Rae

Meaning: Fortress; counsel
Origin: Scottish Gaelic; Old High German

Girl's name · #1306 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Few names move less than Rae — on the books since 1880, #1306 in 2025, and dependable in between. Roughly 23,000 girls share it. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Rae is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 21 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Rae ranks in other countries and regions.

#297 in Scotland (2025) · #355 in England & Wales (2025) · #695 in Ireland (2025) · #1,005 in Belgium (2025) · #1,522 in Sweden (2025) · #741 in Canada (2024).

Famous Raes

Rae Dawn Chong — Canadian-American actress
Rae Allen — American actress (1926–2022)
Rae Armantrout — American poet (born 1947)
Rae Morris — British singer
Rae Lin D'Alie — American basketball player

In stories & tradition

Rae Wilson — Hollyoaks (TV series)
Rae Cummings — All My Children (TV series)
Rae — BladeChick (comics)

What Raes become

Among 140 notable people named Rae:

Entertainers appear 1.84× more often than among typical names — e.g. Rae Dawn Chong, Canadian-American actress.

Similar names: Harriet · Rayah · Mae · Geneva · Shae · Lenore

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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