Raleigh
From Old English rā, rāha (“roe deer”) + lēah (“woodland, clearing”).
Every Raleigh since 1880 — 12,336 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Raleigh
Raleigh is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #2,222 in 2025 with 64 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 12,336 American babies have been named Raleigh — about 75% boys and 25% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2019, when 260 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2010s.
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 Raleigh stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Raleigh 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 | 104 | #1,894 | 64 | #2,222 |
| 2024 | 104 | #1,922 | 63 | #2,282 |
| 2023 | 126 | #1,653 | 70 | #2,110 |
| 2022 | 119 | #1,750 | 65 | #2,233 |
| 2021 | 136 | #1,552 | 63 | #2,252 |
| 2020 | 147 | #1,466 | 82 | #1,825 |
| 2019 | 161 | #1,401 | 99 | #1,648 |
| 2018 | 149 | #1,480 | 93 | #1,699 |
| 2017 | 157 | #1,446 | 79 | #1,867 |
| 2016 | 170 | #1,382 | 89 | #1,751 |
| 2015 | 156 | #1,475 | 78 | #1,886 |
| 2014 | 122 | #1,723 | 113 | #1,454 |
| 2013 | 119 | #1,742 | 75 | #1,893 |
| 2012 | 108 | #1,869 | 81 | #1,830 |
| 2011 | 99 | #1,998 | 88 | #1,699 |
| 2010 | 105 | #1,923 | 84 | #1,775 |
| 2009 | 94 | #2,143 | 50 | #2,549 |
| 2008 | 86 | #2,287 | 65 | #2,116 |
| 2007 | 92 | #2,174 | 58 | #2,272 |
| 2006 | 47 | #3,457 | 53 | #2,371 |
| 2005 | 48 | #3,251 | 59 | #2,105 |
| 2004 | 47 | #3,253 | 59 | #2,045 |
| 2003 | 39 | #3,642 | 56 | #2,050 |
| 2002 | 28 | #4,475 | 64 | #1,810 |
| 2001 | 25 | #4,800 | 32 | #2,913 |
| 2000 | 26 | #4,629 | 48 | #2,123 |
| 1995 | 31 | #3,563 | 48 | #1,828 |
| 1990 | 24 | #4,195 | 48 | #1,696 |
| 1985 | 9 | #7,400 | 52 | #1,346 |
| 1980 | — | — | 48 | #1,372 |
| 1975 | — | — | 42 | #1,357 |
| 1970 | 5 | #8,957 | 59 | #1,068 |
| 1965 | — | — | 70 | #879 |
| 1960 | — | — | 56 | #1,029 |
| 1955 | — | — | 80 | #823 |
| 1950 | — | — | 96 | #703 |
| 1945 | — | — | 104 | #598 |
| 1940 | — | — | 87 | #644 |
| 1935 | — | — | 95 | #596 |
| 1930 | — | — | 90 | #651 |
| 1925 | — | — | 100 | #638 |
| 1920 | — | — | 134 | #530 |
| 1915 | — | — | 124 | #500 |
| 1910 | — | — | 22 | #633 |
| 1905 | — | — | 31 | #378 |
| 1900 | — | — | 31 | #411 |
| 1895 | — | — | 16 | #522 |
| 1890 | — | — | 18 | #431 |
| 1885 | — | — | 22 | #383 |
| 1880 | — | — | 14 | #499 |
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Raleigh mean?
From Old English rā, rāha (“roe deer”) + lēah (“woodland, clearing”).
How popular is the name Raleigh in 2025?
Raleigh ranked #2,222 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 64 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Raleigh?
12,336 babies have been named Raleigh in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Raleigh most popular?
Raleigh peaked in 2019, when 260 newborns received the name.
Is Raleigh a boy or girl name?
Raleigh is used for both: about 25% of babies named Raleigh have been girls and 75% boys.
Is the name Raleigh rising or falling?
Raleigh is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.