Ray
See also: ray, rày, rầy, ra'y, and -raþ
English
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -eɪ
Etymology 1
- As an English surname, from pet forms derived from the root of Raymond.
- Also as an English surname, from Old French rei (“king”). Compare Roy, King.
- Also as an English surname, from Old English rā (“roe deer”). Compare Roe.
- Also as an English surname, variant of Wray and Rye.
- As a Scottish Gaelic surname, shortened from McRae.
- As a French surname, from the verb raier (“to gush out, flow, radiate”). Compare Leray.
- As a Polish and Slovene surname, Americanized from Raj, from raj (“paradise”).
- As an Indian surname, variant of Rai.
Proper noun
Ray
- A surname transferred from the nickname.
- A diminutive of the male given name Raymond, also used as a formal given name.
- 1980, Wright Morris, Plains Song, for Female Voices, Harper&Row, →ISBN, page 113:
- -, or Raymond if it happened to be a boy, choosing it in the hope that a name like Ray would make a boy's life easier.
- 2005, Sam Weller, The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury, William Morrow, →ISBN, page 12:
- Although the name on his birth certificate was spelled "Ray", Ray said he was originally given the name "Rae" after Rae Williams, a cousin on his father's side.
-
- A diminutive of the female given name Rachel, more often spelled Rae.
- 2010, Sophie Hannah, A Room Swept White, Hodder & Stoughton, →ISBN, page 271:
- 'Rachel told me―' 'Call her Ray. She hates Rachel.'
-
- A number of places in the United States:
- A census-designated place in Coosa County, Alabama.
- A ghost town in Pinal County, Arizona.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Fremont Township, Steuben County, Indiana and Branch County, Michigan.
- A township in Macomb County, Michigan.
- An unincorporatedcommunity in Koochiching County, Minnesota.
- A minor city in Williams County, North Dakota.
- A river in Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, England, which joins the River Cherwell.
- A river in north Wiltshire, England, which joins the Thames.
Derived terms
- Ray County
Etymology 2
From Persian ری (Rey), from Middle Persian, from Old Persian 𐎼𐎥𐎠 (r-g-a /Ragā/), a Median district. Compare Akkadian 𒊏𒂵𒀪 (ra-ga-'), Elamite 𒊩𒋡𒀭 (rák-ka4-an) (loc.), Ancient Greek Ῥάγαι (Rhágai), Latin Rhagae, Rhaganae, Iranian borrowings.
Alternative forms
- Rey
- Rai
- Rhay, Rhey (dated)
- Shahr-e-Rey, Shahr-e-Ray, Shahr Rey, Shahr Ray, Chahr-e Ray (Iranian Persian)
- Rhagae, Rhaganae (Latin)
- Rhages, Rages (Ancient Greek)
- Raga (Old Persian)
- Rayy, al-Rayy (Arabic)
Proper noun
Ray
- A city near Tehran, Iran.
- (historical) a region and satrapy in ancient Iran located between the Alborz and Zagros mountain ranges and the Dasht-e Kavir desert; Rhagiana
Synonyms
- Arsacia
Related terms
- Rhazes
- Rhagiana
Translations
city in Iran
|
Anagrams
- -ary, Ary, Ayr, RYA, ary, ayr, rya, yar
Cebuano
Proper noun
Ray
- a male given name from English