Raye: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#6,769

among girls · ↑1,110 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Raye

How common

1 in 94,545

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1956

74 babies

All-time total

2,603

#4,289 all-time among girls

First recorded

1889

in Social Security records

Raye popularity over time

2,603 babies have been named Raye since 1889, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	6	–	6	1	–	#1,249
1890s	11	–	11	1	+83%	#1,520
1900s	38	–	38	4	+245%	#1,612
1910s	177	17	194	19	+411%	#1,171
1920s	204	39	243	24	+25%	#1,657
1930s	197	34	231	23	-5%	#1,471
1940s	341	85	426	43	+84%	#1,250
1950s	456	68	524	52	+23%	#1,277
1960s	323	44	367	37	-30%	#1,691
1970s	154	13	167	17	-54%	#2,649
1980s	82	6	88	9	-47%	#6,480
1990s	83	–	83	8	-6%	#7,294
2000s	44	–	44	4	-47%	#8,618
2010s	87	–	87	9	+98%	#7,273
2020s (to 2025)	94	–	94	16	+80%	#6,277

The story of Raye

Raye is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #6,769 in 2025 with 17 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1889, 2,603 American babies have been named Raye, about 88% girls and 12% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1956, when 74 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Raye stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Raye?

The median living Raye is about 64 years old; half are between 47 and 73. An estimated 1,600 people named Raye are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Raye year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	17	#6,769	–	–
2024	14	#7,879	–	–
2023	15	#7,561	–	–
2022	16	#7,221	–	–
2021	13	#8,368	–	–
2020	19	#6,277	–	–
2019	16	#7,273	–	–
2018	15	#7,680	–	–
2017	12	#9,227	–	–
2016	8	#12,637	–	–
2015	10	#10,709	–	–
2014	5	#18,613	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	12	#9,589	–	–
2011	9	#11,950	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	5	#19,560	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	6	#17,137	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	6	#16,000	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	9	#10,890	–	–
2001	12	#8,618	–	–
2000	6	#14,599	–	–
1995	6	#12,987	–	–
1990	8	#9,926	–	–
1985	5	#11,986	–	–
1980	10	#6,642	–	–
1975	19	#3,608	–	–
1970	26	#2,755	–	–
1965	20	#2,804	8	#3,189
1960	37	#1,879	6	#3,967
1955	52	#1,400	5	#4,272
1950	42	#1,430	7	#3,256
1945	38	#1,307	6	#3,246
1940	22	#1,733	7	#3,071
1935	16	#2,081	–	–
1930	15	#2,282	6	#3,916
1925	21	#1,934	–	–
1920	26	#1,657	5	#4,828
1915	26	#1,435	–	–
1910	13	#1,322	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	5	#2,174	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Raye

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Raye English singer-songwriter and record producer (born 1997) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Raye, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Raye?

The median living Raye is about 64 years old. Half of all living Rayes are between 47 and 73 years old.

How many people named Raye are alive today?

An estimated 1,600 people named Raye are alive in the United States, based on 2,603 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Raye in 2025?

Raye ranked #6,769 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Raye?

2,603 babies have been named Raye in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Raye most popular?

Raye peaked in 1956, when 74 newborns received the name.

Is Raye a boy or girl name?

Raye is used for both: about 88% of babies named Raye have been girls and 12% boys.

Is the name Raye rising or falling?

Raye is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Raye?

Well-known people named Raye include Raye (singer).

Names like Raye

Names that sound and feel close to Raye: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Raye with similar names → More names starting with R →