Rae
How to say it: RAY · /ˈreɪ/
Short form of Rachel (Hebrew 'ewe') or feminine form of Ray (Raymond, 'wise protector'); also used independently.
Rae was the 1,094th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 171 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1890s, its births are up about 74% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,190 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,094 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 171 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,387 |
| Peak decade | 1890s |
| Change over 10 years | +74% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,190 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
After an early high in the 1890s it faded almost from view around the 2000s. Back in use yet far from that early height, a slight dip seems probable from here.
What goes with it
A single soft syllable gives it a spare and quiet character. Bea echoes its brevity.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Rae is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, Hebrew.
England and Wales: #355.
Famous people named Rae
- Rae Dawn Chong (born 1961)Canadian-American actress
- Rae Armantrout (born 1947)American poet
- Rae Lil Black (born 1996)Japanese former pornographic actress
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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