Raven
Boy name · #2953 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Raven? In official American birth records, Raven has been tracked continuously since 1921, giving it 104 years of documented American history.
Raven ranks #2953 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 42 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #3085, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 42,857 boys born in 2025 was named Raven.
Babies named Raven per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 104-year story
Raven first appears in the Social Security records in 1921, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1999, when 188 boys were named Raven — good for #809 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 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 "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Raven will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Raven is most common
State-level data for Raven is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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 Deven, Daven, Brenden, Javen, and Devyn.
DevenDavenBrendenJavenDevynKevonKalenKavon
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Raven | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | #2941 |
| 2024 | 46 | #2789 |
| 2023 | 43 | #2895 |
| 2022 | 57 | #2438 |
| 2021 | 45 | #2775 |
| 2020 | 40 | #2925 |
| 2019 | 33 | #3426 |
| 2018 | 41 | #2893 |
| 2017 | 39 | #3006 |
| 2016 | 40 | #2935 |
| 2015 | 37 | #3085 |
| 2014 | 37 | #3038 |
| 2013 | 38 | #2955 |
| 2012 | 44 | #2716 |
| 2011 | 39 | #2950 |
| 2010 | 39 | #2958 |
| 2009 | 48 | #2585 |
| 2008 | 43 | #2788 |
| 2007 | 35 | #3188 |
| 2006 | 69 | #1943 |
| 2005 | 73 | #1790 |
| 2004 | 103 | #1384 |
| 2003 | 137 | #1119 |
| 2002 | 159 | #988 |
| 2001 | 178 | #882 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Raven?
In official American birth records, the name Raven first appeared in 1921 (over 104 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 104 years.
Is Raven a popular boy name?
Raven ranked #2953 among boys in 2025 with 42 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #3085.
When was the name Raven most popular?
Raven peaked in 1999, when 188 American boys received the name (ranked #809 that year). Since 1999 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Raven?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 42,857 newborn American boys was named Raven. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.