Total births
1,070
Unisex name · since 1971
Rye
Rye has 1,070 recorded births since 1971 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 2020 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #2434
- among boys today
- 1,070
- born since 1971
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 83%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Rye is the #2434 most popular unisex name in the U.S. today, with 1,070 recorded since 1971.
Social Security Administration records show Rye recorded 1,070 times among boys since 1971, holding rank #2434 nationally today, ahead of 83% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1971 to 2025.
- #2434 among boys today
- 1,070 born since 1971
- 2010s peak decade
- 83% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Rye is currently the #2434 unisex name in America, more common than 83% of boys - 1,070 born since 1971, peaking in the 2010s.
- #2434
- among boys today
- 1,070
- born since 1971
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 83%
- more common than other boys
Rye vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#2434
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 83% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
38% of everyone ever named Rye was born in this single decade.
2020
Single peak year
76 babies were named Rye in 2020 - its busiest year on record.
How Rye compares
1,070 Top 30% higher than 70% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys 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
Rye's all-time total is 192% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Rye | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,070 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 76 | 23 | 22,252 |
Rye's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Rye's SSA record in two at 2003 and the more recent half accounts for 83% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 17%, consistent with a name still gaining ground rather than fading. Its calmest year was 1971, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2020 peak of 76, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Rye at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2020
Current rank
#2,434
Active since
1971
Rye popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1971–2025
- Peak year (2020)
- 76
- Annual births at peak, across 55 years of records
Rye popularity over time - girls
166 total births recorded since 2007 (Rye as girls' name)
Rye by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Rye's strongest decade.
407 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 38% of all-time use.
Rye births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1970s 47
1970s
47 births
- 1980s 42
1980s
42 births
- 1990s 56
1990s
56 births
- 2000s 161
2000s
161 births
- 2010s
2010s
407 births
- 2020s
2020s
357 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 407 births (38% of all-time use).
How Rye compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Rye's total volume
Rye vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Rye by state
Where Rye concentrates geographically, total births since 1971
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 83 | 7.8% |
| #2 | Texas | | 36 | 3.4% |
| #3 | New York | | 25 | 2.3% |
| #4 | Washington | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #5 | Massachusetts | | 7 | 0.7% |
| #6 | Colorado | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #7 | Florida | | 5 | 0.5% |
| #8 | Oregon | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Rye's total US births 7.8%
Even split
83 of 1,070 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 8 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Rye? ▼
1,070 babies have been named Rye since 1971. It currently ranks #2434 among boys. The peak year was 2020 with 76 births.
When was Rye most popular? ▼
Rye was most popular in the 2010s decade with 407 total births. The single peak year was 2020.
Where is Rye most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Rye are California (83 births), Texas (36 births), New York (25 births).
Is Rye a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Rye is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 1,070 births, and as a girl's name it has 166 births.
How long has the name Rye been used? ▼
Rye has been recorded in Social Security data since 1971, spanning 55 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Rye? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ryen, Ryett, Ryer, Ryelan, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Rye's data
- Rye's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (407 total births) through the 2020s (357) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Ryes (83 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California 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 Rye
Nearby Names Like Rye
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Rye
Ryen Boy
#6575 1,332 births
Ryett Boy
#1995 422 births
Ryer Boy
#9487 198 births
Ryelan Boy
113 births
Ryeland Boy
#11711 93 births
Compare Rye side by side: Rye vs Ryen Rye vs Ryett Rye vs Ryer
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Rye
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, 1971–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Rye: #2434 Unisex Name - 1,070 Births, Peak 2020." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/rye. 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 Rye 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.