Baby Name Popularity Profile

Raya

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Raya.

✦ Queen, friend, or ray of light 🌍 Slavic, Hebrew, Spanish royal spiritual
National Rank (2025) #369
All-Time Peak Rank #353 Achieved 2023
Total U.S. Births 8,003 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1958 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2020s 867 births in 2023
💡 The Raya Vibe: Considered a Rising Star. A high-velocity modern choice demonstrating rapid, sustained growth in recent registries.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Queen, friend, or ray of light
Language Origin Slavic, Hebrew, Spanish
Origin Type multiple
Raya has multiple independent origins. In Slavic languages, it means 'queen'. In Hebrew, it means 'friend'. In Spanish, it can mean 'ray of light'.
Common Nicknames
Ray Rai
Alternative Spellings
Raia
Pronunciation: RAH-yah
Themes & Categories
royal spiritual
Etymology confidence: Medium · Under review

📖 The Story Behind Raya

According to SSA data, Raya achieved its highest historical rank of #353 in 2023. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2023 with 867 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have increased by 303.4%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 49 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Raya across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Fast Rising
10-Year Shift +303.4% Growth
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 867 births in 2023
Years in Top 100 0 yrs
Years in Top 500 5 yrs
Registry Streak 49 yrs
Historical Volatility Stable Profile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 0
1930s: 0
1940s: 0
1950s: 5
1960s: 16
1970s: 64
1980s: 138
1990s: 385
2000s: 1,052
2010s: 2,087
2020s: 4,256

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables R-ay
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with R, a letter used by only 4.7% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Raya.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Washington
Top States Washington, Florida, Nevada, Minnesota, California
States with Data 47
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Washington #236 189 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #395 370 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #418 35 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #418 190 2022 Insufficient historical volume
California #303 1,021 2024 +260.0% Growth
Oregon #293 86 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #575 106 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #351 101 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #324 159 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #485 210 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #349 113 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho #235 29 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Virginia #307 164 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #486 526 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 21 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #355 307 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #371 150 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #436 50 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #436 229 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #377 281 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #360 156 2022 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #577 159 2024 Insufficient historical volume
New York #378 423 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #310 74 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #326 279 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Iowa #319 63 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #357 50 2022 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #474 103 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #598 83 2023 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 12 2021 Insufficient historical volume
Alabama #567 70 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 5 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #355 84 2025 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #401 51 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #367 63 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware #137 7 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #380 37 2022 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #374 18 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #846 52 2022 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 10 2023 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas Unranked 30 2017 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 12 2022 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia #223 19 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #613 22 2022 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 5 2024 Insufficient historical volume
Maine #203 6 2025 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska Unranked 9 2024 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

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