The baby name Rayleigh is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈreɪli/ (RAY-lee).
Rayleigh is English in Origin.
The baby name Rayleigh is a Unisex name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈreɪli/ (RAY-lee).
Rayleigh is English in Origin.
Rayleigh is an English surname and place-derived given name rooted in Old English. It comes from raege, meaning "roe deer," and leah, "clearing" or "meadow," yielding the sense "roe-deer meadow/clearing." Though many modern ears parse it as Ray + Leigh, its etymology points to the Essex town of Rayleigh and related medieval spellings such as Ralegh and Raleigh.
As a forename, Rayleigh is a modern unisex choice rising with the surname-as-given-name trend and the fashionable -leigh ending, with greater use in the United States since the late 20th century. Notable associations include the scientific term Rayleigh scattering and the title of the physicist Lord Rayleigh, both tied to the place-name. Variants and related forms include Raleigh, Railey, Raley, Raylee, Raeleigh, Rayley, and Rayleigh’s short forms Ray and Leigh. The name carries a gentle, pastoral image alongside a sleek, contemporary feel.
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TW | 0 | #103 | 1 | 4,523 | |
| BW | Girls | 0 | #151 | 1 | 4,216 |
| Canada | Girls | 2024 | #278 | 8 | 2,795 |
| Canada | Boys | 2023 | #305 | 5 | 2,601 |
| CN | Boys | 0 | #331 | 1 | 9,639 |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| CN | Girls | 0 | #359 | 1 | 8,829 |
| PH | Boys | 0 | #407 | 2 | 11,440 |
| PH | Girls | 0 | #429 | 1 | 13,098 |
| HK | Boys | 0 | #555 | 3 | 12,905 |
| BO | Boys | 0 | #622 | 1 | 9,244 |
| HK | Girls | 0 | #650 | 1 | 16,104 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #765 | 152 | 8,487 |
| TN | 0 | #864 | 2 | 13,765 | |
| United States | Boys | 2024 | #877 | 16 | 7,044 |
| PE | Boys | 0 | #925 | 2 | 14,506 |
| CO | Boys | 0 | #981 | 1 | 15,656 |
| MX | Boys | 0 | #1,032 | 2 | 16,355 |
| AE | Boys | 0 | #1,142 | 2 | 22,615 |
| MY | Boys | 0 | #1,180 | 3 | 25,439 |
| MA | 0 | #1,196 | 4 | 20,986 | |
| DZ | 0 | #1,234 | 1 | 20,130 | |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,234 | 3 | 25,928 |
| ZA | Boys | 0 | #1,271 | 2 | 25,619 |
| SA | Boys | 0 | #1,689 | 3 | 28,008 |
Rayleigh is popular in 18 countries — most recent births per country:
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