# Ray
## English
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ɹeɪ/
* Rhymes: -eɪ
* Homophones: Rae, Re, Rea, Rhea (one pronunciation)

### 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 unincorporated community in Fremont Township, Steuben County, Indiana and Branch County, Michigan.
** A township in Macomb County, Michigan.
** An unincorporated community 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

* Cape Ray
* 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-ka$_4$-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
### Anagrams

* -ary, Ary, Ayr, RYA, ary, ayr, rya, yar

## Cebuano

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### Proper noun

Ray
* a male given name from English

## Uzbek
### Etymology

Inherited from Chagatai ری, from Classical Persian ری (ray).

### Proper noun

Ray
* Ray (a city in Iran)