Rainey
Rainey is a name of British-Irish origin.
Meaning & Origin of Rainey
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Rainey is a name of British-Irish origin.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Rainey
As a girl name
Rainey first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2022: 90 births, good for #2,123 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 25% of all recorded Raineys. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,314 among girl names with 80 births, rising sharply (+24% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Raineys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Rainey as a boy name dates back to 1901, when 5 babies received it. 1950 was its biggest year on record, with 13 newborns named Rainey — #2,111 in the national rankings. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 450 Raineys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Rainey
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Rainey Bennett (1907–1998), American artist and illustrator
- Rainey Bethea (c. 1909–1936), last person to be publicly executed in the United States
- Rainey R. Brandt (born 1966), American judge
- Rainey Cawthon (1907–1991), American football player and coach
- Rainey Haynes (born 1964), American singer-songwriter also known simply as "Rainey"
- Rainey Qualley (born 1989), American actress and singer
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Rainey
Phonetically similar names — useful when Rainey 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 Rainey
What does the name Rainey mean?
How popular is Rainey in 2026?
When was Rainey most popular?
In which U.S. states is Rainey most popular?
Is Rainey a unisex name?
What names go well with Rainey?
About the name Rainey
Rainey is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Rainey's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #2,123. Use the chart and map above to compare Rainey's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "R" →
- Browse all girl 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.