Raleigh
How to say it: RAH-lee · /ˈrɑli/
English place name and surname meaning 'red clearing' (Old English 'rah' + 'leah'). Also a city in North Carolina.
Raleigh was the 1,473rd most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 168 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1900s, its births are down about 28% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,779 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #1,473 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 (both sexes) | 168 |
| Share of births | 1 in 19,734 |
| Peak decade | 1900s |
| Change over 10 years | −28% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,779 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Nearly gone by the 1960s, Raleigh returned to stand close to its early high in the 1900s. The outlook points toward a gentle fall.
What goes with it
Mellow and liquid in sound with place name roots, Raleigh feels easy. Hayes sits nicely beside it.
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Raleigh is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
Famous people named Raleigh
- Raleigh E. Colston (1825–1896)American general
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
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