Faye

♀ Girl

Pronounced FAY /feɪ/High

Meaning: From Old French fae meaning 'fairy' or 'enchantment'; also possibly from the Middle English word fay meaning 'faith' or 'loyalty,' from Old French foiMedium

In 30 seconds: Faye is an enchanting one-syllable name meaning 'fairy' or 'faith.' Soft and vintage, it conjures both fairy-tale magic and old-Hollywood glamour through bearers like Faye Dunaway.

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Origin HighOld French, English

MeaningFrom Old French fae meaning 'fairy' or 'enchantment'; also possibly from the Middle English word fay meaning 'faith' or 'loyalty,' from Old French foi

U.S. rank (2025)#515 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births579 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1943

Total births (all-time)≈ 72,138

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Faye derives from the Old French fae (fairy, enchantment), itself from the Latin fata (the Fates). The element fay meaning 'fairy' appears in the Arthurian epithet 'Morgan le Fay.' Alternatively, some connect Faye to the Old French foi (faith, loyalty), making it a virtue-name as well.

Faye was popular in the early 20th century and is now a vintage name in quiet revival alongside other one-syllable classics like Mae, June, and Bea. Actress Faye Dunaway gave the name a sophisticated, powerful association in the 1970s. It is beloved today for its brevity and its magical undertones.

Did you know? In Arthurian legend, Morgan le Fay — whose name contains the same fay element meaning 'fairy' — is one of the most powerful enchantresses in all of Western literature, a sorceress who is both antagonist and protector to King Arthur.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Faye — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

FayFaeFaia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Faye Dunaway (1941–present)
American actress known for Bonnie and Clyde, Chinatown, and Network.

If you like Faye…

Mae— shares the soft, old-Hollywood one-syllable vintage charm

June— another sweet one-syllable vintage girls' name in the same revival wave

Bea— fellow brief, bright, old-fashioned one-syllable name

Wren— one-syllable nature-touched girls' name with the same delicate magic

Frequently Asked

What does the name Faye mean?

Faye comes from Old French fae meaning 'fairy' or 'enchantment,' and may also relate to 'faith.' It shares its root with Morgan le Fay of Arthurian legend.

How do you pronounce Faye?

It is said FAY — one syllable, rhyming with 'day.'

Is Faye a boy or girl name?

Faye is used almost exclusively as a girls' name.

How popular is Faye?

Faye is experiencing a quiet revival in the U.S. and U.K. as part of the broader one-syllable vintage name trend.