Rae is a distinctive choice, ranked #347 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Rae in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#347
About the Name Rae
Rae is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 27 places over five years. Its high point was #282 in 2021, and it now sits at #347. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Rae is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Rae
Unlikely. With around 126 UK babies named Rae per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Rae in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Rae has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 27 places in the last five years. Its peak was #282 in 2021. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Rae is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Rae include: Fiona Rae — Fiona Rae is a Hong Kong-born British artist.; Rae Baker — Rachel Jane "Rae" Baker is an English actress most famous for playing Detective Constable Juliet Becker in the long running ITV drama The Bill.; Jude Rae — Jude Rae is an Australian artist..
Rae does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Raes in the wild.
126
UK babies named Rae (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 27 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Rae
Likely around 1 other Rae in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Rae
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Jude Rae is an Australian artist. She has exhibited, predominantly in Australia and New Zealand, since the 1980s, and is famous for her still life paintings, large scale interiors, and portraits.
Robert Keith Rae is a Canadian politician and diplomat who served as the Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations from 2020 to 2025. Rae previously served as the 21st premier of Ontario from 1990 to 1995, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party from 1982 to 1996, and interim leader of the Liberal Party of Canada from 2011 to 2013.
Nuray Istiqbal, better known by her former stage name Rae Lil Black, is a Japanese influencer and former pornographic actress. She shares vlogs on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Fonda Rae is an American R&B singer best known for her club hits like "Over Like a Fat Rat" and "Touch Me" (the latter of which was later covered by Cathy Dennis). She has also worked with artists such as Don Armando, Kid Creole and the Coconuts, Taka Boom, The Fat Boys and Debbie Harry.
Jo-Issa Rae Diop, known professionally as Issa Rae, is an American actress, writer, and producer. She achieved recognition as the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the HBO comedy series Insecure, for which she was nominated for multiple Golden Globes Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards.