Holding steady, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Radiance since 1982
Babies named Radiance per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 54 |
| 1990s | 69 |
| 2000s | 53 |
| 2010s | 78 |
| 2020s | 52 |
Meaning & origin
Radiance is a modern virtue name that first entered U.S. birth records in 1982. It has always been rare, ranking 10,917th in 2025 with an incidence of roughly 1 in 200,908 girls. Its peak year was 1988, though even then it remained uncommon. The name follows a stable trajectory, never experiencing a surge or decline. While it has no strong association with any particular U.S. state, Radiance fits within a broader 1980s trend of uplifting word names. Its appeal lies in its literal meaning of brightness and joy, offering a positive, luminous choice without historical or cultural baggage.
Radiance is a modern English coinage, derived directly from the English word meaning 'light or heat emitted' or 'brightness.' It emerged in the late 20th century as part of a trend of virtue-inspired names, particularly among African American families, similar to names like Precious or Serenity. Its first recorded use in U.S. data is 1982, and it has never achieved widespread popularity, remaining a rare and distinctive choice.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rae, Rad
Sibling names for Radiance
Names that share Radiance's style, for a brother or sister.
