Rayleigh
How to say it: RAY-lee · /ˈreɪli/
English surname-turned-given-name, from Old English 'roege leah' meaning 'roe deer meadow'.
Rayleigh was the 938th most popular girls’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 149 babies (Social Security Administration). The 2020s are its busiest decade so far, its births are down about 21% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #1,050 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among girls’ names, 2025 | #938 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 149 |
| Share of births | 1 in 14,867 |
| Peak decade | 2020s |
| Change over 10 years | −21% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #1,050 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Fresh to the charts, Rayleigh rose to its high in the 2020s. It is still at that high, though the coming years are likely to bring a dip.
What goes with it
Airy and soft, said RAY lee, Rayleigh carries a place name feel. Everleigh could be a sister.
Nicknames
- Ray
- Leigh
- Rae
Other spellings
Honouring a Rayleigh in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Rayleigh is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English.
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