The name Gaye is of English origin and means "rejoice". It is derived from the Middle English word "gai", which means happy or cheerful. The name was popularized by the American singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye, who was born with the name Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. on April 2, 1939. He is considered one of the most influential figures in soul music and his impact on popular music is widely recognized. Today, Gaye is used as both a given name and surname around the world.
The name Gaye has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century in the United States. Between 1909 and 1921, there were less than 10 births each year with this name, indicating that it was not particularly common during this period.
However, starting from 1923, the number of births with the name Gaye began to increase steadily, reaching a peak in 1956 with 222 births. This trend continued until 1960, after which there was a gradual decline in popularity. Between 1961 and 1976, the number of annual births with the name Gaye ranged from a low of 8 to a high of 158.
Overall, over the course of these years, there were a total of 5747 births with the name Gaye in the United States. While it may not have been one of the most popular names during this period, its popularity did fluctuate significantly over time.