Ra
Ra or Re was the ancient Egyptian deity of the Sun. By the Fifth Dynasty, in the 25th and 24th centuries BC, Ra had become one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon-day Sun. Ra ruled in all parts of the created world: the sky, the Earth, and the underworld. He was believed to have ruled as the first pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
Meaning & Origin of Ra
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ra or Re was the ancient Egyptian deity of the Sun. By the Fifth Dynasty, in the 25th and 24th centuries BC, Ra had become one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon-day Sun. Ra ruled in all parts of the created world: the sky, the Earth, and the underworld. He was believed to have ruled as the first pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Ra
As a girl name
Ra first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1969, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1969, when 5 Ras were born — ranking #7,472 that year. As of 2026, Ra ranks #16,991 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 20 Ras have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Ra first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1972, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 29 Ras were born — ranking #3,794 that year. As of 2026, Ra ranks #5,316 for boys with 18 births, rising sharply (+22% over the past five years). In total, more than 251 Ras have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Ra
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ra is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Raw
- Rah
- Raa
- Rha
- Raah
- Rao
- Rau
- Rawe
- Wrao
- Rauh
- Rauw
- Raue
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ra
What does the name Ra mean?
How popular is Ra in 2026?
When was Ra most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ra most popular?
Is Ra a unisex name?
What names go well with Ra?
About the name Ra
Ra is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1972 and has accumulated 251 births in the dataset. Ra's peak popularity came in 2023 when it ranked #3,794. Use the chart and map above to compare Ra's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2023 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.