Racine first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Racine has been for the last 29 years (from 1977 to 2005) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Racine

A French feminine name derived from the French word for "root".

Popularity of Racine by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Racine is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Racine being female.

For the most recent data in 2005, there were 5 male babies and 5 female babies born with the name Racine.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Racine in 2005, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2005 5 5
2004 0 5
2003 0 5
2001 0 6
2000 0 5
1999 0 7
1998 0 5
1997 0 8
1996 0 8
1995 0 7
1994 0 9
1993 0 8
1992 0 8
1991 0 11
1990 0 15
1989 0 21
1988 0 12
1987 0 16
1986 0 20
1985 0 76
1984 0 38
1978 0 7
1977 0 8

The history of the first name Racine

The name Racine originates from the French language and is derived from the word 'racine' meaning 'root' or 'source'. This name has its origins in France and can be traced back to the 17th century. Its earliest known usage dates back to the French playwright and poet Jean Racine, who was born in 1639 and is considered one of the greatest tragedians of 17th-century France.

Racine was a popular name among French nobility and intellectuals during the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable figure with this name was Racine d'Ornano, a French statesman and soldier who served as the Marshal of France in the early 17th century. Another notable bearer of this name was Racine de Monville, a French lawyer and writer who lived during the 18th century.

In the 19th century, the name Racine gained popularity outside of France as well. One of the most famous individuals with this name was René Racine, a Belgian painter and etcher born in 1828. He is known for his landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes and landscapes of Belgium.

Moving into the 20th century, the name Racine continued to be used across various parts of the world. One notable figure was Racine Colette, a French actress and singer born in 1906. She was best known for her performances in French films during the 1930s and 1940s.

Another notable bearer of this name was Racine Ames, an American painter and printmaker who lived from 1905 to 1999. She was known for her abstract and modernist works, and her art was exhibited in various galleries and museums across the United States.

While the name Racine has its roots in French culture and language, it has since been adopted and used in various other cultures and languages around the world. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to its French heritage and the notable individuals who have borne this name throughout history.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Racine was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Racine, please contact us.

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"Racine first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 15, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/racine-meaning-and-history/.

"Racine first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/racine-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 15 June, 2025

Racine first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/racine-meaning-and-history/.

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