Raven

Raven - A very unique female name

Raven appeared on the charts for the first time in 1963 on position #2535. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Raven and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Raven? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Raven. The baby girl name Raven was given to 752 baby girls in 2025, ranking #402 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,733 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Raven peaked in popularity 33 years ago in 1993 on position 140.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Raven, 1-5?

Raven is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Raven is currently topping the baby name charts in Alaska at position #164 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #761.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Raven is where you live.

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Raven origin and meaning

English — nature word name

From the English word raven, the large black bird, from Old English hræfn

Raven became a given name in the 1960s and 1970s and peaked in 1993, boosted by actress Raven-Symoné. It has held steady since and edged up to #402 in 2025, valued for its dark, striking bird image.

Attested etymology

Raven is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Raven, pop culture references for the name Raven and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Raven

We've found the following names that sound similar to Raven, sorted by popularity.

Robin / Robyn / Robbin / Rayven / Ravyn / Rufina / Ruben / Raeven / Robena / Raveen /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Raven

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Raven a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Raven?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

RAY-vun · /ˈreɪvən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Ravenna — Extended form, also an Italian city name

Nicknames: Rae

Famous bearers

• Raven-Symoné — Actress known for That's So Raven (b. 1985) Contemporary

Style

NatureWord name

Why parents choose it

Parents like its bold, mystical feel — softer than a flower name, more dramatic than most nature names.

Worth knowing

• Strong gothic and comic-book associations (the Teen Titans character Raven) dominate first impressions for many.