Given name & surname
Raleigh
“from the clearing of roe deer”
Raleigh is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the clearing of roe deer.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the clearing of roe deer.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
How it developed
From Old English rā, built from English roe + -leigh (“lea”).
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Raleigh through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 12,336
- 9,279 boys · 3,057 girls
- Most popular year
- 2019
- 260 babies
- 2025
- 168
- #1,894 for girls · #2,222 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −25%
- Easing
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 36% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 104 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,894 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 170 in 2016. It also appeared in 64 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Georgia had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (9). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,497 as a first name in 2020; 3,782 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Raleigh’s family of names
Raleigh has a related form in Railey. Raleigh has a related form in Rawley. Raleigh has a related form in Raley.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 20
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Raleigh
- Raleigh E. ColstonAmerican general (1825–1896)
- R. Stanton Halesbadminton player and mathematicianborn 1942
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Raleigh, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ramsey
Ramsey is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the raven island; from the island of wild garlic.”
56% boys · 44% girls
Rebel
“an outlaw”
35% boys · 65% girls
Aris
“the best” · “one who is superior”
59% boys · 41% girls
Roe
“one who hunts deer”
46% boys · 54% girls
Larkin
“a pretty young woman” · “one who is fierce”
40% boys · 60% girls
Gentry
“woman with a high social standing” · “of good breeding; holding a high social standing”
52% boys · 48% girls
Arden
“one who is passionate and enthusiastic” · “from the valley of the eagles”
40% boys · 60% girls
Landry
“of the rough terrain”
43% boys · 57% girls