Meaning & origin
A reliable meaning for Zay isn’t established in our sources yet. Rather than guess, we show what is recorded: how the name is used, how often, and the names it’s connected to.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1918. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Zay through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 308
- 302 boys · 6 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 46 babies
- 2025
- 31
- #3,655 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +90%
- Rising fast
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 31 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,655 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 89.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,029 as a first name in 2020; 305 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.
Zay’s family of names
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Zay
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Zay, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Zayn
“one who is bold”
99% boys · 1% girls
Zayne
“one who is bold”
99% boys · 1% girls
Zaire
“a, man from Zaire”
97% boys · 3% girls
Zyaire
“a, man from Zaire”
96% boys · 4% girls
Ayaan
Ayaan is a masculine given name.
98% boys · 2% girls
Zane
“one who is bold”
99% boys · 1% girls
Kayce
“a vigilant woman”
87% boys · 13% girls
Zion
“from the citadel”
93% boys · 7% girls