Raven Name Meaning

The name Raven is often associated with the bird of the same name. The raven is known for its intelligence and its ability to problem-solve. It’s also associated with magic and mystery. So, if you name your daughter Raven, you’re giving her a name that symbolizes intelligence, wit, and a hint of the unknown.

Origins of the Name Raven

The name Raven can be traced back to Old English, where it was spelled “hræfn.” In Anglo-Saxon culture, the raven was a symbol of wisdom and prophecy. This might be why the name was initially given to boys rather than girls. But as the centuries went by, the name began to be used for girls as well.

Popularity of the Name Raven

Raven wasn’t a particularly popular name in the United States until the late 20th century. It started to gain popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, and by the 2010s, it was in the top 1000 names for girls.

Nowadays, Raven is a relatively common name for girls, but still unique enough to make your daughter stand out. It’s a name that’s both strong and elegant, and it’s not hard to see why so many parents are choosing it for their daughters.

Famous Ravens

  • Raven-Symoné, an American actress and singer known for her role as Olivia Kendall on “The Cosby Show” and as Chelsea Daniels on “That’s So Raven.”
  • Raven-Leilani, an American novelist, her debut novel Luster was published in 2020 and received critical acclaim.
  • Raven-haired, a term used to describe someone with black or very dark hair.

Final Thoughts on the Name Raven

The name Raven is a unique and elegant choice for a baby girl. It has a rich history and a powerful meaning, and it’s the perfect name for a strong, intelligent, and mysterious young lady. So, if you’re looking for a name that’s both classic and modern, consider Raven. And if you do name your daughter Raven, don’t be surprised if she starts solving problems and cawing like a bird in no time.

Infographic of Raven name meaning, which is Raven
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Raven Name Popularity

How popular is the name Raven? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 — 0 0%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 — 0 0%
1946 — 0 0%
1947 — 0 0%
1948 — 0 0%
1949 — 0 0%
1950 — 0 0%
1951 — 0 0%
1952 — 0 0%
1953 — 0 0%
1954 — 0 0%
1955 — 0 0%
1956 — 0 0%
1957 — 0 0%
1958 — 0 0%
1959 — 0 0%
1960 — 0 0%
1961 — 0 0%
1962 — 0 0%
1963 2,353 5 0.0003%
1964 — 0 0%
1965 — 0 0%
1966 1,864 10 0.0006%
1967 — 0 0%
1968 — 0 0%
1969 2,202 6 0.0004%
1970 — 0 0%
1971 — 0 0%
1972 2,453 5 0.0004%
1973 — 0 0%
1974 — 0 0%
1975 — 0 0%
1976 1,151 55 0.0043%
1977 572 259 0.0192%
1978 526 306 0.0228%
1979 536 304 0.0216%
1980 498 368 0.0252%
1981 518 337 0.0229%
1982 446 437 0.0292%
1983 466 383 0.026%
1984 489 368 0.0247%
1985 493 367 0.0242%
1986 581 290 0.0192%
1987 549 321 0.021%
1988 595 288 0.0185%
1989 483 444 0.0275%
1990 165 1,733 0.1046%
1991 150 2,008 0.1232%
1992 152 1,995 0.125%
1993 140 2,262 0.1451%
1994 156 2,047 0.1334%
1995 170 1,737 0.1153%
1996 185 1,596 0.1066%
1997 172 1,748 0.1182%
1998 186 1,627 0.1087%
1999 203 1,491 0.0996%
2000 216 1,425 0.0933%
2001 234 1,320 0.0876%
2002 237 1,316 0.0878%
2003 234 1,387 0.0912%
2004 266 1,196 0.0785%
2005 345 878 0.0574%
2006 431 698 0.0446%
2007 502 603 0.0382%
2008 595 464 0.03%
2009 616 440 0.0294%
2010 573 463 0.0321%
2011 565 464 0.0326%
2012 531 516 0.0362%
2013 508 535 0.0376%
2014 487 589 0.0404%
2015 472 624 0.0429%
2016 478 598 0.0415%
2017 434 663 0.0475%
2018 391 716 0.0521%
2019 412 697 0.0515%
2020 419 683 0.0537%
2021 413 682 0.0558%
2022 401 747 0.0566%
2023 362 815 0.063%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Raven

If you like Raven, you’ll love these other names like Raven.

What names are variants of Raven?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Raven.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ravina

English

Ravyn

English

Rayven

English

Rayvenne

English

Rayvinn

English

What names sound like Raven?

If you like how Raven sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Raven.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ravena

Raven

English

Ravenna

Raven

Italian

Lists With Raven

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Raven.

Siblings of Raven

Mamas with kids named Raven also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Benton

Town in the bent grass

English

Arwen

Muse

Welsh

7 Comments

  1. Raven is a beautiful name but i only go with names in the Bible and just anyhow it makes me happy using names that are related to GOD(My provider & sustainer).

    Reply

  2. Truthfully I personally didn’t like the name at first cause it’s a bird, but it grew on me. And ravens are beautiful and very intelligent. And nothing else sounded right. It fits her perfectly.

    Reply

  3. Raven comes with a strong, bubbly personality! I think one might imagine a Raven to be more serious or maybe even emo, but they’re the total opposite. My 7yo Raven is a busy, bossy, and caring little chatterbox!

    Reply

  4. I love my baby girl she has completed our lives

    Reply

  5. My dad recently passed away, his Jewish name was Raven. So it came natural to us to name our daughter after him.

    Reply

  6. I love crows, also my baby birds hair is as black as a Raven ?

    Reply

  7. I chose the name Raven because it’s different, nobody I know has named their baby Raven. It used to be a show I love to watch when I was a kid called ” That so Raven” .

    Reply

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