Jay

An English surname transferred from the nickname from Old French jai (“jay (bird)”), a nickname for a chatty or showy person.

Proper noun

  1. An English surname transferred from the nickname from Old French jai (“jay (bird)”), a nickname for a chatty or showy person.
  2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
  3. A placename.

    1. A hamlet in Leintwardine parish, Herefordshire, England; named in the c. 13th century for the Jay family, prominent in that area (OS grid ref SO3974).

    2. A locale in the United States.

      A town in Santa Rosa County, Florida; named for postmaster J. T. Nowling.

    3. A locale in the United States.

      A town in Franklin County, Maine; named for American statesman and Founding Father John Jay.

    4. A locale in the United States.

      A town in Essex County, New York; named for John Jay.

    5. A locale in the United States.

      A city, the county seat of Delaware County, Oklahoma; named for Jay Washburn, nephew of Cherokee leader Stand Watie.

    6. A locale in the United States.

      A town on the Canadian border in Orleans County, Vermont; named for John Jay.

    7. A locale in the United States.

      A township in Martin County, Minnesota.

    8. A locale in the United States.

      A township in Elk County, Pennsylvania.

    9. A locale in the United States.

      A former settlement in California.

Forms

Jays Jaye

Derived

Jay County Jayton

Proper noun Entry 2

  1. A diminutive of the male given names James, Jacob, Jack, John, or Jason, or for any other name beginning with ⟨J⟩; also used as a formal given name.
    • “I started to think about it. He’s coming in on a two-seater experimental plane to pitch me to go on a five-seater experimental sub that he has built down to the ocean floor to see the Titanic,” Jay said. - 2023 June...
    • When Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft jumped into the state’s gubernatorial race last year, the Republican vowed to tackle a slew of culture war issues, promising to fight the “woke politics” of “left-wing”...
  2. A female given name.
    • To Lt. and Mrs. John Ellingston (Beth Vollstedt), a daughter, Jay Karen, on September 17, 1945. - 1947, Alpha Delta Pi, The Adelphean, volume 40, number 2, page 102:
    • In 1993, my daughter Jay returned home aged 21 after a disastrous marriage. - 2007, Gráinne Smith, Families, Carers and Professionals: Building Constructive Conversations:
    • Within a few weeks, having endured a number of lengthy interviews, Jay found herself working in the Beijing office of the bureau of information. - 2010, Ray Thompson, Fires Within, page 206:

Forms

Jays

Related

J J. Jaye

Proper noun India

  1. A male given name from Hindi.

Origin

Borrowed from Hindi जय (jay, literally “victory”).

Forms

Jays

Noun

  1. Alternative letter-case form of jay.

Forms

Jays