Faye

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Faye

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Faye is an Old English word meaning “Fairy.”
-or-
Faye is an English diminutive for Faith.

History:
Faye, as a modern name, dates from the late 19th century (about the 1890s) when the Tennyson’s Idylls of the King, and an interest in medieval times, led to a revival of interest in Arthurian legends and names (Arthur, Morgan, Percival, Tristan, etc.). Faye comes from the name of Morgan le Fay (Morgan the Fairy), a sorceress who can either be malevolent or benevolent, and is usually described as Arthur’s jealous half-sister.

Pronunciation: fay.

Alternates: Fae, Fay.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Fay Simmonds Godwin (1931-)
British photographer.

Singers and Entertainers:
Faye Compton (1894-1978)
British actress.
Faye Dunaway (1941-)
American actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.058 % named Faye
0.021 % named Fay
0.002 % named Fae

Popularity of Faye:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 203rd most popular.
1910-1920: 200th most popular.
1920-1930: 205th most popular.
1930-1940: 162nd most popular.
1940-1950: 192nd most popular.
1950-1960: 251st most popular.
1960-1970: 494th most popular.
1970-1980: 863rd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Fay:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 208th most popular.
1910-1920: 238th most popular.
1920-1930: 271st most popular.
1930-1940: 262nd most popular.
1940-1950: 338th most popular.
1950-1960: 547th most popular.
1960-1970: 839th most popular.
1970-2000: N/A

Popularity of Fae:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 743rd most popular.
1910-1920: 929th most popular.
1920-2000: N/A