Gray
Every Gray since 1885 — 5,842 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Gray
Gray is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,418 in 2025 with 128 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1885, 5,842 American babies have been named Gray — about 88% boys and 12% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2021, when 211 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Gray stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Gray year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | #5,614 | 128 | #1,418 |
| 2024 | 25 | #5,204 | 142 | #1,345 |
| 2023 | 33 | #4,312 | 175 | #1,175 |
| 2022 | 41 | #3,730 | 164 | #1,209 |
| 2021 | 44 | #3,511 | 167 | #1,180 |
| 2020 | 37 | #3,859 | 151 | #1,237 |
| 2019 | 35 | #4,099 | 156 | #1,219 |
| 2018 | 39 | #3,808 | 148 | #1,246 |
| 2017 | 35 | #4,170 | 145 | #1,259 |
| 2016 | 44 | #3,546 | 144 | #1,270 |
| 2015 | 45 | #3,500 | 141 | #1,275 |
| 2014 | 47 | #3,387 | 127 | #1,353 |
| 2013 | 26 | #5,194 | 121 | #1,391 |
| 2012 | 17 | #7,245 | 120 | #1,394 |
| 2011 | 22 | #6,011 | 97 | #1,591 |
| 2010 | 24 | #5,681 | 97 | #1,618 |
| 2009 | 20 | #6,653 | 89 | #1,735 |
| 2008 | 17 | #7,526 | 77 | #1,881 |
| 2007 | 14 | #8,690 | 81 | #1,802 |
| 2006 | 11 | #10,149 | 70 | #1,927 |
| 2005 | 11 | #9,682 | 54 | #2,218 |
| 2004 | — | — | 54 | #2,171 |
| 2003 | — | — | 57 | #2,016 |
| 2002 | — | — | 46 | #2,268 |
| 2001 | 6 | #14,137 | 51 | #2,068 |
| 2000 | — | — | 39 | #2,452 |
| 1995 | — | — | 52 | #1,716 |
| 1990 | — | — | 30 | #2,334 |
| 1985 | — | — | 26 | #2,145 |
| 1980 | — | — | 17 | #2,768 |
| 1975 | — | — | 22 | #2,087 |
| 1970 | — | — | 27 | #1,673 |
| 1965 | — | — | 26 | #1,537 |
| 1960 | — | — | 33 | #1,386 |
| 1955 | — | — | 41 | #1,175 |
| 1950 | 5 | #5,592 | 27 | #1,409 |
| 1945 | — | — | 17 | #1,653 |
| 1940 | — | — | 11 | #2,234 |
| 1935 | 5 | #4,483 | 18 | #1,682 |
| 1930 | — | — | 16 | #1,919 |
| 1925 | — | — | 22 | #1,655 |
| 1920 | — | — | 33 | #1,263 |
| 1915 | — | — | 29 | #1,226 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 10 | #869 |
| 1895 | — | — | 5 | #1,152 |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | 5 | #998 |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Gray
- Gray Davis Politician · b. 1942
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Gray in 2025?
Gray ranked #1,418 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 128 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Gray?
5,842 babies have been named Gray in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Gray most popular?
Gray peaked in 2021, when 211 newborns received the name.
Is Gray a boy or girl name?
Gray is used for both: about 12% of babies named Gray have been girls and 88% boys.
Is the name Gray rising or falling?
Gray is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Gray?
Well-known people named Gray include Gray Davis (politician).