Fun Facts About the Name Ra
- 250 babies named Ra: U.S. records list 250 babies given the name Ra from 1880 through 2025. Even 20 girls received the name Ra - about 1 girl for every 12 boys.
What Does the Name Ra Mean?
Ra is the English form of the ancient Egyptian name rꜥ, which means "sun." The Egyptian word and the god's name are the same; "sun god" describes the deity rather than giving a different translation. Egyptian writing did not record vowels, so the original pronunciation is unknown, and the familiar English form Ra is a conventional Egyptological rendering; older English texts often use Re for the same name. As an English given name, it is a borrowing from the deity's name rather than a traditional English name with a separate etymology.
Ra Name History & Origins
Ra was the ancient Egyptian sun god, worshiped especially at Heliopolis (Egyptian Iunu). His name occurs in the Pyramid Texts, the oldest known body of Egyptian religious texts, and the sun cult remained central through the Middle and New Kingdoms. From the Fifth Dynasty, kings used the title "Son of Ra," and the name appears in royal compounds such as Ramesses, usually explained as "Ra has fashioned him." In the New Kingdom, Ra was merged with Amun as Amun-Ra, the chief god of Thebes.
The English form Ra became familiar through Egyptology and popular writing about ancient Egypt. It is not an inherited English personal name; its use as a given name is a modern borrowing from the Egyptian deity's name.
How Popular is the Name Ra?
Ra has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2023. Its best rank was #3,857 in 2023.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #19,176 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #15,255 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #10,968 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1969 | #8,352 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #6,358 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2024 | #7,591 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #3,857 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2022 | #5,171 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2021 | #8,014 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2020 | #5,637 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #4,765 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2018 | #5,722 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #6,263 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #10,470 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #8,560 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2013 | #10,460 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #14,000 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #11,004 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #10,355 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #8,997 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #9,954 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1988 | #8,211 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #7,553 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #4,312 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1975 | #6,097 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #5,553 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Ra Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are a law unto itself. Your tendency is to finish whatever you start. You are tolerant and like to help humanity. You are very active. You are generally warmhearted and gives freely of your time, energy, and sympathetic understanding. You have tolerance and acceptance of the frailties of others. Universal and humanitarian in outlook. This is very compassionate name. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Ra's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Ra's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.