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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rankin

Rankin

♂ Boy

Pronounced RANK-in /ˈræŋ.kɪn/High

Meaning: From the Scottish surname Rankin — a diminutive of Rand/Randolph, 'a little shield; little Rand' (from Germanic rand, 'shield/rim'); a surname-nameLow

In 30 seconds: A little shield; little Rand: Rankin is a Scottish surname. Crisp, classic, and warm.
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Origin LowScottish, Germanic
MeaningFrom the Scottish surname Rankin — a diminutive of Rand/Randolph, 'a little shield; little Rand' (from Germanic rand, 'shield/rim'); a surname-name
U.S. rank (2024)#8155 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 340

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191619122024

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

Rankin comes from the Scottish surname Rankin — a diminutive of Rand/Randolph, 'a little shield; little Rand' (from Germanic rand, 'shield/rim'; a surname-name). A crisp, classic name (said 'RANK-in').

In the U.S. it appears as a surname-name. Rare, a-little-shield at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Rankin is a Scottish surname, a diminutive of Rand/Randolph, 'a little shield; little Rand' (from rand, 'shield') — a crisp, classic surname-name (said 'RANK-in').
Overall data confidence 36%
References — Rankin — surname-name

Variations

RankineRankyn

Nicknames

Rank

Famous Bearers

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If you like Rankin…

Randall— a kin Rand- boys' name
Rand— a name in its root
Larkin— a sound-neighbor -kin surname-name
Rustin— shares the -in ending
Mcclain— shares the -in ending

Explore names like Rankin

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Rankin mean?

Rankin is a Scottish surname, a diminutive of Rand, 'a little shield; little Rand'. We note the surname.

How do you pronounce Rankin?

It's said RANK-in /ˈræŋ.kɪn/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Rankin a boy or girl name?

Rankin is a boy's name here.

How popular is Rankin?

Rankin is a very rare name in the U.S.

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