Declining since 1998, #3,240 for boys today.
Popularity of Rayshawn since 1969
Babies named Rayshawn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Rayshawn's real moment was 1997.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 231 |
| 1980s | 657 |
| 1990s | 1,182 |
| 2000s | 1,029 |
| 2010s | 668 |
| 2020s | 232 |
Meaning & origin
Rayshawn is a modern American name that first appeared in Social Security records in 1969. It reflects the creative blending of sounds common in late 20th-century African American naming practices. The name reached its peak in 1997, after which it began a steady decline. As of 2025, roughly 1 in 47,447 boys receives the name, placing it well outside the top 1,000. The name has been most common in Ohio, its strongest state of use. Rayshawn is a distinctly contemporary invention rather than a name with deep historical roots, making it a clear example of how American parents adapt familiar elements to craft new identities.
Rayshawn is a modern coinage that first appeared in the United States around the late 1960s. It is formed from the popular element Ray, derived from the name Raymond or the word for a beam of light, combined with Shawn, a phonetic variant of Sean (Irish form of John). Such blendings are common in African American naming traditions, which often create distinctive names by merging familiar sounds and syllables. Rayshawn rose in usage during the 1990s and has since declined.
Where Rayshawn is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ray, Shawn, Ray-Ray
Sibling names for Rayshawn
Names that share Rayshawn's style, for a brother or sister.
