Rae

♀ Girl

Pronounced RAY /reɪ/High

Meaning: Ewe; ray of light; short form of Rachel (Hebrew: ewe, female sheep) or a feminine variant of Ray (English: beam of light)High

In 30 seconds: A one-syllable name used as a short form of Rachel (Hebrew: ewe) or a feminine spelling of Ray (beam of light). Crisp and radiant, Rae evokes both ancient Hebrew pastoral life and modern luminosity.

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Origin HighHebrew, English

MeaningEwe; ray of light; short form of Rachel (Hebrew: ewe, female sheep) or a feminine variant of Ray (English: beam of light)

U.S. rank (2025)#1306 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births171 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1956

Total births (all-time)≈ 23,458

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Rae is an English short form of Rachel (Hebrew: ewe) or a feminine spelling of the word 'ray' (beam of light, from Latin radius). As an independent given name it has been used since the 20th century.

Rae ranked #1265 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Rae is also the name of a crater on Saturn's moon Dione — a crater named for the daughter of Uranus and Gaia in Greek mythology. So Rae, one of the simplest names in existence, has a celestial address in outer space.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Rae — Hebrew/English etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

RayRayeRachel

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Rae Dawn Chong (1961-)
American actress known for The Color Purple

If you like Rae…

Faye— one-syllable name with the same breezy feminine feel

Mae— one-syllable vintage name with the same quiet charm

Bea— one-syllable vintage name in the same minimalist category

Rue— shares the -e ending

Rain— another English name

Explore names like Rae

By themeenglish hebrew unisex one-syllable light

By meaningLight

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rae mean?

Rae means 'ewe' as a short form of Hebrew Rachel, or 'ray of light' as a feminine variant of Ray.

How do you pronounce Rae?

It's said RAY — one syllable, rhyming with 'day.'

Is Rae a boy or girl name?

Rae is used primarily as a girls' name.

How popular is Rae?

Rae ranked #1265 for U.S. girls in 2024.