How to say it
RA · ven
ˈreɪ.vən
Feminine
Raven
The raven
What it means
An English bird name from the raven (Old English hræfn), the glossy black bird of intelligence and mystery.
Raven is a bird name from the Old English hræfn, the large, clever, glossy-black bird woven through myth as a messenger and trickster. As a given name it carries dark, striking beauty, and it rose in the 1990s, helped by actress Raven-Symoné. It belongs with the other bird names like Wren, and reads bold and a little gothic. Rae is a soft short.
How to spell Raven
The standard spelling is Raven. Common variants include Ravenna, Rayven, Ravyn, but Raven is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #139 in 1993, currently #404 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pop culture
Raven-Symoné of That's So Raven; the brooding Raven of Teen Titans.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Raven-Symoné American actress and singer
Spelling variants
- Ravenna
- Rayven
- Ravyn
Names with the same feeling
See Raven from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Raven mean?
- An English bird name from the raven (Old English hræfn), the glossy black bird of intelligence and mystery.
- What does Raven mean in English?
- In English, Raven means "The raven." Raven is a bird name from the Old English hræfn, the large, clever, glossy-black bird woven through myth as a messenger and trickster. As a given name it carries dark, striking beauty, and it rose in the 1990s, helped by actress Raven-Symoné. It belongs with the other bird names like Wren, and reads bold and a little gothic. Rae is a soft short.
- How do you pronounce Raven?
- Raven is pronounced ˈreɪ.vən. Say it as RA-ven, with the stress on the "ra" syllable.
- How do you spell Raven?
- The standard spelling is Raven. Common spelling variants include Ravenna, Rayven, Ravyn.
- Is Raven a boy or girl name?
- Raven is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Raven?
- Raven ranked #404 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.