Rae

Meaning: Ewe
Origin: Hebrew — Short form of Rachel

Meaning: Not established
Origin: English — Feminine form of Ray, or from the Scottish surname Rae

Girl's name · #1306 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Rae — on the books since 1880, #1306 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 23,000 girls have carried the name since. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Rae is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 21 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Rae ranks in other countries and regions.

#284 in Scotland (2025) · #353 in England & Wales (2025) · #608 in Ireland (2025) · #936 in Belgium (2025) · #1,141 in Canada (2025) · #1,522 in Sweden (2025) · #337 in N. Ireland (2024) · #747 in Netherlands (2024) · #11,360 in Ecuador (2016) · #303 in New Zealand (1959).

Famous Raes

Rae Dawn Chong — Canadian-American actress (born 1961)
Rae Burrell — American basketball player (born 2000)
Rae Allen — American actress (1926–2022)
Rae Morris — British singer (born 1992)
Rae Armantrout — American poet (born 1947)

In stories & tradition

Rae Wilson — Hollyoaks (TV series)
Rae Cummings — All My Children (TV series)
Rae — BladeChick (comics)

What Raes become

Among 140 notable people named Rae:

Entertainers appear 1.84× more often than among typical names — e.g. Rae Dawn Chong, Canadian-American actress (born 1961).

Similar names: Harriet · Rayah · Mae · Geneva · Shae · Robbie

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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