The baby name Gaye is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /ɡeɪ/ (GAY).
Gaye is English in Origin.
The baby name Gaye is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /ɡeɪ/ (GAY).
Gaye is English in Origin.
Gaye has two distinct etymologies. In English it developed from Old French gai, “cheerful, lively,” used as a unisex given name and surname; the -e spelling often feminized the form. In Turkish it derives from Arabic ghāyah, “aim, goal, ideal,” and is a popular feminine name. Related forms include Gay (English), Gaie (French), rare Gai, as well as elaborations like Gayla and Gaylene; Arabic-influenced variants include Ghaya and Ghaia. The surname Gaye also occurs independently.
The name saw broad Anglophone use from the late 19th century, peaking for girls in the 1930s–60s, then declining as the word “gay” shifted in meaning in public discourse. In Turkey, Gaye rose in the mid-20th century and remains current, prized for its aspirational sense. Overall, the name blends two traditions: bright cheerfulness in the West and purposeful striving in Turkish and Arabic contexts.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BN | 0 | #32 | 1 | 2,297 | |
| JM | 0 | #93 | 1 | 3,714 | |
| SD | 0 | #102 | 1 | 2,130 | |
| QA | 0 | #106 | 1 | 7,011 | |
| OM | 0 | #121 | 1 | 6,215 | |
| MT | Girls | 0 | #153 | 1 | 3,773 |
| AE | 0 | #187 | 1 | 10,220 | |
| PS | 0 | #225 | 2 | 5,692 | |
| BG | Girls | 0 | #231 | 1 | 3,559 |
| NA | Girls | 0 | #237 | 1 | 7,146 |
| BD | 0 | #241 | 1 | 5,992 | |
| GR | Girls | 0 | #247 | 3 | 6,293 |
| JM | Girls | 0 | #248 | 12 | 7,507 |
| AO | Boys | 0 | #249 | 1 | 5,568 |
| IL | 0 | #282 | 1 | 6,291 | |
| SG | 0 | #282 | 1 | 11,010 | |
| JP | Boys | 0 | #303 | 1 | 7,909 |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #341 | 3 | 15,378 |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #358 | 2 | 8,829 |
| MU | Girls | 0 | #362 | 1 | 8,539 |
| PL | Girls | 0 | #364 | 1 | 5,096 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #374 | 17 | 13,098 |
| France | Boys | 2021 | #378 | 10 | 2,865 |
| France | Girls | 2021 | #402 | 4 | 3,185 |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #407 | 2 | 11,440 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #423 | 2 | 15,987 |
| ZA | 0 | #434 | 14 | 14,421 | |
| TR | 0 | #479 | 2,238 | 19,440 | |
| AR | Boys | 0 | #481 | 3 | 7,628 |
| RU | Girls | 0 | #522 | 2 | 11,913 |
| IQ | Girls | 0 | #524 | 2 | 11,303 |
| CM | Boys | 0 | #539 | 12 | 12,054 |
| IR | Girls | 0 | #545 | 1 | 8,334 |
| LY | 0 | #556 | 4 | 12,703 | |
| KW | Girls | 0 | #559 | 3 | 19,177 |
| CM | Girls | 0 | #560 | 1 | 11,671 |
| CR | Girls | 0 | #572 | 2 | 11,342 |
| BH | 0 | #587 | 1 | 17,937 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #596 | 2 | 20,968 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #629 | 4 | 18,916 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #648 | 3 | 16,104 |
| IQ | Boys | 0 | #696 | 2 | 13,071 |
| BR | Boys | 0 | #785 | 1 | 12,213 |
| Germany | Girls | 0 | #811 | 28 | 4,949 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| TN | 0 | #865 | 1 | 13,765 | |
| Spain | Boys | 0 | #908 | 23 | 5,610 |
| EG | Boys | 0 | #925 | 1 | 15,035 |
| NL | Girls | 0 | #937 | 19 | 5,933 |
| NG | Boys | 0 | #940 | 12 | 16,906 |
| EG | Girls | 0 | #1,009 | 1 | 14,742 |
| SA | Girls | 0 | #1,009 | 6 | 25,931 |
| PE | Girls | 0 | #1,010 | 1 | 14,861 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,033 | 1 | 16,355 |
| IN | Boys | 0 | #1,039 | 1 | 16,750 |
| MY | Girls | 0 | #1,071 | 2 | 24,821 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,088 | 54 | 25,928 |
| MA | 0 | #1,095 | 34 | 20,986 | |
| DZ | 0 | #1,159 | 18 | 20,130 | |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,182 | 1 | 25,439 |
| MX | Girls | 0 | #1,267 | 1 | 17,781 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,268 | 5 | 25,619 |
| IT | Boys | 0 | #1,314 | 158 | 10,046 |
| IT | Girls | 0 | #1,415 | 32 | 9,415 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,684 | 8 | 28,008 |
Gaye is popular in 48 countries — most recent births per country:
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