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.
The name Ray seems to have experienced significant popularity fluctuations over the years. It started with a low of 8 births in 1880, but by 1914, it peaked at 108 births. The highest point was reached in 1923 with 122 births. However, since then, there has been a consistent decline in the popularity of the name Ray, with only 26 births recorded in 2023. In total, over the period from 1880 to 2023, there were 5559 babies named Ray.