Rainey
Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Raighne (“descendant of Raighne”), a Gaelicized form of the Old Norse personal name Rognvaldr.
Every Rainey since 1901 — 2,632 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Rainey
Rainey is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #2,376 in 2025 with 76 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1901, 2,632 American babies have been named Rainey — about 83% girls and 17% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2022, when 90 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2020s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Rainey stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Rainey year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 76 | #2,376 | — | — |
| 2024 | 78 | #2,359 | 6 | #12,019 |
| 2023 | 75 | #2,411 | — | — |
| 2022 | 90 | #2,137 | — | — |
| 2021 | 82 | #2,262 | — | — |
| 2020 | 74 | #2,393 | — | — |
| 2019 | 58 | #2,883 | 6 | #11,812 |
| 2018 | 50 | #3,236 | — | — |
| 2017 | 62 | #2,771 | — | — |
| 2016 | 60 | #2,855 | — | — |
| 2015 | 44 | #3,583 | — | — |
| 2014 | 45 | #3,530 | 5 | #13,582 |
| 2013 | 48 | #3,359 | — | — |
| 2012 | 41 | #3,840 | — | — |
| 2011 | 40 | #3,824 | — | — |
| 2010 | 50 | #3,294 | — | — |
| 2009 | 50 | #3,343 | — | — |
| 2008 | 63 | #2,850 | — | — |
| 2007 | 48 | #3,461 | — | — |
| 2006 | 35 | #4,240 | — | — |
| 2005 | 48 | #3,250 | — | — |
| 2004 | 39 | #3,734 | 6 | #11,016 |
| 2003 | 47 | #3,174 | 7 | #9,383 |
| 2002 | 51 | #2,930 | — | — |
| 2001 | 37 | #3,619 | 8 | #8,135 |
| 2000 | 55 | #2,698 | — | — |
| 1995 | 39 | #3,007 | 6 | #8,623 |
| 1990 | 30 | #3,603 | — | — |
| 1985 | 7 | #9,019 | — | — |
| 1980 | 21 | #3,808 | — | — |
| 1975 | 15 | #4,301 | — | — |
| 1970 | 14 | #4,192 | 6 | #4,604 |
| 1965 | 9 | #4,748 | — | — |
| 1960 | 5 | #7,086 | 6 | #3,963 |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | 13 | #2,181 |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | 9 | #2,633 |
| 1935 | — | — | 6 | #3,569 |
| 1930 | — | — | 6 | #3,911 |
| 1925 | — | — | 6 | #4,097 |
| 1920 | 5 | #5,618 | 12 | #2,575 |
| 1915 | — | — | 7 | #3,328 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rainey mean?
Reduced Anglicized form of Irish Ó Raighne (“descendant of Raighne”), a Gaelicized form of the Old Norse personal name Rognvaldr.
How popular is the name Rainey in 2025?
Rainey ranked #2,376 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 76 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Rainey?
2,632 babies have been named Rainey in the United States since 1901, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Rainey most popular?
Rainey peaked in 2022, when 90 newborns received the name.
Is Rainey a boy or girl name?
Rainey is used for both: about 83% of babies named Rainey have been girls and 17% boys.
Is the name Rainey rising or falling?
Rainey is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.