Holding steady.
Popularity of Ras since 1886
Babies named Ras per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ras's real moment was 1890.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 10 |
| 1890s | 27 |
| 1900s | 11 |
| 1910s | 59 |
| 1920s | 76 |
| 1930s | 33 |
| 1940s | 17 |
| 1950s | 15 |
| 1960s | 10 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 28 |
| 1990s | 42 |
| 2000s | 28 |
| 2010s | 20 |
| 2020s | 10 |
Meaning & origin
Ras is a concise and rare name with possible roots in Arabic, where it can mean 'head' or 'chief'. Its earliest recorded use in US Social Security data is 1886, and it appeared most frequently in the 1890s, peaking in 1890. Though the name has never entered the top 1000, its trajectory has been stable over the decades, with occasional births in later years. The name's short, strong sound and multicultural potential make it an uncommon but distinctive choice.
Ras may originate from the Arabic رأس (ra's), meaning 'head' or 'chief', often used in compound names. In English contexts, it occasionally appears as a diminutive of Rastus (a Latin-derived name) or Erasmus (Greek 'beloved'). As a standalone given name, Ras has seen sporadic use in the United States, particularly among African American communities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Rass
Sibling names for Ras
Names that share Ras's style, for a brother or sister.
