Declining since 2017, #2,410 for girls today.
Popularity of Raeleigh since 1994
Babies named Raeleigh per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 67 |
| 2000s | 507 |
| 2010s | 1,185 |
| 2020s | 612 |
Meaning & origin
Raeleigh is a modern American coinage that first appeared in 1994, reflecting the popular trend of creating feminine names with the -leigh suffix. It reached its peak rank of 2,410 in 2021 and has since been falling in use. Top states for the name include Mississippi, Tennessee, and Ohio. With an estimated 1 in 21,720 newborn girls given the name in 2025, it remains a distinctive choice. The name combines the phonetic appeal of Rae with the meadow-tinged -leigh ending, a pattern seen in names like Kayleigh and Ryleigh. Its overall trajectory since 2017 has been downward, suggesting it may continue to decline in popularity.
Raeleigh is a contemporary coinage from the United States, first recorded in 1994. It blends the given name Rae (itself a diminutive of Rachel or a variant of Ray) with the suffix -leigh, derived from the Old English word for a meadow or clearing. This pattern mirrors other popular -leigh names like Kayleigh and Ryleigh.
Where Raeleigh is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rae, Leigh
Sibling names for Raeleigh
Names that share Raeleigh's style, for a brother or sister.
