NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Tray

A derivation of the name Troy or of the French word tirer ("to pull").

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2002. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Tray is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Tray popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2002 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3225, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 4 births.

This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1999 to 2002. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 10 living people in the UK are called Tray. 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 2003 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Tray ranked #3225 for boys in England and Wales in 2002, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2000, when 4 boys were registered as Tray.
  • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tray as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3225

2002

Births in 2002

3

Latest year

Peak year

2000

4 births

Estimated living

10

2026

Meaning

What does Tray mean?

The name Tray is a relatively modern invention, emerging in the 20th century. Its origins are uncertain, but it is believed to have been derived from the English word "tray," which refers to a flat, shallow container used to carry or serve food and drinks. This connection suggests that the name could have been initially used as a nickname or surname, possibly for someone who worked in the service industry or had a particular affinity for trays.

There are no definitive historical references or ancient texts that mention the name Tray as a given name. However, some speculate that it could have been inspired by the Old French word "trier," meaning "to sort" or "to arrange," which could be related to the function of a tray in organizing and presenting items.

The earliest recorded examples of Tray as a first name are relatively recent. One of the earliest notable individuals with this name was Tray Woodall, an American basketball player born in 1989. Other notable individuals with the name Tray include:

1. Tray Chaney, an American football player born in 1988. 2. Tray Walker, an American football player (1992-2016). 3. Tray Lovings, an American boxer born in 1968. 4. Tray Deee, an American rapper and songwriter born in 1984. 5. Tray Thompkins, an American basketball player born in 1987.

While the name Tray is not widely used, it has gained some popularity in certain regions, particularly in the United States. Its unique sound and modern feel have appealed to parents seeking a distinctive name for their child. Despite its relatively recent emergence, the name Tray has already left its mark on various fields, from sports to entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tray over time

The chart below shows babies named Tray registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2002. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Tray, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2002, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tray
01234199920002002

Decades

Tray by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tray 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
2000s #2863 7 2
1990s #2943 3 1

Related

Names similar to Tray

FAQ

Tray: questions and answers

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

In 2002, Tray was ranked #3225 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Tray most popular?

The peak year on record was 2000, with 4 babies registered as Tray in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tray?

A derivation of the name Troy or of the French word tirer ("to pull").

How many people are called Tray in the UK?

A total of 10 babies have been registered as Tray across the 3 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.