Rae Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

Rae Name Meaning and Origin

Primarily a girl’s name of Hebrew, English origin, Rae means “ewe” or ‘female sheep.’ Rae is a variant of the Germanic name Raimund. With the return of all the old age middle names for girls as first names, this name with a vowel ending is sure to make it to the top trending names. Moreover, its edgy supercool vibe makes it a one-syllable wonder for girls of today’s generation and English-speaking countries of the world.

What Does Rae Mean? 

The meaning of Rae is ‘Grace’ in Scottish, ‘Doe’ in English, ‘Wise Protection’ in German, and ‘Beautiful,’ or ‘unique’ in Spanish. The meaning of Rae will mostly complement the personality of a dainty and sweet girl who has a pleasing yet confident personality. Rae means “ewe” in Hebrew, which comes from “Rachel” and “advisor and protector,” which comes from Germanic (“ragin” = advice “munt” = protection). Rae in Japanese also means ‘lovely’ or ‘graceful.’ 

Origin

Rae is a shortened or concise form of the Hebrew name Rachel, derived from English origin. Its meaning would then be ‘bashful,’ ‘timid,’ or ‘graceful.’ The name also has similar meanings in Old English, German and Scottish. It can also be considered the feminine form of the name Ray that can be a diminutive of Raymond and traditionally refers to a ‘wise protector.’

Gender 

Female

Pronunciation 

  • Ray

Syllables 

1 syllable

Length/Letter 

3 letters

Name Variations/Spellings 

The other spellings for Rae lend a unique twist to the classical spelling of the given name and hence grab attention easily. Here are some of the Rae name variations that may have originated from different cultures and languages of the world:

Name Origin
Raelyn American
Raelynn American
Ray Hebrew
Raenisha Danish
Raylene English
Rayna Scandinavian
Ree Hebrew
Rhae Greek
Rie Danish
Rye Irish

How Popular Is the Name Rae? 

Records indicate that 18,366 girls in the United States have been named Rae since 1880, while ten babies were given this name in 1880. However, the Rae popularity ranking peaked in 1956 with parents of the United States when 408 U.S. people were given the name. Between 1880 to 2018, “Rae” was recorded 22,922 times per the SSA public database. The Rae baby name ranking stood within the Top 500 in the first two decades of the twentieth century. Be it the famous TikTok star and T.V. personality, Addison Rae, or rap-duo Rae Sremmurd, they have made significant contributions to the popularity of the name among new parents. 

Interest in Rae – Worldwide

A consistent search value of over 60 has been recorded on interest for Rae’s name, reaching 100 in July 2012. The lowest recorded value was 33 in December 2018 on the popularity scale.

Interest in Rae – US

The search trend for Rae in the U.S. reached its peak up to 100 in July 2012. The lowest record value was 24 in June 2019 on the popularity scale.

Popularity of the name Rae

URL: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi

Where Is the Name Most Searched? 

Search trends of Rae Worldwide

As per the global trends, Rae has been searched the most in Spain. Chile, Uruguay, and Peru follow close behind to reach the top 5 positions in the popularity index. Due to the presence of the Jewish community in Spain, a Hebrew name like Rae has become quite popular there.

Search trends of Rae in the US

Among the metro cities in the U.S., North Carolina has recorded the highest search value of 100 in the last ten years. New Jersey, California, Georgia, District of Columbia have made it to the top 5 positions where search trends for Rae have been recorded as the highest. 

Middle Names That Go With Rae 

The perfect middle name can be creatively conceived to run the gamut from simple, traditional, quirky, or obscure. Here are some double names with Rae that may become an instant favorite for your child despite being nestled between the given name and last name.:

Honey Holly
Elsie Eva
Neve Ivy
Esther Erin
Lexi Freya
Ellis Lacey
River Rayette
Raeka Ray
Raelene Raye
Raelin Raeann
Lavinia Ophelia
Amelia Katherine

Famous People Named Rae 

Popular personalities named Rae make headlines and lend a star quality to a name. Here are some notable names of famous people named Rae who may inspire your child to aim high and earn a similar reputation.:

Celebrity Name Profession/Famous For
Rae Allen American Actress
Rae Baker British Actress
Rae Carson American Writer
Rae Earl British Writer
Rae L. Egbert American Politician
Rae Morris British Singer
Rae Woodland British Singer
Rae Helen Australian Philosopher
Rae Featherstone Australian Architect
Rae Carruth American Football Player
Rae Wilson A Fictional Character on the British Television Series Hollyoak
Rae Johnstone Australian Jockey

Similar Names & Last Names 

Baby names like Rae may have phonetic similarities but different spellings. Rae’s family names give us a sense of the social unit to which we belong and act as a mark of social identity. Here are some other names for Rae that may become a hit due to the same style but different syllable lengths:

Other Baby Names Suitable Family Names
Rey Davis
Rayne Williams
Grey Smith
Trace Miller
Mae Brown
Rene Jones
Irene Martinez
Reid Ashley
Grace West
Drake Madison

Names That Sound Like Rae 

The aesthetic sound of rhyming names for Rae can cater to a wide range of tastes and become a popular substitute. Here are some names that rhyme with Rae in a short or long version to make a pleasing rhyming combination:

Rhea Ray
Rue Mae
Kai Rain
Lynn Marie
Charlie Leigh
Raya Jade
Bea Skye
Nia Raine
Indie Raven
Brynn Stevie

Sibling Names Related to Rae 

Sibling names with Rae form many fantastic pairing options for your little ones. Here are some cute combinations of suitable sister names for Rae and proper brother names for Rae that might help to enhance their love:

Sister names for Rae Brother Names for Rae
Penelope Arlo
Natalia Oscar
Sophia Wyatt
Charlotte Jude
Honora Myla
Magnolia Enzo
Josephine Nathaniel
Dorothea Bruno
Matilda Hugo
Cecelia Roger

Nicknames for Rae 

Nicknames are sweet substitutes for the proper name of a familiar person, place, or thing. They may commonly sound amusing or weird but express a close emotional bond between parents and children. Here are some of the nicknames for Rae that are shortened or modified variations of the first name:

Raquel Rachelle
Michele Rochelle
Shelly Shellie
Rayla Raelynn
Reighn Raeanne
Raylen Reannon
Reah Raelene
Rae of Sunshine Rae Raenasoras
Rae-Star Raeghay

People appreciate a short and cute name like Rae due to its soft and gentle sound and ease of spelling under any circumstances. Furthermore, most parents would like their child to imbibe the feminine qualities like ‘beauty,’ ‘grace,’ and ‘uniqueness’ associated with Rae’s meaning. Girls with this fairly uncommon name are quite gentle and helping in nature. They are blessed with a steady and balanced personality and are very creative and artistically oriented. They are most willing to take action to accomplish the goals they have set out to achieve. No wonder Rae is fast catching up with other modern names trending on the popularity charts.

Sources/References

Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
Rae Name Popularity in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&geo=US&q=Rae
Rae Name Popularity Across The World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&q=Rae
Rae Name Interest in the United States: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&geo=US&q=Rae
Rae Name Interest Across the World: https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2012-02-08%202022-02-08&q=Rae

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Ruchelle has a vast experience working with clients in hospitality, health and wellness, entertainment, real estate, and retail. She aims to utilise her learnings to deliver quality content which will in turn help drive sales and customer engagement.