US Popularity Rank: 2226

Origin: Hebrew

Meaning: ewe or female sheep

A short-form of Rachel, Rae is a gender-neutral name that eludes to one who is favored most tenderly. Derived from the Hebrew Raḥel, Rae means "ewe" and refers 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.