Rayleigh Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Rayleigh has its roots in Old English, meaning 'roe deer clearing'. It evolved from Rægleah in Old English to its current form. The name is associated with nature and has a rustic charm, with little to no biblical relevance. It gained popularity as a surname in medieval England before becoming a given name in the 19th century.
The name Rayleigh is most popular in Kentucky, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Alpha generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rayleigh has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Rayleigh' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9506th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 21628th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2994th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1378th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Rayleigh' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rayleigh"
Pronunciation
/ˈreɪli/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Rayleigh is derived from Old English elements 'rae' meaning 'roe deer' and 'leah' meaning 'wood' or 'clearing'.
Meaning
Roe deer clearing
Language Evolution
Old English: Rægleah, Middle English: Rayleigh, Modern English: Rayleigh
Historical Usage
The name Rayleigh began to be used as a surname in medieval England, gradually transitioning to a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Raleigh, Ralegh
Modern Popularity & Image
Rayleigh is perceived as a unique and somewhat traditional name with a rustic charm, often associated with nature due to its meaning.
Famous People
Rayleigh, 3rd Baron Rayleigh - a prominent British physicist, John William Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh - Nobel Prize-winning physicist
Explore More Rayleigh Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rayleigh"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rayleigh"
"Rayleigh" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9506th of 23106 | 82 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 21628th of 27321 | 13 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2994th of 35406 | 847 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1378th of 30306 | 1,990 |
Regional Popularity of "Rayleigh" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Rayleigh" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
71.96% 3297th/4582 |
- |
24.71% 1807th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
37.27% 1485th/3984 |
67.24% 3017th/4487 |
13.88% 947th/6822 |
59.86% 3757th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rayleigh"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rayleigh" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.