Rae
Girl / Boy name · 246 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Rae: 246 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 24 births in 2021.
Rae is a short, punchy name with multiple roots, most commonly a feminine variant of Ray (from Raymond, meaning "wise protector") or a familiar form of Rachel, which traces back to Hebrew for "ewe" and carries connotations of gentleness and grace. In Scotland, Rae has enjoyed steady use as both a standalone name and a nickname, often with a timeless, unisex appeal. Notable bearers include Canadian actress Rae Dawn Chong and British singer-songwriter Rae Morris. The name also appears in place names worldwide, such as Rae Lakes in California and the Rae of sunlight in the Shetland dialect. A point of interest: Rae can also be traced to the Scottish surname MacRae, meaning "son of grace."
Girl 34 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 202124 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #28412 babies
- Total births
- 226since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▲ 42%vs prior 5y
Boy 5 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20246 babies
- Latest (2024)
- #4786 babies
- Total births
- 20since 1977
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y