Fun Facts About the Name Tay
- 260 babies named Tay: U.S. records list 260 babies given the name Tay from 1880 through 2025. Even 55 girls received the name Tay - about 1 girl for every 4 boys.
What Does the Name Tay Mean?
Tay is a short name with several unrelated origins. In Turkish, tay means "foal" or "colt," and it is used as a masculine given name. In Amharic, the name is usually spelled Taye; it comes from a verb meaning "to be seen" or "to appear," and it is often translated as "he has seen." In English, Tay is often a short form of Taylor or other names beginning with Tay-; as a short form of Taylor, it carries the meaning "tailor," from the English occupational surname for a tailor. The name of the River Tay in Scotland is a separate word of uncertain meaning and is not the source of the Turkish or Amharic names.
Tay Name History & Origins
Tay is used in English mainly as a short form of Taylor or other names beginning with Tay-, such as Tayla and Tayson. Taylor comes from the Middle English occupational surname for a tailor, which was borrowed from Old French tailleur, from taillier "to cut." When Tay is used as a short form of Taylor, it shares that occupational meaning; it does not have a separate Old English or Celtic etymology.
In Turkish, tay is the ordinary word for a foal or young horse. It is also used as a masculine given name. This Turkish name is independent of the English short form.
In Ethiopia, Taye is a traditional Amharic masculine name. It comes from an Amharic verb meaning "to be seen" or "to appear," and it is commonly glossed in English as "he has seen." The spelling Tay is a shorter variant of Taye.
The River Tay in Scotland is a separate name. It is the longest river in Scotland, flowing from Loch Tay to the Firth of Tay. Ancient sources record the name as Taus or Tava, and its meaning is uncertain, though it is usually described as Celtic or pre-Celtic. The river name is not the source of the Turkish or Amharic personal names.
How Popular is the Name Tay?
Tay has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2001. Its best rank was #3,841 in 1955.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | #17,880 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #15,050 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #9,156 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #7,306 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #4,603 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1962 | #6,497 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #7,114 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #6,035 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #6,794 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,180 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #8,869 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #10,726 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2021 | #13,852 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #13,912 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2018 | #13,861 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2017 | #14,032 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #11,927 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #10,603 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #9,500 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2010 | #9,573 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #10,840 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #8,934 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #14,169 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #8,226 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #11,197 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #9,484 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #10,513 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #5,635 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #9,517 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #8,591 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1992 | #6,629 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1990 | #9,351 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1982 | #4,947 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #5,772 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #4,005 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #3,999 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #4,008 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #3,841 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1939 | #3,923 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Tay Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You like to control everyone within your influence, to shape things to your own liking. If positive, you develop high spirituality, as you have a God's protection. You are sensitive, affectionate, imaginative and cooperative, spiritually aware and prone to self-sacrifice. You can keep secrets and are a good diplomat. You may have healing and psychic powers. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Tay's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Tay's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.