Given name & surname · also Old French
Ray
“a wise protector”·“son of grace”·“ewe”
In English use, Ray is a diminutive of Raymond. One German interpretation is “a wise protector.” In English use, Ray is a diminutive of Rae. One Scottish interpretation is “son of grace.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Ray carries the interpretation “a wise protector.” In English use, Ray is a diminutive of Raymond. One German interpretation is “a wise protector.” In English use, Ray is a diminutive of Rae. One Scottish interpretation is “son of grace.” In English use, Ray is a diminutive of Rachel. One Hebrew interpretation is “ewe.” In English use, Ray has a related form in Rai. Interpretations include “one who is trustworthy” (Japanese) and “a trustworthy man; of lightning and thunder” (Japanese). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Old French, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
In English use, Ray is used as a shortened form of Raymond.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Ray is a diminutive of Rachel. The history of Rachel gives this family its wider story. In biblical stories, Rachel is associated with Jacob's wife.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Ray through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 210,307
- 204,701 boys · 5,606 girls
- Most popular year
- 1926
- 3,529 babies
- 2025
- 338
- #792 for boys · #6,274 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 93% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 319 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 792 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.2% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 3,410 in 1957. It also appeared in 19 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (48). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 107,593 as a first name in 2020; 130,289 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.
Ray’s family of names
In English usage, Ray is a diminutive of Rachel. Ray has a surname derivative in Rayson. Ray is a form of Raymond.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 16
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Ray
- Ray BradburyAmerican author and screenwriter (1920–2012)
- Ray CharlesAmerican singer, pianist and songwriter (1930–2004)
- Ray LiottaAmerican actor (1954–2022)
- Ray KrocAmerican businessman1902–1984
- Ray ManzarekAmerican keyboardist (1939–2013)
- Ray KurzweilAmerican computer scientist, author, entrepreneur, futurist and inventor (born 1948)
- Sugar Ray RobinsonAmerican boxer (1921–1989)
- Ray TomlinsonAmerican computer programmer (1941-2016)
- Ray RomanoAmerican stand-up comedianborn 1957
Characters named Ray: Ray Stantz (the Ghostbusters franchise).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Ray, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lafayette
“man of the faith”
>99% boys
Jack
“God is gracious” · “the son of Jack or John”
>99% boys
Ben
“son of the south; son of the right hand” · “one who is blessed”
>99% boys
Joe
“God will add” · “God shall add”
>99% boys
Alvin
“friend of the elves”
>99% boys
Ralph
“wolt counsel”
>99% boys
Norman
“a man from the north”
>99% boys
Lyle
“from the island”
98% boys · 2% girls