Raven
Raven is a given name in the English language. While it may be given to boys and girls, it is more frequently a feminine name. In the United States of America the name has ranked among the top 1,000 names given to baby girls since 1977.
Meaning & Origin of Raven
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Raven is a given name in the English language. While it may be given to boys and girls, it is more frequently a feminine name. In the United States of America the name has ranked among the top 1,000 names given to baby girls since 1977.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Raven
As a girl name
Raven first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1941, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1993, when 2,285 Ravens were born — ranking #139 that year. As of 2026, Raven ranks #366 for girls with 841 births, gradually rising (+10%). In total, more than 46K Ravens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1940s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Raven first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1921, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1999, when 188 Ravens were born — ranking #809 that year. As of 2026, Raven ranks #2,680 for boys with 49 births, rising sharply (+23% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Ravens have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Raven
Phonetically similar names — useful when Raven 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 Raven
What does the name Raven mean?
How popular is Raven in 2026?
When was Raven most popular?
In which U.S. states is Raven most popular?
Is Raven a unisex name?
What names go well with Raven?
About the name Raven
Raven is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1941 and has accumulated 46K births in the dataset. Raven's peak popularity came in 1993 when it ranked #139. Use the chart and map above to compare Raven's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1993 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- 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.