Jay

See also: jay

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dʒeɪ/
• Rhymes: -eɪ

Proper noun

Jay

1. An English surname​ from Old French jai (“jay (bird)”), a nickname for a chatty or showy person.
2. A hamlet in Herefordshire, England; named in the c. 13th century for the Jay family, prominent in that area.
3. A locale in the United States.
   1. A town in Maine; named for American statesman and Founding Father John Jay.
   2. A town in New York; named for John Jay.
   3. A city in Oklahoma; the county seat of Delaware County; named for Jay Washburn, nephew of Cherokee leader Stand Watie.
   4. A town in Florida; named for postmaster J. T. Nowling.
   5. A town on the Canadian border in Vermont; named for John Jay.
   6. A former settlement in California.

Alternative forms

• Jaye (surname)

Etymology 2

Proper noun

Jay

1. A diminutive of the male given names James or Jason, or for any name beginning with ⟨J⟩; also used as a formal given name.
2. A female given name
   • 1947, Alpha Delta Pi, The Adelphean (volume 40, issue 2, page 102)

     To Lt. and Mrs. John Ellingston (Beth Vollstedt), a daughter, Jay Karen, on September 17, 1945.

   • 2007, Gráinne Smith, Families, Carers and Professionals: Building Constructive Conversations

     In 1993, my daughter Jay returned home aged 21 after a disastrous marriage.

   • 2010, Ray Thompson, Fires Within (page 206)

     Within a few weeks, having endured a number of lengthy interviews, Jay found herself working in the Beijing office of the bureau of information.

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Cebuano

Etymology

From English Jay.

Proper noun

Jay

1. a male given name

Quotations

For quotations of use of this term, see Citations:Jay.