Raven Girl

Popularity: #371 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: RAY-vin //ˈreɪ.vən//

Origin: English; Latin

Meaning: English: blackbird; Latin: raven

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Raven has its roots in the Old English word "hræfn," which referred to the bird known for its black plumage and intelligence. This term is derived from the Proto-Germanic "*hrabnaz," which is also the source of similar words in various Germanic languages, including Old High German "hraban" and Old Norse "hrafn." The transition into English occurred as the language evolved from its Germanic origins, with the term "raven" being firmly established by the Middle English period, around the 12th century.

Historically, ravens have held significant symbolic meaning in various cultures. In Norse mythology, the god Odin was often associated with two ravens named Huginn and Muninn, representing thought and memory, respectively.

This connection highlights the bird's role as a messenger and a symbol of wisdom. The presence of ravens in biblical texts, such as in the story of Noah's Ark, where a raven is sent out to find dry land, further cements its importance in historical narratives.

The King James Bible, published in 1611, also references ravens, contributing to the name's resonance in Christian contexts. Culturally, the raven has been depicted in folklore and literature as a creature of mystery and foreboding, often associated with omens and the supernatural.

This duality of the raven as both a wise and ominous figure has allowed the name to endure through centuries. In some traditions, the name Raven is also linked to themes of transformation and change, reflecting the bird's adaptability and intelligence.

The name has been embraced in various forms, with diminutives like Rave appearing in some contexts, though the primary form remains prominent in its own right.

Famous people named Raven

In this section, you will find notable people named Raven. 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 Raven who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Raven 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.

Raven-Symoné is an actress and singer best known for That's So Raven, The Cosby Show, and Raven's Home.

Raven Goodwin is an actress best known for Being Mary Jane, The Longshots, and Antwone Fisher.

Raven Baxter is a fictional character from the television series That's So Raven.

Fictional characters named Raven

The following list of fictional characters named Raven 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.

Raven is a fictional character from the comic book series Teen Titans. She is a powerful empath and sorceress who often struggles with her dark heritage and emotions.

Raven is a fictional character from the animated series Teen Titans Go!. She is a member of the Teen Titans known for her sarcastic demeanor and magical abilities.

Sibling suggestions

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

RheaRowanRileyReeseRoryRavenna

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Raven. 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.

RainaRavennaRheaRavynRavinaRavelle

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Raven was first seen in the United States in 1921.

Raven has ranked as high as #277 nationally, which occurred in 1993, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Illinois, Florida, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Raven has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Raven 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 Raven 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 Raven.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 813 42 771
2024 862 46 816
2023 891 43 848
2022 829 57 772
2021 824 45 779
2020 789 40 749
2019 779 33 746
2018 792 41 751
2017 752 39 713
2016 677 40 637
2015 695 37 658
2014 656 37 619
2013 618 38 580
2012 597 44 553
2011 528 39 489
2010 527 39 488
2009 524 48 476
2008 543 43 500
2007 666 35 631
2006 805 69 736
2005 978 73 905
2004 1,323 103 1,220
2003 1,565 137 1,428
2002 1,497 159 1,338
2001 1,533 178 1,355
2000 1,620 173 1,447
1999 1,715 188 1,527
1998 1,822 169 1,653
1997 1,923 142 1,781
1996 1,736 114 1,622
1995 1,855 98 1,757
1994 2,179 104 2,075
1993 2,394 109 2,285
1992 2,106 89 2,017
1991 2,079 53 2,026
1990 1,822 62 1,760
1989 503 27 476
1988 346 19 327
1987 371 23 348
1986 344 19 325
1985 423 20 403
1984 421 14 407
1983 438 13 425
1982 484 15 469
1981 402 22 380
1980 430 22 408
1979 363 17 346
1978 367 25 342
1977 319 20 299
1976 110 10 100
1975 26 9 17
1974 27 12 15
1973 23 13 10
1972 31 6 25
1971 33 7 26
1970 23 15 8
1969 31 8 23
1968 19 5 14
1967 20 6 14
1966 30 8 22
1965 21 7 14
1964 13 8 5
1963 22 8 14
1962 23 10 13
1961 23 15 8
1960 21 10 11
1959 15 7 8
1958 19 6 13
1957 15 7 8
1956 15 9 6
1955 14 9 5
1954 11 6 5
1953 12 0 12
1952 11 6 5
1951 5 0 5
1949 15 8 7
1948 16 7 9
1947 18 5 13
1946 5 5 0
1945 15 9 6
1944 8 8 0
1943 12 7 5
1942 10 5 5
1941 6 0 6
1938 5 5 0
1921 5 5 0

Top States for Raven (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
TX 89
11%
CA 74
9%
FL 46
6%
NC 40
5%
PA 34
4%
MI 34
4%
OH 32
4%
NY 29
4%
GA 25
3%
OK 24
3%
TN 22
3%
OR 21
3%
IL 21
3%
VA 21
3%
WA 21
3%
IN 19
2%
CO 17
2%
KY 17
2%
WI 16
2%
MO 15
2%
MN 14
2%
AZ 13
2%
AL 13
2%
IA 13
2%
KS 12
2%
WV 11
1%
NJ 11
1%
AR 9
1%
NM 9
1%
MA 9
1%
SC 8
1%
NV 8
1%
NE 7
1%
UT 7
1%
AK 7
1%
ME 7
1%
ID 6
1%
CT 6
1%
SD 5
1%