Fun Facts About the Name Raeleigh
- More than 2 thousand babies named Raeleigh: U.S. records list 2,369 babies given the name Raeleigh from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Raeleigh Mean?
Raeleigh is a modern English feminine given name. It is most often analyzed as a blend of Rae and Leigh. Rae is commonly a short form of Rachel, a Hebrew name meaning "ewe." Leigh comes from the Old English word lēah, meaning "woodland, clearing, or meadow." Taken literally, the combination would suggest "ewe meadow" or "clearing of the ewe." This is a modern construction rather than an ancient compound, so the meaning is not fixed. Another possible analysis treats Raeleigh as a respelling of the English surname and place name Raleigh, which comes from Old English rā "roe deer" and lēah "clearing," meaning "roe deer clearing." Because Rae and Raleigh have different origins, these two explanations do not yield the same meaning. The name's meaning is therefore uncertain.
Raeleigh Name History & Origins
Raeleigh belongs to a group of modern English feminine names formed with the ending -leigh. That ending comes from the English surname Leigh, which derives from Old English lēah, "woodland, clearing, meadow." Leigh was used as a surname in medieval England and later as a given name. In the 20th century, the spelling -leigh became a common feminine name element in English-speaking countries, seen in names such as Ashleigh, Kayleigh, and Hayleigh. Raeleigh follows this pattern by joining Rae to -leigh. Rae itself has been used as a feminine given name, often as a short form of Rachel, the biblical Hebrew name meaning "ewe." Rae also appears as a Scottish surname and as a short form of Raymond. As a separate possibility, Raeleigh can be viewed as a modern feminine respelling of Raleigh, the English surname and place name from Old English rā "roe deer" and lēah "clearing." Raleigh is traditionally pronounced RAW-lee or RAH-lee, while Raeleigh is pronounced RAY-lee, which suggests that Raeleigh is a distinct modern spelling rather than a direct historical form of Raleigh. The related surname Raleigh is associated with Sir Walter Raleigh, the Elizabethan explorer and writer, but Raeleigh is a separate modern spelling.
How Popular is the Name Raeleigh?
Raeleigh 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 2017. Its best rank was #1,550 in 2021.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,430 | 74 | 0.0046% |
| 2024 | #2,290 | 81 | 0.0050% |
| 2023 | #1,757 | 117 | 0.0073% |
| 2022 | #1,937 | 103 | 0.0063% |
| 2021 | #1,550 | 136 | 0.0083% |
| 2020 | #1,942 | 99 | 0.0061% |
| 2019 | #1,828 | 112 | 0.0067% |
| 2018 | #1,646 | 129 | 0.0076% |
| 2017 | #1,588 | 138 | 0.0080% |
| 2016 | #1,654 | 131 | 0.0074% |
| 2015 | #1,662 | 129 | 0.0072% |
| 2014 | #1,648 | 130 | 0.0073% |
| 2013 | #1,876 | 108 | 0.0062% |
| 2012 | #1,915 | 104 | 0.0059% |
| 2011 | #1,894 | 106 | 0.0060% |
| 2010 | #2,040 | 98 | 0.0055% |
| 2009 | #2,133 | 95 | 0.0052% |
| 2008 | #2,457 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 2007 | #2,636 | 70 | 0.0036% |
| 2006 | #3,300 | 50 | 0.0026% |
| 2005 | #3,571 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2004 | #3,679 | 40 | 0.0022% |
| 2003 | #3,333 | 44 | 0.0024% |
| 2002 | #3,711 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2001 | #4,293 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2000 | #5,113 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1999 | #6,764 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #6,625 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1997 | #6,098 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1996 | #8,668 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1995 | #12,967 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1994 | #15,137 | 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.
Explore More Lists with Name Raeleigh
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with R
How the Name Raeleigh 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 an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Raeleigh's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Raeleigh's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.