Rae

A short form of Rachel and Raymond, Rae is a gender-neutral name that alludes to one who is favored most tenderly. Derived from the Hebrew Raḥel, Rae means "ewe" or "female sheep" and offers a reference to the adored wife of biblical patriarch Jacob. Rachel is perhaps most revered for her incredible beauty, which would spark an enduring love at first sight—though one not without its struggles.

The modern Rae provides a welcome distance from Rachel's tales of hardship while embracing the ewe's inspiring symbolic attributes of purity and gentleness. As a variation of Ray, Rae can mean "beam of light" in English for the little one who lights up your life. Rae can also be interpreted as "counsel protection" or "protective advice" from the German Raymond. Some like to incorporate the "rae" spelling into other names, but as a stand-alone title, it works wonderfully. Take it from The Bump member pinkie529, who says "Rae is a beautiful name, but to retain its beauty, I would leave it in its original form in the middle name spot or the first name spot."

Fun Facts About the Name Rae

• Rae is a middle name favorite: While Rae sits lower on the Social Security Administration (SSA) charts as a first name, it's noticeably popular as a middle name of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Just like Lynn, Marie, Rose and Grace, Rae's short, single-syllable, soft-vowel structure makes it a pleasant pick for sitting between baby's first and last names.
• Rae's prefix era: Not just a beloved middle name, Rae also shines as a popular prefix in the US. Names like Raelynn, Raelee and Raegan are perfect examples.
• Rae's 1979 Hollywood "Labor Union" bump: In 1979, Sally Field starred in the award-winning drama Norma Rae, portraying a brave factory worker who unionizes her textile mill. Also in this year, Rae experienced a slight bump in the charts, going from above to within the Top 1,000 girl names in the US.