The first name Rye
A unisex name from Norse meaning “forest clearing”, “to clear”, “river”.
1 syllable Unisex Also a surname
Meaning and origin
Norse origin
Rye means “forest clearing”, “to clear”, “river” in Norse.
* As an English surname, variant of Rea. * Also as an English surname, from the noun rye. * As a Norwegian surname, from several farmsteads whose name derive from Old Norse rjóðr (“forest clearing”); see the verb ryðja (“to clear”). * As a Danish surname, from the town Ry in Skanderbord. * The town in England is perhaps derived from Old English riþ (“river, stream”) whence also rith; compare ree.
More names that mean river, water.
Rye is a short form of
.From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 3 boys were named Rye, making it the 5,137th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2023, with 8 births (#2,546).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Rye with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Rye at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 53 boys born in the United States were named Rye, the 2,531st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2020, when 76 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
- Reay
More Norse unisex names
Questions
- What does the name Rye mean?
- Rye means “forest clearing”, “to clear”, “river” in Norse.
- What is the origin of the name Rye?
- * As an English surname, variant of Rea. * Also as an English surname, from the noun rye. * As a Norwegian surname, from several farmsteads whose name derive from Old Norse rjóðr (“forest clearing”); see the verb ryðja (“to clear”). * As a Danish surname, from the town Ry in Skanderbord. * The…
- How popular is the name Rye?
- In 2025, 3 boys born in England and Wales were named Rye, ranking 5,137th. Its peak was 2023, with 8 births.
- Is Rye a boy's or a girl's name?
- Both. Of the 1,236 US babies named Rye since 1880, 13% were girls and 87% boys.
- When was Rye most popular?
- 2020 in the United States, when 76 babies were named Rye, its highest rank at 1,934th.
- What are other spellings of Rye?
- Reay.
- Is Rye also a surname?
- Yes. Rye is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.