Gay

Updated: October 13, 2023 by Sarah Nance

Gay is a unisex baby name of French origin that means “joyful.” Gay was a popular name in the first half of the 20th century, but since the term has come to mean “homosexual,” it has fallen out of popularity as a name. With that said, it is a classic name with a rich history. Read on to learn more.

Meaning and Origin of the name Gay:

Gay is a French unisex baby name that means “joyful.” Gay is also a diminutive of names such as Gayle, Gaylen, Gabriel, and Gaylord.

Symbolism of the name Gay:

Gay means “joyful.” Common symbols of joy from around the world include the color yellow, daisies, sunflowers, rabbits, songbirds, sunlight, and white clouds.

Nicknames for the name Gay:

Gee
Gigi
Gayle
Gigi
Aya
Gaylord
Gaya
Gage

Style of the name Gay:

Traditional

Gender of the name Gay:

Gay is a unisex baby name.

Pronunciation of the name Gay:

GAY

Number of syllables in the name Gay:

One

Emotion evoked from the name Gay:

Gay evokes feelings of happiness and joy.

Alternative spellings for the name Gay:

Gaye, Gae

Popularity of the name Gay:

According to the Social Security Administration, Gay is a popular unisex baby name. As a girl’s name, Gay was in the top 1000 baby names list from 1900 to 1969, peaking at #315 in 1943. As a boy’s name, Gay was in the top 1000 baby names list in one year, 1941, when it ranked #994.