Rae
Rae is a unisex given name. The Scottish name Rae is often associated with the Gaelic term "rath" which means "fortress." Rae is also the female variant of the Old High German Ray from regin meaning "counsel".
- English
Meaning & Origin of Rae
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rae is a unisex given name. The Scottish name Rae is often associated with the Gaelic term "rath" which means "fortress." Rae is also the female variant of the Old High German Ray from regin meaning "counsel".
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Rae
The earliest SSA record of Rae as a baby girl name dates back to 1880, when 10 babies received it. 1956 was its biggest year on record, with 406 newborns named Rae — #453 in the national rankings. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #1,314 among baby girl names with 173 births, gradually falling (-10%). In total, more than 24K Raes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Rae
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Rae. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Rae
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Rae Allen (1926–2022), American actress
- Rae Anderson (squash player) (born 1953), Australian squash player
- Rae Anderson (athlete) (born 1997), Australian Paralympic athlete
- Rae Armantrout (born 1947), American poet
- Rae Baker (born 1973), British actress
- Rae Bernstein (1904–1999), American pianist
- Rae Bridgman , Canadian anthropologist and writer
- Rae Burrell (born 2000), American professional basketball player
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Rae
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rae is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rae
What does the name Rae mean?
What is the origin of the name Rae?
How popular is Rae in 2026?
When was Rae most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rae most popular?
Is Rae a unisex name?
What names go well with Rae?
What are nicknames or variants of Rae?
About the name Rae
Rae is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 24K births in the dataset. Rae's peak popularity came in 1956 when it ranked #311. Use the chart and map above to compare Rae's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1956 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.