Holding steady, #6,143 for boys today.
Popularity of Ra since 1969
Babies named Ra per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 | 18 |
| 1980s | 0 | 10 |
| 1990s | 5 | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 | 24 |
| 2010s | 5 | 74 |
| 2020s | 0 | 100 |
Meaning & origin
Ra is an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, first recorded in 1972 and reaching its peak popularity in 2023 when it ranked 6,143rd. In that peak year, roughly 1 in every 122,005 baby boys received the name, a rate that reflects its extreme rarity. The name's trajectory has been stable across recent decades, never experiencing a dramatic surge. Despite its mythological weight, Ra is almost never chosen as a given name, with no top states showing notable usage. Its appeal likely lies in its short, powerful sound and the grandeur of its Egyptian namesake, yet it remains a highly unconventional choice in practice.
The name Ra is most famously associated with the ancient Egyptian sun god, the chief deity of the Egyptian pantheon who was worshipped as the creator and giver of life. As a given name in modern times, it may be a direct adoption from mythology, used primarily in the United States from the 1970s onward. It is also occasionally a short form of longer names such as Rafael or Rachel, though its standalone use is rare.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Rah
Sibling names for Ra
Names that share Ra's style, for a brother or sister.
