Rye
Every Rye since 1971 — 1,236 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rye
Rye is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,531 in 2025 with 53 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1971, 1,236 American babies have been named Rye — about 87% boys and 13% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2020, when 86 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
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 Rye stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rye 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 | 11 | #9,351 | 53 | #2,531 |
| 2024 | — | — | 57 | #2,440 |
| 2023 | 15 | #7,574 | 56 | #2,431 |
| 2022 | 19 | #6,421 | 61 | #2,345 |
| 2021 | 18 | #6,634 | 54 | #2,488 |
| 2020 | 10 | #10,132 | 76 | #1,934 |
| 2019 | 11 | #9,632 | 62 | #2,256 |
| 2018 | 15 | #7,701 | 64 | #2,187 |
| 2017 | 8 | #12,531 | 34 | #3,366 |
| 2016 | 8 | #12,678 | 46 | #2,682 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12,795 | 40 | #2,950 |
| 2014 | 9 | #11,769 | 31 | #3,517 |
| 2013 | 5 | #18,777 | 30 | #3,565 |
| 2012 | 5 | #19,016 | 43 | #2,807 |
| 2011 | — | — | 29 | #3,680 |
| 2010 | 9 | #12,074 | 28 | #3,788 |
| 2009 | — | — | 24 | #4,254 |
| 2008 | 10 | #11,441 | 14 | #6,336 |
| 2007 | 5 | #19,947 | 20 | #4,765 |
| 2006 | — | — | 22 | #4,341 |
| 2005 | — | — | 20 | #4,430 |
| 2004 | — | — | 16 | #5,197 |
| 2003 | — | — | 12 | #6,182 |
| 2002 | — | — | 7 | #9,195 |
| 2001 | — | — | 15 | #5,087 |
| 2000 | — | — | 11 | #6,229 |
| 1995 | — | — | 5 | #10,024 |
| 1990 | — | — | 9 | #5,729 |
| 1985 | — | — | 6 | #6,382 |
| 1980 | — | — | 7 | #5,409 |
| 1975 | — | — | 5 | #6,165 |
| 1970 | — | — | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
How popular is the name Rye in 2025?
Rye ranked #2,531 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 53 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rye?
1,236 babies have been named Rye in the United States since 1971, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rye most popular?
Rye peaked in 2020, when 86 newborns received the name.
Is Rye a boy or girl name?
Rye is used for both: about 13% of babies named Rye have been girls and 87% boys.
Is the name Rye rising or falling?
Rye is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.