Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Ray

Ray is the English short form of Raymond. The name Raymond has Germanic roots from the element “ragin” meaning “advice, counsel” and “mund” meaning “protector”. It probably began as a personal name among ancient Germanic tribes for men who provided protection through wise counsel. The Germanic Raimund was eventually adopted by the French Normans who would introduce it to England in the Middle Ages where it was anglicized to Raymond. The name went out of style in modern times but was revived again in the mid-19th century. Ray remains a short form of Raymond, but it could also be used for other more modern “Ray” masculine names such as Rayan, Raylan and Rayden (or even the female Rayna).

All About the Baby Name – Ray

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME RAY

The number Eight personality has everything to do with power, wealth and abundance. Somehow, this personality has been blessed on the material plane, but their authoritative and problem-solving traits provide evidence that their good fortunes are not just the luck of the lottery. They are well earned. This is the personality of CEOs and high-ranking military personnel. Eights are intensely active, hard-driving individuals. Success is only meaningful to them after a job well-done.  They are remarkable in their ability to see the larger picture right down to the smallest details, and organize a strategy around success. They then have the ability to direct a group around them toward any goal, and realize individual potential to get the most out of their team.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME RAY

Ray has enjoyed a place on the U.S. male naming charts for well over a century. The height of his popularity came a long time ago around the turn of the 20th century. Between 1880 and 1948 Ray was actually a Top 100 choice for boys as an independently given name reaching his peak popularity in 1891 at #49 on the charts. As the latter half of the 20th century continued, however, Ray started to go out of style slowly but surely. In fact, Ray is at the lowest point on the charts right now, barely bestowed upon 300 baby boys per year. New more modern and stylistically American names such as Raylan and Rayden have recently popped onto the charts and already seem to be replacing the simplistic one-syllable Ray. Ray has become a little too ho-hum by today’s naming fashions. Perhaps better as a nickname (i.e., Billy Ray Cyrus). The association with a “ray” of sunlight does brighten up an otherwise minimalistic name.

Quick Facts

ON RAY

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

1

RANKING POPULARITY:

676

PRONUNCIATION:

RAY

SIMPLE MEANING:

Wise counsel, Protective advice

Characteristics

OF RAY

Authoritative

Powerful

Tough

Tenacious

Wealthy

Problem-solver

Achiever

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Ray

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME RAY

We cannot find any significant literary characters by the name of Ray

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME RAY

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Ray


Popular Songs

ON RAY

Marina Del Ray
a song by George Strait

Worried About Ray
a song by The Hoosiers

UV Ray
a song by Jesus and Mary Chain

Sugar Ray
a song by Jesus and Mary Chain

Sister Ray
a song by Velvet Underground

Set the Ray to Jerry
a song by Smashing Pumpkins

Ray of Light
a song by Madonna

Ray of Hope
a song by The Rascals

Ray-Gun
a song by Thin Lizzy

It's a Shame About Ray
a song by The Lemonheads

Ray
a song by Aimee Mann

Dry Cleaning Ray
a song by No-Man

D Ray White
a song by Hank Williams III [explicit]

A Ray of Sunshine
a song by Wham!

Famous People

NAMED RAY

Ray Charles (musician)
Ray Bradbury (sci-fi author)
Ray Romano (comedian/actor)
"Sugar" Ray Leonard (boxer)
Ray Liotta (actor)
Ray Davies (musician)
Ray Allen (b. Walter Ray Allen, basketball player)
Ray Emery (hockey player)
Ray Lewis (football player)
Ray Combs (game show host)

Children of Famous People

NAMED RAY

We cannot find any children of famous people with the first name Ray

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME RAY

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Ray