Gaye: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	5	1	–	#2,343
1910s	69	7	+1280%	#2,242
1920s	106	11	+54%	#1,858
1930s	599	60	+465%	#680
1940s	1,333	133	+123%	#587
1950s	2,043	204	+53%	#586
1960s	1,449	145	-29%	#612
1970s	142	14	-90%	#1,863
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

#2,343

1910s

+1280%

#2,242

1920s

106

+54%

#1,858

1930s

599

+465%

#680

1940s

1,333

133

+123%

#587

1950s

2,043

204

+53%

#586

1960s

1,449

145

-29%

#612

1970s

142

-90%

#1,863

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Gaye

Gaye is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1909, 5,746 American babies have been named Gaye. Its peak came in 1960, when 268 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Gaye stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Gaye?

The median living Gaye is about 69 years old; half are between 64 and 76. An estimated 4,200 people named Gaye are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Gaye year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	8	#6,703
1970	47	#1,863
1965	128	#886
1960	268	#612
1955	196	#668
1950	156	#687
1945	128	#646
1940	89	#735
1935	82	#744
1930	18	#1,970
1925	9	#3,487
1920	9	#3,435
1915	7	#3,572
1910	6	#2,242
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Gaye, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Gaye?

The median living Gaye is about 69 years old. Half of all living Gayes are between 64 and 76 years old.

How many people named Gaye are alive today?

An estimated 4,200 people named Gaye are alive in the United States, based on 5,746 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Gaye mean?

A female given name from English.

How popular is the name Gaye in 2025?

Gaye did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Gaye?

5,746 babies have been named Gaye in the United States since 1909, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Gaye most popular?

Gaye peaked in 1960, when 268 newborns received the name.

Is Gaye a boy or girl name?

Gaye is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Gaye rising or falling?

Gaye has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Gaye

Gaye popularity over time

The story of Gaye

How old are people named Gaye?

Gaye year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Gaye