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Home › Baby Names Directory › Rye

Rye

♀ Girl

Pronounced RY /ˈraɪ/High

Meaning: The English word rye — the hardy grain, from Old English ryge — used as a modern one-beat word-name. It is genuinely unisex, and also serves as a short form of Ryan, Ryder and Ryland. We note the unisex use honestly.Medium

In 30 seconds: One beat, one grain: Rye is the hardy field grain, used as a word-name (said 'RY'). Unisex, which we note.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningThe English word rye — the hardy grain, from Old English ryge — used as a modern one-beat word-name. It is genuinely unisex, and also serves as a short form of Ryan, Ryder and Ryland. We note the unisex use honestly.
U.S. rank (2023)#7571 ↘ Falling
2023 U.S. births15 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 155

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202220072023

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

Rye comes from Old English ryge, the grain of cold fields and dark bread; it also names an English town. As a given name it belongs with the newest crop of one-syllable nature words, and is used for boys and girls alike, which we note honestly (said 'RY').

It appears very rarely in U.S. data, for both sexes. Rare, earthy, and unisex.

Did you know? Rye is the grain that grows where wheat will not — tough, dark, and northern, from the Old English ryge. As a name it is a single beat, genuinely unisex, and doubles as a short form of Ryan or Ryder, which we note (said 'RY').
Overall data confidence 40%
References — Rye — English word/grain; Old English ryge; unisex

Variations

RhyWryRy

Nicknames

RyRhy

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Rye…

Sage— a like plant word-name
Wren— a like one-beat nature name
Clover— a like field nature pick
Juniper— a like botanical name

Explore names like Rye

By themeunisexword-nameshortnature
By meaningTruth

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Rye mean?

Rye is the English word for the hardy grain, from Old English ryge. It is used as a modern word-name.

How do you pronounce Rye?

It's said RY /ˈraɪ/ — one syllable.

Is Rye a boy or girl name?

Rye is used here as a girl's name, but it is genuinely unisex — we note that honestly.

How popular is Rye?

Rye is a very rare given name in the U.S.

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