NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Jayjay

A diminutive of the masculine name Jacob, derived from the Hebrew Ya'akov meaning "supplanter".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Jayjay is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Jayjay popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3112, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 15 births.

This profile covers 180 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 2002 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 40% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 179 living people in the UK are called Jayjay. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Jayjay ranked #3112 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 15 boys were registered as Jayjay.
  • About 179 living people in the UK are estimated to have Jayjay as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3112

2023

Births in 2023

6

Latest year

Peak year

2016

15 births

Estimated living

179

2026

Meaning

What does Jayjay mean?

The given name Jayjay is a diminutive form of the name Jay, which is derived from the bird name "jay". The bird name itself comes from the Old French "jai" or "jai", which is a derivative of the Latin "gāius" meaning "jay" or "jay-bird".

The name Jayjay can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Europe, particularly in regions where Old French was spoken. It was often used as a nickname or pet name for individuals named Jay, which was a relatively common name during that time period.

There are no significant historical references or mentions of the name Jayjay in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, the name Jay itself has been documented in various historical records from the Middle Ages onward.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Jayjay dates back to the 16th century in France. A notable individual bearing this name was Jayjay Dubois, a French merchant and trader who lived from 1532 to 1598.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the name Jayjay. For instance, Jayjay Prentiss (1786-1858) was an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont.

Another notable figure was Jayjay Cullen (1842-1912), an Australian explorer and prospector who was instrumental in the discovery of several gold fields in Western Australia during the late 19th century.

In the realm of literature, Jayjay Fitzgerald (1896-1940) was an Irish poet and writer who was part of the Irish literary renaissance in the early 20th century.

Jayjay Moreira (1910-1988) was a Brazilian architect and urban planner who made significant contributions to the design and development of several major cities in Brazil.

Lastly, Jayjay Nakamura (1923-2002) was a Japanese-American artist and sculptor known for her works in ceramics and terra cotta.

These examples highlight the diverse individuals who have borne the name Jayjay throughout history, spanning various cultures, professions, and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Jayjay over time

The chart below shows babies named Jayjay registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Jayjay, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2023, compared with 15 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Jayjay
0481115200220122023

Decades

Jayjay by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Jayjay was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #2464 35 4
2010s #2153 109 10
2000s #2817 36 7

Related

Names similar to Jayjay

FAQ

Jayjay: questions and answers

How popular is the name Jayjay in the UK right now?

In 2023, Jayjay was ranked #3112 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Jayjay most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 15 babies registered as Jayjay in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Jayjay?

A diminutive of the masculine name Jacob, derived from the Hebrew Ya'akov meaning "supplanter".

How many people are called Jayjay in the UK?

A total of 180 babies have been registered as Jayjay across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.