unisex name
Jae
JAY (English)
- Origin Korean, English
- Gender Unisex
- Syllables 1
- Letters 3
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 3,441
Jae is a unisex name with two separate origins. In Korean it's a syllable with Chinese-character meanings such as "talent" or "wealth," often part of a two-syllable name, and in English it's a spelling of Jay, used alone or as a middle name.
- Jae is a name of Korean, English origin.
- Peaked in 2020, when 71 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 55,258 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1918.
- 1 syllable, with the stress on syllable 1.
Jae Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1910s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 41 |
| 1930s | 34 |
| 1940s | 66 |
| 1950s | 203 |
| 1960s | 202 |
| 1970s | 238 |
| 1980s | 313 |
| 1990s | 391 |
| 2000s | 531 |
| 2010s | 600 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 356 |
What Jae Means
Jae's meaning depends on where it's from. Korean families choose it through written characters, as talent or wealth, while English speakers use it as a short J name that often traces to the jay bird or to names beginning with J.
Where Jae Comes From
Korean Jae is a Sino-Korean syllable, and its sense is set by the hanja chosen to write it, such as 才 for talent and 財 for wealth. It usually forms half of a personal name, as in Jae-hyun. The English form is a respelling of Jay, a nickname from names starting with J, and also the name of the bird, from Old French jai. American records show it for boys and girls from the early twentieth century.
Jae in Use
Spellings with -ae also show up in Mae and Rae, which helps Jae read as a soft, modern short name. Parents of Korean heritage may treat it as a bridge, since it reads easily in English and carries a Korean sense too.
How Popular Is Jae?
In 2025, Jae was given to 60 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Jae Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Jae Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Jaé | Jaé is Jae written with an acute accent, used in France, where it ranks #5,312. | 10 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Jae
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Jae Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Jae over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Jae
- English JAY
Jae in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
- Dutch
- Jay
Sibling Names for Jae
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Jae — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Jae
What does the name Jae mean?
In Korean it depends on the character, such as talent or wealth. In English it's a form of Jay.
Is Jae a boy's or a girl's name?
It's used for both, and in the United States slightly more for boys.
Is Jae a Korean name?
Often, yes, though it's also an English respelling of Jay.
How popular is the name Jae?
In 2025, Jae was given to 60 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
How many syllables are in Jae?
Jae has 1 syllable.
When was Jae most popular?
Jae peaked in 2020, when 71 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
Is Jae a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Jae currently ranks #2,974 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.