Raven
Girl name · #404 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Raven? In official American birth records, Raven has been tracked continuously since 1941, giving it 84 years of documented American history.
Raven ranks #404 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 771 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #486, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 2,335 girls born in 2025 was named Raven.
The 84-year story
Raven first appears in the Social Security records in 1941, when 6 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1993, when 2,285 girls were named Raven — good for #139 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Raven per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Raven against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Raven in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Raven is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Raven is most common
Geography matters for names, and Raven is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Raven is most common in IA (1.4 per 1,000), KY (1.3 per 1,000), OR (1.2 per 1,000), SC (1.1 per 1,000), NV (1.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.6 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Raven is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Raven
Statistically, parents drawn to Raven tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Lauren, Morgan, Jordan, Taylor, and Heaven.
LaurenMorganJordanTaylorHeavenArielKaylaMariah
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Raven | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 771 | #404 |
| 2024 | 816 | #386 |
| 2023 | 848 | #360 |
| 2022 | 772 | #408 |
| 2021 | 779 | #407 |
| 2020 | 749 | #417 |
| 2019 | 746 | #425 |
| 2018 | 751 | #413 |
| 2017 | 713 | #443 |
| 2016 | 637 | #488 |
| 2015 | 658 | #486 |
| 2014 | 619 | #505 |
| 2013 | 580 | #513 |
| 2012 | 553 | #543 |
| 2011 | 489 | #591 |
| 2010 | 488 | #600 |
| 2009 | 476 | #632 |
| 2008 | 500 | #611 |
| 2007 | 631 | #507 |
| 2006 | 736 | #434 |
| 2005 | 905 | #348 |
| 2004 | 1,220 | #264 |
| 2003 | 1,428 | #231 |
| 2002 | 1,338 | #237 |
| 2001 | 1,355 | #234 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Raven?
In official American birth records, the name Raven first appeared in 1941 (over 84 years ago), when 6 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 84 years.
Is Raven a popular girl name?
Raven ranked #404 among girls in 2025 with 771 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #486.
When was the name Raven most popular?
Raven peaked in 1993, when 2,285 American girls received the name (ranked #139 that year). Since 1993 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Raven?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 2,335 newborn American girls was named Raven. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.