Ray is a name of English origin that is derived from the Old French word "Raoul," which means "wise wolf." It has been used as a given name in English-speaking countries for many centuries, although it was more popular in the Middle Ages than it is today.
The name Ray first appeared in England during the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William the Conqueror brought French names and culture to the country. At that time, it was often spelled "Raynald" or "Ranulf," but over time, it evolved into the shorter form "Ray."
In the United States, Ray became a popular name for boys in the early 20th century. It reached its peak popularity in the 1920s and 1930s, when it was among the top 50 names for boys. Today, it is still used occasionally, but it is not as common as it once was.
Some notable people with the name Ray include Ray Charles, a famous singer-songwriter; Ray Bradbury, a renowned science fiction author; and Ray Romano, an actor and comedian. However, these individuals are known for their accomplishments rather than their names.
In summary, Ray is a name of English origin that means "wise wolf." It has been used as a given name for many centuries but was more popular in the past than it is today. Despite its decreased popularity, it remains a simple and straightforward name with a rich history.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Ray in the United States, we can observe several trends and patterns over time.
From 1880 to around 1930, there was a general increase in the number of births with the name Ray. Starting with just 8 births in 1880, the number steadily climbed to a peak of 126 births in 1915 and 162 births in 1918.
However, after reaching this peak, there was a significant decline in the popularity of the name Ray. Between 1931 and 1970, the number of annual births with the name Ray fluctuated between a high of 44 (in 1963) and a low of just 13 (in 1983). This period saw a general decrease in the usage of the name Ray.
In more recent years, from around 1970 onwards, there has been some resurgence in the popularity of the name Ray. While the number of births with this name remains relatively low compared to the peak years of the early 20th century, it is notable that between 2016 and 2023, the number of annual births with the name Ray ranged from a low of 17 in 2019 to a high of 29 in 2022.
In total, based on the data provided, there have been 5559 births with the name Ray in the United States since 1880. These statistics demonstrate how the popularity of the name Ray has varied over time, with periods of increasing and decreasing usage.