Raleigh Unisex

Popularity: #874 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAH-lee //ˈrɑːli//

Origin: English; Old English

Meaning: English: 'from the roe deer meadow'; Old English: 'rǣge' (roe deer) + 'leah' (meadow)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Raleigh has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "raeh" meaning "roe deer" and "leah" meaning "clearing" or "meadow." This etymological combination suggests a literal meaning of "roe deer meadow" or "clearing where roe deer are found." The name was introduced into the English language through the Norman influence following the Conquest of 1066, where it appeared in various forms, including "Ralegh" and "Raleigh," as it was adopted into the vernacular from the Anglo-Norman dialects. Historically, the name Raleigh is most notably associated with Sir Walter Raleigh, an English courtier, explorer, and writer of the late 16th century.

Born in 1552, he played a significant role in the English colonization of the Americas and is often credited with popularizing tobacco in England. His endeavors included the establishment of the ill-fated Roanoke Colony in present-day North Carolina in 1585.

Raleigh's prominence in the Elizabethan court and his subsequent execution in 1618 for treason solidified the name's association with adventure and exploration. Culturally, the name Raleigh has resonated through literature and history, symbolizing the spirit of exploration and the complexities of colonial endeavors.

The name has also been linked to various geographical locations, most notably Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina, which was named in honor of Sir Walter Raleigh. This connection further emphasizes the historical significance of the name, as it embodies the legacy of English exploration and settlement in the New World.

The diminutive form "Rae" may also be noted, though it is less commonly used historically.

Famous people named Raleigh

In this section, you will find notable people named Raleigh. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Raleigh who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Raleigh who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Raleigh Ritchie is a singer and actor best known for his music career and for playing Grey Worm in Game of Thrones.

Fictional characters named Raleigh

The following list of fictional characters named Raleigh is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Raleigh Becket is a fictional character from the film Pacific Rim. He is a Jaeger pilot who fights against monstrous creatures known as Kaiju to save humanity.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Raleigh, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

ReidRonanRileyRyderRoccoRuben

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Raleigh. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

RaylanRaffertyRansomRoryRonanRyderReed

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Raleigh was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Raleigh has ranked as high as #1834 nationally, which occurred in 2019, and has been most popular in Texas, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Kentucky.

In the past 5 years the name Raleigh has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Raleigh is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Raleigh was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Raleigh.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 168 64 104
2024 167 63 104
2023 196 70 126
2022 184 65 119
2021 199 63 136
2020 229 82 147
2019 260 99 161
2018 242 93 149
2017 236 79 157
2016 259 89 170
2015 234 78 156
2014 235 113 122
2013 194 75 119
2012 189 81 108
2011 187 88 99
2010 189 84 105
2009 144 50 94
2008 151 65 86
2007 150 58 92
2006 100 53 47
2005 107 59 48
2004 106 59 47
2003 95 56 39
2002 92 64 28
2001 57 32 25
2000 74 48 26
1999 76 47 29
1998 65 47 18
1997 90 59 31
1996 74 51 23
1995 79 48 31
1994 77 58 19
1993 80 52 28
1992 100 70 30
1991 81 58 23
1990 72 48 24
1989 66 49 17
1988 67 52 15
1987 87 68 19
1986 55 44 11
1985 61 52 9
1984 66 57 9
1983 57 46 11
1982 59 49 10
1981 32 32 0
1980 48 48 0
1979 43 43 0
1978 50 39 11
1977 47 42 5
1976 53 47 6
1975 42 42 0
1974 34 34 0
1973 41 35 6
1972 48 48 0
1971 62 55 7
1970 64 59 5
1969 59 54 5
1968 55 55 0
1967 43 43 0
1966 51 51 0
1965 70 70 0
1964 51 51 0
1963 50 50 0
1962 78 73 5
1961 71 71 0
1960 56 56 0
1959 84 76 8
1958 91 91 0
1957 75 75 0
1956 82 82 0
1955 80 80 0
1954 84 84 0
1953 87 87 0
1952 98 98 0
1951 91 91 0
1950 96 96 0
1949 94 94 0
1948 100 100 0
1947 115 110 5
1946 105 100 5
1945 104 104 0
1944 106 100 6
1943 115 108 7
1942 127 127 0
1941 93 93 0
1940 87 87 0
1939 95 95 0
1938 90 90 0
1937 84 84 0
1936 78 78 0
1935 95 95 0
1934 107 107 0
1933 100 100 0
1932 80 80 0
1931 97 97 0
1930 90 90 0
1929 91 91 0
1928 93 93 0
1927 125 125 0
1926 101 101 0
1925 100 100 0
1924 138 138 0
1923 118 113 5
1922 131 131 0
1921 139 139 0
1920 134 134 0
1919 97 97 0
1918 116 116 0
1917 116 116 0
1916 102 102 0
1915 124 124 0
1914 98 98 0
1913 70 70 0
1912 68 68 0
1911 33 33 0
1910 22 22 0
1909 30 30 0
1908 19 19 0
1907 25 25 0
1906 15 15 0
1905 31 31 0
1904 20 20 0
1903 18 18 0
1902 25 25 0
1901 19 19 0
1900 31 31 0
1899 14 14 0
1898 17 17 0
1897 22 22 0
1896 17 17 0
1895 16 16 0
1894 19 19 0
1893 18 18 0
1892 20 20 0
1891 24 24 0
1890 18 18 0
1889 21 21 0
1888 10 10 0
1887 15 15 0
1886 23 23 0
1885 22 22 0
1884 20 20 0
1883 17 17 0
1882 15 15 0
1881 11 11 0
1880 14 14 0

Top States for Raleigh (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
WA 13
16%
CA 10
13%
TX 10
13%
FL 9
11%
GA 8
10%
MO 6
8%
NC 6
8%
TN 6
8%
VA 6
8%
LA 6
8%