Declining since 2019, #2,207 for boys today.
Popularity of Raleigh since 1880
Babies named Raleigh per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Raleigh's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 168 |
| 1890s | 0 | 185 |
| 1900s | 0 | 233 |
| 1910s | 0 | 846 |
| 1920s | 5 | 1,165 |
| 1930s | 0 | 916 |
| 1940s | 23 | 1,023 |
| 1950s | 8 | 860 |
| 1960s | 10 | 574 |
| 1970s | 40 | 444 |
| 1980s | 101 | 497 |
| 1990s | 256 | 538 |
| 2000s | 532 | 544 |
| 2010s | 1,346 | 879 |
| 2020s | 736 | 407 |
Meaning & origin
Raleigh traces its roots to an English surname linked to a Devonshire place name, combining elements for 'roe deer' and 'clearing.' Its use as a first name owes much to Sir Walter Raleigh, the famed explorer and courtier. The name had its peak popularity in 1891 (rank 2207 that year) wit a 1-in-26689 frequency overall in 2025, reflecting a steady decline since 2019. Notably, the name has seen strong regional use in states like Tennessee, North Carolina, and California, often favored for its surname-as-first-name appeal. While still given to both boys and girls, Raleigh retains a distinctly southern charm in the United States.
Raleigh derives from an English surname taken from a place name in Devonshire. The place name itself comes from Old English rā, meaning roe deer, and lēah, meaning wood or clearing. The name has been used as a given name in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh, the Elizabethan explorer and writer. It experienced modest popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with a revival in parts of the southern United States.
Where Raleigh is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rale, Ray
Sibling names for Raleigh
Names that share Raleigh's style, for a brother or sister.
