Boy · #7,194 in 2026

Rayon

Rayon, also called viscose, is a semi-synthetic fiber made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. Many types and grades of rayon fibers and films exist. Some imitate the feel and texture of natural fibers such as silk, wool, cotton, and linen.

Current Rank
#7,194
Peak Rank
#3,440 (2008)
Total Babies
551
5-Yr Trend
-17%
1998
First Year
2000
Last Year
1998
Peak Year
#12425
Peak Rank
11
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Rayon

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Rayon, also called viscose, is a semi-synthetic fiber made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. Many types and grades of rayon fibers and films exist. Some imitate the feel and texture of natural fibers such as silk, wool, cotton, and linen.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
French scientist and industrialist Hilaire de Chardonnet (1838–1924) is known as the "father of rayon" for his early development and commercialization of nitrocellulose rayon, the first commercial semi-synthetic fiber. He patented his production process in 1885. Rayon was and still is also known by the name artificial silk . Swiss chemist Matthias Eduard Schweizer (1818–1860) discovered that cellulose dissolved in tetraamminecopper dihydroxide . Max Fremery and Johann Urban developed a method to produce carbon fibers for use in light bulbs in 1897. Improvement of cuprammonium rayon for textile

The Story of Rayon

Rayon first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1975, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2008, when 25 Rayons were born — ranking #4,044 that year. As of 2026, Rayon ranks #7,194 for baby boys with 10 births, falling sharply (-17%). In total, more than 551 Rayons have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Where is Rayon most common?

Predicted country distribution based on naming patterns globally.

  • Mexico
    50%
  • United States
    20%
  • France
    16%
  • Philippines
    9%
  • Spain
    5%

Source: Nationalize.io . Probabilities are global naming-pattern estimates, not strict counts.

Names that sound like Rayon

Phonetically similar names — useful when Rayon 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 Rayon

What does the name Rayon mean?
Rayon, also called viscose, is a semi-synthetic fiber made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. Many types and grades of rayon fibers and films exist. Some imitate the feel and texture of natural fibers such as silk, wool, cotton, and linen.
How popular is Rayon in 2026?
In 2026, Rayon ranks #7,194 among boys' names in the U.S., with 10 babies given the name that year.
When was Rayon most popular?
Rayon reached its peak popularity in 2008, ranking #3,440 that year with 25 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Rayon most popular?
Rayon has historically been most popular in Ohio, Florida. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Rayon.
Is Rayon a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Rayon is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Rayon?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Rayon include Martine, Micharl, Thinh. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

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About the name Rayon

Rayon is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 551 births in the dataset. Rayon's peak popularity came in 2008 when it ranked #3,440. Use the chart and map above to compare Rayon's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

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.