Total births
2,297
Unisex name · since 1889
Raye
Since 1889, U.S. Social Security records show 2,297 babies named Raye, peaking in 1956. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7615
- among girls today
- 2,297
- born since 1889
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 57%
- more common than other girls
Raye currently ranks #7615 among unisex names in America, with 2,297 babies recorded since 1889.
Social Security Administration records show Raye recorded 2,297 times among girls since 1889, holding rank #7615 nationally today, ahead of 57% of girls, peaking in the 1950s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1889 to 2025.
- #7615 among girls today
- 2,297 born since 1889
- 1950s peak decade
- 57% more common than other girls
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Raye is currently the #7615 unisex name in America, more common than 57% of girls - 2,297 born since 1889, peaking in the 1950s.
- #7615
- among girls today
- 2,297
- born since 1889
- 1950s
- peak decade
- 57%
- more common than other girls
Raye vs. every other girls name in current SSA rankings
#7615
of 17,726 girls in use
More common than 57% of names given to girls today.
1950s
Peak decade
20% of everyone ever named Raye was born in this single decade.
1956
Single peak year
67 babies were named Raye in 1956 - its busiest year on record.
How Raye compares
2,297 Top 20% higher than 80% of 17,726 names currently given to girls
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked girls names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Raye's all-time total is 6x the median girls name, and Olivia still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Raye | Median girls name (Emerly) | #1 girls name (Olivia) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,297 | 382 | 567,345 |
| Peak-year births | 67 | 48 | 19,840 |
Raye's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Raye splits its recorded history at 1960: 38% of all births land in the more recent half, 62% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1898 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1956 peak of 67 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Raye at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1956
Current rank
#7,615
Active since
1889
Raye popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1889–2025
- Peak year (1956)
- 67
- Annual births at peak, across 137 years of records
Raye popularity over time - boys
306 total births recorded since 1914 (Raye as boys' name)
Raye by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1950s was Raye's strongest decade.
456 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 20% of all-time use.
Raye births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 6
1880s
6 births
- 1890s 11
1890s
11 births
- 1900s 38
1900s
38 births
- 1910s 177
1910s
177 births
- 1920s
1920s
204 births
- 1930s
1930s
197 births
- 1940s
1940s
341 births
- 1950s
1950s
456 births
- 1960s
1960s
323 births
- 1970s 154
1970s
154 births
- 1980s 82
1980s
82 births
- 1990s 83
1990s
83 births
- 2000s 44
2000s
44 births
- 2010s 87
2010s
87 births
- 2020s 94
2020s
94 births
What this shows Peak: 1950s at 456 births (20% of all-time use).
How Raye compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Raye's total volume
Raye vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Raye by state
Where Raye concentrates geographically, total births since 1889
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 108 | 4.7% |
| #2 | California | | 29 | 1.3% |
| #3 | Ohio | | 21 | 0.9% |
| #4 | New York | | 15 | 0.7% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 10 | 0.4% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 7 | 0.3% |
| #7 | Oklahoma | | 6 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Kansas | | 5 | 0.2% |
Texas share of Raye's total US births 4.7%
Even split
108 of 2,297 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 11 reporting states.
Raye appears in 11 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Raye? ▼
Since 1889, Social Security records show 2,297 babies named Raye. Today it holds rank #7615 among girls. Its busiest year on record was 1956, with 67 births.
When was Raye most popular? ▼
Raye was most popular in the 1950s decade with 456 total births. The single peak year was 1956.
Where is Raye most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Raye are Texas (108 births), California (29 births), Ohio (21 births).
Is Raye a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Raye is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name it has 2,297 births, and as a boy's name it has 306 births.
How long has the name Raye been used? ▼
Records for Raye go back to 1889, giving 137 years of history through 2025.
What names are similar to Raye? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Rayna, Rayne, Raya, Ray, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Raye's data
- Raye's decade-level peak was the 1950s (456 total births); usage has since declined to 94 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Rayes (108 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Raye
Nearby Names Like Raye
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Raye
Rayna Girl
#727 13,386 births
Rayne Girl
#940 8,034 births
Raya Girl
#365 8,003 births
Ray Girl
#4776 5,606 births
Raylee Girl
#1257 5,037 births
Compare Raye side by side: Raye vs Rayna Raye vs Rayne Raye vs Raya
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Raye
Adelene #7614
1,258 births · Peak 1919
Salena #7616
5,163 births · Peak 1995
Saloma #7613
714 births · Peak 2023
Izzie #7617
309 births · Peak 2022
Arena #7612
494 births · Peak 2014
Roselee #7618
1,403 births · Peak 1939
Concetta #7611
14,193 births · Peak 1924
Ysabel #7619
1,498 births · Peak 1998
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1889–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Raye: #7615 Unisex Name - 2,297 Births, Peak 1956." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/raye. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Raye draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.