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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Rae — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Radyn|Raea
Scottish◈ Unisex · 48% boy · 52% girl↓ Declining

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Rae

◈

RAY · 1 syllables

Share Rae:
Compare with another name
Girl
#1265
↓ Declining
Girl
#1265
Popularity score: 28
↓ Declining
Peak
#1047 in 2021
5yr
-61 ranks
Velocity
-61
Birth frequency
5.1 per 100,000 births
Boy
#7593
Popularity score: 10
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#7382 in 2020
5yr
+6087 ranks
Velocity
+6087
Birth frequency
3.1 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #7593 · Falling since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Scottish boy names
Rae

Popularity score: 10  ·  SSA Rank: #7593

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1265 · Falling since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Scottish girl names
Rae

Popularity score: 28  ·  SSA Rank: #1265

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
11
Higher than 11% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↓ Declining
-61 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · tm risk
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
80
3 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Rae scores lower overall — the popularity trend is fading.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
18
Uniqueness20% of score
80
Feasibility15% of score
30

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
NatureScottishUnisex1-syllableModernShortCoolContemporary
Character
radiant energycreative spiritindependent strengthbright optimism
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Raes

innovativecollaborativemelodicenergeticinfluential
STRONG
High confidence

Rae is a Scottish unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #1265 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↓ Declining · -61 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · tm risk
Popularity:#1265 · rare
Rae at a Glance
Meaning:Short form of Rachel, meaning 'ewe' or 'lamb' in Hebrew. Also used as an independent Scottish name.
Language root:Scottish · Hebrew
Peak rank:#1047 in 2021
5yr change:-61 ranks
Sex usage:Girl #1265 · Boy #7593
Notable bearers
Rae Sremmurd
Rapper/musician duo stage name
Rae Dawn Chong
Actress and director
Rae Morris
British singer-songwriter
Similar Sound
Ray◈Rae◈RayeRhaeRey◈Rai◈
Similar Style
Wren◈IvySage◈Roan◈Cove◈Slate
Works well with
Wren◈IvyHazelRowan◈Finn◈Sage◈River◈Beckett◈
You Might Also Like
Wren◈
English · #213
→ Stable
Ivy
English · #36
→ Stable
Sage◈
Latin · #146
→ Stable
Isla
Scottish · #35
→ Stable
Lainey
Scottish · #38
→ Stable
Paisley
Scottish · #61
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Rae illustration
Name Intelligence
Rae · Overview
Summary

Rae is a Scottish unisex name with cooling SSA momentum. It ranked #1265 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Works for any sex
48% boy · 52% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Nature · Modern character
Rae carries a cool, grounded quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Popularity declining
Rank has dropped 61 positions in the last year. Consider whether this trajectory matters for your decision.
Domain taken
rae.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
Explore

Add to watchlists or your list with + Save next to the name above.

Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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