Rye
Boy name · #2527 in 2025 · Uniqueness 83/100
In 2025, 53 baby boys were named Rye, placing it at #2527 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #2919, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 33,962 boys born in 2025 was named Rye.
Babies named Rye per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 54-year story
Rye first appears in the Social Security records in 1971, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2020, when 76 boys were named Rye — good for #1922 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Rye against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Rye in class?
Rye scores 83 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "rare" band. A high score means genuine rarity — your Rye will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Rye is most common
State-level data for Rye is sparse in 2025 — the name's footprint is too small for most states to report (the SSA suppresses counts under 5 per state for privacy).
Names like Rye
Statistically, parents drawn to Rye tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Ryle, Kye, Rayne, Reef, and Rowe.
RyleKyeRayneReefRoweRogueRamSlate
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Rye | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 53 | #2516 |
| 2024 | 57 | #2418 |
| 2023 | 56 | #2416 |
| 2022 | 61 | #2325 |
| 2021 | 54 | #2464 |
| 2020 | 76 | #1922 |
| 2019 | 62 | #2228 |
| 2018 | 64 | #2167 |
| 2017 | 34 | #3312 |
| 2016 | 46 | #2661 |
| 2015 | 40 | #2919 |
| 2014 | 31 | #3456 |
| 2013 | 30 | #3497 |
| 2012 | 43 | #2772 |
| 2011 | 29 | #3605 |
| 2010 | 28 | #3708 |
| 2009 | 24 | #4160 |
| 2008 | 14 | #6070 |
| 2007 | 20 | #4640 |
| 2006 | 22 | #4223 |
| 2005 | 20 | #4326 |
| 2004 | 16 | #5007 |
| 2003 | 12 | #5877 |
| 2002 | 7 | #8456 |
| 2001 | 15 | #4890 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Rye a popular boy name?
Rye ranked #2527 among boys in 2025 with 53 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #2919.
When was the name Rye most popular?
Rye peaked in 2020, when 76 American boys received the name (ranked #1922 that year). Since 2020 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Rye?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 33,962 newborn American boys was named Rye. It scores 83/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "rare".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.