Rye
Boy name · #2527 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Rye? In official American birth records, Rye has been tracked continuously since 1971, giving it 54 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
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?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Rye is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". 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 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 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
How old is the name Rye?
In official American birth records, the name Rye first appeared in 1971 (over 54 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 54 years.
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. 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.