Raya
Meaningfriend · Hebrew
- US rank
- #369
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #353 in 2023
831 babies were named Raya in the US in 2025. It has climbed 563 places in five years.
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US births per million girls, 1958–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Raya you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 1,934 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Raya, 831 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Raya would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryRaya first shows up in US birth records in 1958, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 67 years since.
- Best yearIts best year was 2023, when it reached #353.
- Then vs nowRaya is 16× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 30,769 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 1,934.
- TrendRaya has climbed 563 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #369. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- Where it's lovedRaya is most popular in Delaware, where it ranks #115, followed by Maine (#176) and West Virginia (#204). It's in the top 1,000 in 39 states.
- MeaningIn Hebrew, Raya means “friend”.
About the name Raya
Raya is a girl name meaning “friend”. It has 4 letters and 2 syllables, starting with R and ending in “-aya”. US birth records list Raya for girls from 1958 to 2025, in 57 of those 68 years. Its best year was 2023, when it ranked #353 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #369, with 831 babies.
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.3 | 800,000 girls |
| 1960s | 0.9 | 1,086,957 girls |
| 1970s | 4.2 | 236,967 girls |
| 1980s | 7.9 | 125,945 girls |
| 1990s | 21 | 46,685 girls |
| 2000s | 57 | 17,652 girls |
| 2010s | 119 | 8,371 girls |
| 2020s | 438 | 2,285 girls |
Questions about the name Raya
What does the name Raya mean?
Raya means “friend” in Hebrew.
Is Raya a boy or girl name?
Raya is a girl name, though a few boys get it too.
How popular is the name Raya?
Raya ranked #369 for US girls in 2025, given to 831 babies. Its best year was 2023 (#353).