US Popularity Rank: 749

Origin: British

Meaning: Blue-crested bird; Heel of the foot; Supplanter; Healer

Long before Jayson, Jayden, and Jaylin became popular, there was Jay—a simple and straightforward name with Latin origins. Meaning "blue-crested bird," it may also be a short version of the Hebrew moniker James, meaning "heel of the foot" or "supplanter," or Jason, meaning "healer." The name goes back at least to the late 18th century when John Jay, a founding father of the United States, was the impetus for so many babies getting his surname as a first name. Jay was at the height of popularity and a Top 100 hit during the 1950s through the mid-1970s. Since then, Jay ranking has dropped considerably, but here's hoping someday the name flies high again.