Faye

#31 in Montana

Meaning of Faye

Faye, traditionally understood as an Anglicized descendant of the Middle English “faie,” itself drawn from Old French “fae” and ultimately Latin “fatum,” carries connotations of both “fairy” and “fate,” thereby situating the name at the intersection of medieval folklore and classical notions of destiny; additionally, in modern onomastic scholarship it is sometimes interpreted as a concise variant of the virtue name Faith, though the etymological pathways remain distinct. In Anglo-American usage the name first gained measurable currency at the fin-de-siècle, achieved notable prominence through the inter-war decades, and, after a mid-century recession, has displayed a gradual renaissance since the early 2000s, as evidenced by its steady climb from rank 792 in 2010 to 445 in 2023 within United States birth data. Cultural associations range from literary enchantresses in Arthurian romance to contemporary figures such as actress Faye Dunaway, collectively imparting an aura that is at once understated and quietly evocative. As a consequence, Faye occupies a lexical and symbolic space attractive to parents seeking brevity, historical depth, and an ethereal yet academically grounded resonance.

Pronunciation

English

  • Pronunced as fay (/feɪ/)

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Similar Names to Faye

Notable People Named Faye

Dorothy Faye Dunaway is an acclaimed American actress who has won an Academy Award, an Emmy, three Golden Globes, and a BAFTA.
Faye Wong is a Chinese singer-songwriter and actress known for blending alternative music with mainstream pop.
Faye Wattleton is a pioneering reproductive rights activist who made history as Planned Parenthood's first African American and youngest president and now co-founds the quantum computing company EeroQ.
Faye Connell Webster is an American singer-songwriter from Atlanta, Georgia, who has released five studio albums.
British actress Faye Elaine Marsay is best known for her roles in Game of Thrones, Andor, and the film Pride.
Faye Driscoll is an American dancer and choreographer known for her work on Broadway's Straight White Men and the film Madeline's Madeline, with her pieces presented worldwide.
Faye Toogood is a British designer whose work in furniture, interiors, and fashion aims to push creative boundaries.
Faye Grant is an American actress best known for playing Julie Parrish in NBC's science fiction series V from 1983 to 1985.
Faye Ginsburg is an American anthropologist renowned for her ethnographies on diverse cultures and her roles as a professor and director at New York University.
Yu Feihong, known as Faye Yu, is a Chinese actress acclaimed in the West for films like The Joy Luck Club and popular in China for her television roles.
Julia Bancroft
Curated byJulia Bancroft

Assistant Editor