NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Kray

Kray is a modern invented name with no clear origin or meaning.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Kray is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Kray popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 12 births.

This profile covers 135 England and Wales registrations across 24 recorded years from 1998 to 2024. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 134 living people in the UK are called Kray. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Kray ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 12 boys were registered as Kray.
  • About 134 living people in the UK are estimated to have Kray as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

2000

12 births

Estimated living

134

2026

Meaning

What does Kray mean?

The name Kray has its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly in the Russian and Ukrainian tongues. It is derived from the old Slavic word "kray," which translates to "edge" or "border." This name likely emerged during the Middle Ages in the regions that now make up modern-day Russia and Ukraine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Kray can be found in the medieval Russian epic poem "The Tale of Igor's Campaign." In this work, composed in the late 12th century, a character named Kray is mentioned as a valiant warrior fighting alongside Prince Igor against the Polovtsian nomads.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Kray was Kray Dubrovin, a Russian explorer and cartographer who mapped significant portions of Siberia and the Far East. His expeditions contributed greatly to the expansion of the Russian Empire's territories during the reign of Ivan the Terrible.

Another historical figure with the name Kray was Kray Razumovsky, a Ukrainian nobleman and hetman (military leader) who lived in the 18th century. He played a crucial role in the political affairs of the Russian Empire during the reign of Empress Elizabeth and was instrumental in the establishment of the Razumovsky dynasty.

In the 19th century, Kray Bakunin, a Russian revolutionary and philosopher, gained prominence as a leading figure in the anarchist movement. He advocated for the abolition of the state and the creation of a society based on voluntary associations and mutual aid. Bakunin's ideas had a significant influence on the development of anarchist thought and practice.

Moving into the 20th century, Kray Voroshilov was a prominent Soviet military commander and politician. He served as a Marshal of the Soviet Union and played a key role in the defense of Moscow during World War II. Voroshilov was also a close ally of Joseph Stalin and held various high-ranking positions within the Soviet government.

These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Kray, each leaving their mark in various fields such as warfare, exploration, politics, and philosophy. The name's enduring presence throughout the centuries reflects its deep roots in the Slavic cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Kray over time

The chart below shows babies named Kray registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Kray, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Kray
036912199820112024

Decades

Kray by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Kray 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 #3548 23 4
2010s #3364 45 8
2000s #2603 59 10
1990s #2509 8 2

Related

Names similar to Kray

FAQ

Kray: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Kray was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Kray most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 12 babies registered as Kray in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Kray?

Kray is a modern invented name with no clear origin or meaning.

How many people are called Kray in the UK?

A total of 135 babies have been registered as Kray across the 24 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.