Declining since 2017, #5,045 for boys today.
Popularity of Rigel since 1976
Babies named Rigel per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 21 |
| 1980s | 62 |
| 1990s | 91 |
| 2000s | 128 |
| 2010s | 214 |
| 2020s | 116 |
Meaning & origin
Rigel is a celestial name taken from the bright star in Orion's foot. It first appeared on U.S. birth records in 1976, but only began to see regular use in the 2000s. The name reached its peak popularity in 2018, and has since been declining in usage. With a rank of 5,045 in 2025 and approximately 1 in every 89,899 boys receiving the name, Rigel remains a rare choice. Its trajectory has been falling since 2017, making it a distinctive option for parents drawn to astronomical names.
Rigel is a direct adoption of the star name, which comes from Arabic رِجْل (rijl) meaning 'foot', referring to its position as the foot of the Orion constellation. The name entered astronomical use in medieval Europe and has occasionally been used as a personal name since the late 20th century, often chosen for its celestial connotations.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rye
Sibling names for Rigel
Names that share Rigel's style, for a brother or sister.
