Rae Overview
- Meaning: The English and Scandinavian translation is “doe,” while the Hebrew translation is “ewe.”
- Gender: Rae is predominately used in naming baby girls.
- Origin: Rae is the shortened form of Rachel, which comes from the Old Testament and means incredible or enduring beauty..
- Pronunciation: “ray”
- Popularity: Rae does not currently reside in any top 100 or highly ranked lists of baby names.
- Nicknames: Raebae, RaeRae, RayRay, ReeRee, RiRi, RyeRye.
- Variations: Raeann, Raelyn, Raelynn, Raenisha, Raina, Ray, Raya, Rayette, Raylene, Rayna, Rayne, Ree, Reid, Reina, Rene, Rey, Reyna, Rhea, Rie, Rye.
- Namesakes: Rae Allen, Rae St. Clair Bridgman, Rae Dawn Chong, Rae L. Egbert, Rae Helen Langton.
What Does Rae Mean?
The name Rae has many variations of translations, depending on the country of origin. The English and Scandinavian translation is “doe,” while the Hebrew comes out to “ewe,” which is a female sheep (1).
All meanings of Rae are steeped in gentleness and purity, especially when noted that the Scottish form of the name means “grace,” and the Spanish translation comes out to “unique,” and “beautiful.” Rae can also be recognized as the feminine form of the masculine name Ray which is a shortened form of Raymond, meaning “wise protector.”
What Is the Origin of the Name Rae?
Rae is the shortened form of Rachel, which comes from the Old Testament and means incredible or enduring beauty. While Rachel is more old-fashioned, Rae brings brevity and modernity to the name.
How Popular Is the Name Rae?
The name Rae is rising due to famous Tik-Tokers like Addison Rae and prolific home decor designer Rae Dunn. However, Rae does not currently reside in any top 100 or highly ranked lists of baby names (2).
Rae was extremely popular in the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century, where it was widely used and ranked among the top 1000 names for newborn girls. Despite this popularity, the name became less so in the 1950s when parents began adding suffixes to the classic one-syllable name.
How Do I Pronounce Rae?
Rae is a one-syllable name that is sounded like “ray” as in a ray of sunshine.
Is Rae a Boy or Girl Name?
Rae is predominately used in naming baby girls, as its origins lie in the form of Rachel from the Old Testament, who was Jacob’s wife.
Variations of Rae
Rae has a lot of variations considering it is a short, one-syllable name that is perfect for building more complex and unique names.
- Raeann
- Raelyn
- Raelynn
- Raenisha
- Raina
- Ray
- Raya
- Rayette
- Raylene
- Rayna
- Rayne
- Ree
- Reid
- Reina
- Rene
- Rey
- Reyna
- Rhea
- Rie
- Rye
Nicknames for Rae
The nicknames for Rae are denoted by the use of the word twice to add cuteness, such as:
- Raebae
- RaeRae
- RayRay
- ReeRee
- RiRi
- RyeRye
Similar Names to Rae
Similar names to Rae that you can’t go wrong with:
- Ada
- Bea
- Brynn
- Freya
- Indie
- Jade
- Kai
- Leigh
- Lynn
- Lyra
- Maeve
- Marie
- Mira
- Nia
- Nova
- Rain
- Raven
- Rue
- Skye
- Stevie
Middle Names for Rae
Rae is short and sweet and can be complemented by various types of middle names, including:
- Amelia
- Cecilia
- Ellis
- Elsie
- Erin
- Esther
- Eva
- Grace
- Holly
- Honey
- Irene
- Ivy
- Katherine
- Lacey
- Lexi
- Marie
- Ophelia
- River
- Sophia
- West
Sibling Names for Rae
Rae is a simple, classic name that can complement many sibling names.
For a Brother:
- Benjamin
- Caden
- Declan
- Derek
- Eric
- Jonathan
- Michael
- Patrick
- Samuel
- Zachary
For a Sister:
- Abigail
- Charlotte
- Clarissa
- Dorothea
- Erica
- Jenny
- Julia
- Lauren
- Matilda
- Natalie
- Penelope
- Victoria
Famous People Named Rae
Many famous people have been named Rae. You might recognize the following:
- Rae Allen: American actress best known for her Broadway play, television, and film appearances including And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, which she won a Tony Award for, along with sports classic A League of Their Own.
- Rae St. Clair Bridgman: Canadian anthropologist and writer who has authored and illustrated various young children’s books including The Serpent’s Spell and Kingdom of Trolls.
- Rae Dawn Chong: Canadian-American actress popular for various television and film roles including Quest for Fire, Beat Street, and The Color Purple. Her father is actor and comedian Tommy Chong. She is also noted for giving Chris Pratt his big break by casting him in her directorial debut in 2000.
- Rae L. Egbert: American politician and member of the New York State Senate in the 1930s.
- Rae Helen Langton: Australian-British philosopher and current Cambridge professor. She has published papers on moral and political philosophy, along with metaphysics.
Rae in Popular Culture
Many characters in popular culture have been named Rae. Here are a few:
- Rae Cummings: character on the American soap opera One Life to Live, played by Linda Dano.
- Rae Thomas: character on the American soap opera Passions, played by Jossara Jinaro.
- Rae Wilson: character on the British television series Hollyoaks, played by Alice Barlow.
- Shrinking Rae/Ray: the character of a superhero in the comics and television show Invincible, voiced by Grey Griffin.
- Norma Rae: Film from 1979 about one woman’s journey to unionize her workplace. The title character was played by Sally Field, who won an Academy Award for her portrayal.
Rae FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about the name Rae.
Does the Name Rae Have Any Personality Traits?
The name Rae conjures up the personality of someone who is admired by others and values family and friends. Traditions are significant to people with the name Rae. A person with the name Rae is often creative, artistic, and loves to help people, although they can be perfectionists.
Are There Any Colors Associated With the Name Rae?
The color often associated with the name Rae is any hue of blue: indigo, cerulean, and even turquoise and navy. People who go by Rae have lucky colors and white and blue gemstones such as blue diamond, aquamarine, and turquoise.
